SUMMARY:
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To the prelates of Puerto Rico: the Church, by virtue of her mission,
is not linked to any political system
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Tenth meeting of the Council of Cardinals
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Audience with the president of Argentina
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Angelus: those who are nourished by the bread of Christ cannot be
indifferent to those without daily bread
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Francis urges recognition of the rights of childhood
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Apostolic trip to Sarajevo
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Francis meets the clergy of Sarajevo: the pastoral ministry of hope
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Ecumenical and interreligious meeting: dialogue cannot be confined to
the leaders of religious communities
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The Pope to the young of Bosnia and Herzegovina: keep the hope that
inspires life
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The Pope interviewed by journalists during return flight from
Sarajevo
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Pilgrimage is a symbol of life
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Cardinals Menichelli and Macario do Nascimento Clemente to take
possession of their titular churches
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Audiences
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Other Pontifical Acts
______________________________________
To
the prelates of Puerto Rico: the Church, by virtue of her mission, is
not linked to any political system
Vatican
City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) – The prelates of the Puerto Rican
Episcopal Conference were received in audience by Pope Francis this
morning, at the end of their “ad Limina” visit. In the written
discourse he handed to the bishops, Francis recalls that one of the
first dioceses of the American continent was founded on this
Caribbean archipelago, and he invites them to be “heralds of the
Gospel and custodians of the hopes of the people”, called to
“continue inscribing the work of God in the local Churches,
inspired by a spirit of ecclesial communion, ensuring that faith
grows and the light of the truth shines in our days too”.
“Spend
your energy not in divisions and conflicts, but rather in building
and collaborating”, the Pope advises. “Be aware that the more
intense your communion is, the more the mission is encouraged. Know
how to keep a distance from any form of ideological or political
trend that may lead you to waste time and your true zeal for the
Kingdom of God. The Church, by virtue of her mission, is not linked
to any political system, enabling her always to be a sign and
safeguard of the transcendent nature of the human person”.
“The
bishop is a model for his priests, and I encourage them always to
seek spiritual renewal and to discover anew the joy of ministering to
the flock within the great family of the Church”, Francis observes.
“Before the upcoming Jubilee of Mercy, I urge first you and then
your priests to be faithful servants of God's forgiveness, especially
in the sacrament of Reconciliation, which allows God's love to be
experienced in the flesh and offers every penitent the source of true
inner peace”.
With
reference to the task of the laity, the Pope reminds the bishops that
“facilitating the sacramental life of the faithful and offering
them an adequate continuing formation enables them to fulfil their
mission”, and he expresses his hope that, “encouraged by the
example of distinguished laypersons such as Blessed Carlos Manuel
Rodriguez Santiago, model of commitment and apostolic service, or the
venerable master Rafael Cordero y Molina, they may continue along the
path of a joyful adherence to the Gospel, deepening the social
doctrine of the Church and participating lucidly and serenely in the
public debates regarding the society in which they live”.
The
Pope also remarks that one of the initiatives that must be
increasingly consolidated is that of the pastoral ministry of the
family, “afflicted by serious social problems: the difficult
economic situation, migration, domestic violence, unemployment, drug
trafficking and corruption. These are issues that give rise to
concern. Let me to draw your attention to the value and beauty of
marriage. … The differences between man and women are not of the
order of opposition or subordination, but rather communion and
generation, always as the image and semblance of God. Without mutual
commitment, neither of the two will be able to understand the other
in depth. The sacrament of marriage is a sign of God's love for
humanity and Christ's commitment to His Bride, the Church. Take care
of this treasure, as one of the most important of the Latin American
and Caribbean peoples”.
Tenth
meeting of the Council of Cardinals
Vatican
City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) – This morning, the Holy Father's tenth
meeting with the Council of Cardinals began. The “Council of Nine”
will continue its work until Wednesday 10 June.
Audience
with the president of Argentina
Vatican
City, 7 June 2015 (VIS) – This afternoon Pope Francis received the
president of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, in private
audience. The very cordial meeting lasted for more than an hour and a
half and took place in the Pope's study next to the Paul VI Hall. The
president once again expressed the affection and closeness of the
Argentine people to the Pope and asked for his blessing for all their
compatriots.
Following
the meeting, in the adjacent hall, the Pope greeted the large
delegation accompanying the president on her visit, which will
continue tomorrow with their attendance at the Conference of the FAO,
meetings with the Italian authorities and finally a visit to the EXPO
in Milan.
President
Fernandez de Kirchner gave the Pope a number of very meaningful
gifts: a large painting of the blessed bishop and martyr Oscar
Arnulfo Romero by the Argentine artist Eugenio Cuttica; a book by
Alberto Methol Ferre, an author greatly admired by the Holy Father
(“Los estados continentales y el Mercosur”); an edition of the
famous national poem “Martin Fierro”, occasionally quoted by the
Pope in his discourses; two bas-reliefs for the blind or
partially-sighted, with the title in braille, depicting the Virgin of
Lujan, and a portrait of the Pope; a basket of typical Argentine
products and a volume on the architectural heritage of Argentina,
published on the occasion of the Bicentenary.
The
Pope's gift was a reproduction of a beautiful eleventh-century
Russian icon representing the “Our Lady of Tenderness”.
This
is the fifth time – including the inauguration of Francis' papacy
and World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro – that the Argentine
president has met with the Holy Father.
Angelus:
those who are nourished by the bread of Christ cannot be indifferent
to those without daily bread
Vatican
City, 7 June 2015 (VIS) – At midday today – the Solemnity of the
Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, or according to the better known
Latin expression, Corpus Domini – the Pope appeared at the window
of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St.
Peter's Square.
Francis
commented on the Gospel reading of this Sunday's liturgy, which
narrates the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper,
when Jesus, pronouncing the words, “Take; this is my body”,
assigns to the bread a function “that is not solely that of simple
physical nourishment, but rather that of being present in his Person
in the midst of the community of believers”.
The
Last Supper is “the point of arrival of all of Christ's life. It is
not merely the anticipation of His sacrifice that will be fulfilled
on the Cross, but also the synthesis of an existence offered for the
salvation of all of humanity”. Therefore, “when we eat this
bread, we are associated with Jesus' life, we enter into communion
with Him, we undertake to achieve communion among ourselves, and to
transform our life into a gift, especially to the poorest”.
“Today's
Solemnity evokes this fraternal message, and urges us to welcome the
invitation to conversion and to service, to love and to forgiveness.
It inspires us to convert, with our life, into imitators of what we
celebrate in the liturgy. Christ, Who nourishes us in the form of the
consecrated bread and wine, is the same Whom we encounter in daily
events. … He is in every human being, even the smallest and most
defenceless. The Eucharist, the source of love for the life of the
Church, is a school of charity and solidarity. Those who are
nourished by the Bread of Christ cannot remain indifferent before
those without daily bread. Today, we are aware, this is an
increasingly serious problem”, Francis concluded.
Francis
urges recognition of the rights of childhood
Vatican
City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) – After praying the Angelus, the Pope
recalled his recent visit to Sarajevo, a symbolic city that was for
centuries known for the co-existence of peoples and religions, to the
extent that it earned the name “Jerusalem of the West”, but in
the recent past has transformed into a symbol of destruction and war.
“A good process of reconciliation is now in process, and for this
reason above all I went there: to encourage this path of peaceful
co-existence between difference populations; a strenuous path,
difficult but possible. And they are doing this well. I wish to again
thank the authorities and citizens for their warm welcome, … the
dear Catholic community, to whom I wished to take the affection of
the universal Church, and in particular, all the faithful: Orthodox,
Muslim, Jews and those of other religious minorities. I appreciated
the commitment to collaboration and solidarity among these people who
belong to different religions, inspiring everyone to carry forward
the work of the spiritual and moral reconstruction of society. They
work together as true brothers”.
The
Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be celebrated next
Friday, and the Holy Father therefore invited all to think of
Christ's immense love. World Day against Child Labour will be held on
the same day. “Many children throughout the world do not have the
freedom to play or to go to school, and end up being exploited as
cheap labour”, he said. “I hope that the international community
will commit itself diligently and constantly to promoting the active
recognition of childhood rights”.
Apostolic
trip to Sarajevo
Francis
meets the clergy of Sarajevo: the pastoral ministry of hope
Vatican
City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) – The Cathedral of Sarajevo, consecrated to
the Sacred Heart, was the location of the Pope's meeting with
priests, men and women religious, and seminarians of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The building, damaged during the siege of Sarajevo, was
subsequently restored and is now able to hold 250 people. At the
entrance there is a statue of St. John Paul II to commemorate his
visit in 1997.
Francis
was welcomed by the rector of the Cathedral and greeted by the
cardinal archbishop of Sarajevo, Vinko Puljic. He paused for a moment
to worship the Holy Sacrament and prayed silently before the tomb of
the Servant of God Josip Stadler, the first archbishop of Sarajevo. A
priest, a Franciscan friar and a nun then spoke about the suffering
and persecutions they had experienced during the war in the Balkans.
The
Pope, moved by their words, set aside the discourse he had prepared –
extensive extracts of which we publish below – and addressed some
off-the-cuff comments to them. “These accounts speak for
themselves”, he said. “And this is the memory of your people! A
people that forgets the past has no future. This is the memory of
your fathers and mothers in the faith: only three people have spoken,
but behind them there are many, many others who suffered the same
things”.
“Dear
sisters, dear brothers, you do not have the right to forget your own
history. Not for the purpose of revenge, but rather to make peace.
Not to look at these testimonies as something odd, but through them
to love as they have loved. In your blood, in your vocation, there is
the vocation and the blood of these three martyrs. And it is the
blood and the vocation of many religious women and men, many priests,
many seminarians. … Keeping memory alive so as to make peace. Some
words struck my heart. One of them, repeated, 'forgiveness'. A man, a
woman who is consecrated to the Lord’s service who does not know
how to forgive, is not helpful. To forgive a friend who swore at you,
or someone with whom you have argued, or a sister who is jealous of
you, this is not all that difficult. But to forgive the one who slaps
you in the face, who tortures you, who abuses you, who threatens to
shoot you … this is difficult. And these three have done it, and
they teach others to do it”.
“You
are blessed who have such witnesses so close to you: do not forget
them, please. Your life will grow with this memory. … Finally, I
wish to say to you that this has been a story of cruelty. Even today,
in this world war we see many, many, many acts of cruelty. Do always
the opposite of cruelty: have an attitude of tenderness, of
brotherhood, of forgiveness. And carry the Cross of Jesus Christ. The
Church, holy Mother Church, wants it this way: small, tiny
martyrdoms, before these small martyrs, these small witnesses to the
Cross of Jesus”.
The
following is the address Pope Francis had prepared:
“I
come to your land as a pilgrim of peace and dialogue, to strengthen
and to encourage my brothers and sisters in the faith, and in
particular you, who are called to work 'full time' in the vineyard of
the Lord. He says to us, 'I am with you always, to the close of the
age'. This certainty fills us with consolation and hope, especially
when your ministry experiences difficulties. I think of the
sufferings and trials both past and present in your Christian
communities. Although you have lived through these circumstances, you
did not halt, you endured, and worked hard to confront personal,
social and pastoral challenges with a tireless spirit of service. May
the Lord bless your efforts.
“I
can imagine that the Catholic Church’s being numerically a minority
in your country, coupled with the failures that sometime occur in
ministry, may at times make you feel like Jesus’ disciples when,
although having toiled all night long, they caught no fish. However,
it is precisely in these moments, if we entrust ourselves to the
Lord, that we experience the power of His word, the strength of His
Spirit, which renews trust and hope in us. The fruitfulness of our
service depends above all on faith: faith in Christ’s love, from
which, as St. Paul reminds us, and which he know from experience,
nothing can separate us! Fraternity within our communities also
sustains and strengthens us: fraternity among priests, among men and
women religious, among consecrated lay persons, among seminarians. In
fact, fraternity among all of us, whom the Lord has called to leave
everything so as to follow Him, gives us joy and consolation, and
renders our work ever more fruitful. We are witnesses to fraternity!
“'Take
heed to yourselves and to all the flock'. With these words - recorded
in the Acts of the Apostles – St. Paul reminds us that if we want
to help others become holy we cannot neglect ourselves, that is,
neglect our own sanctification. And vice versa: dedication to God’s
faithful people, being close to them in their lives, especially to
the poor and the needy, helps us be conformed ever more to Christ.
Attention to one’s own sanctification and pastoral charity towards
people are two sides of the same coin and are mutually enriching.
They must never be separated.
“What
does it mean, today, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for a priest or
consecrated person to serve the Lord’s flock?”, asked the Holy
Father. “I think it means to carry out a pastoral ministry of hope,
caring for the sheep that are in the sheepfold, but also going out in
search of those who await the Good News and who do not know where to
find it, or who on their own cannot find their way to Jesus. It means
to meet the people where they live, including those sheep who are
outside the sheepfold, far away, who may not yet have heard of Jesus
Christ. It means taking care of the formation of Catholics in their
faith and in their Christian lives. Encouraging the lay faithful to
be protagonists in the evangelising mission of the Church. For this
reason, I exhort you to develop Catholic communities open and 'going
forth', able to welcome and to encounter, and to be courageous in
their evangelical witness.
“The
priest, the consecrated person, is called to live the anguish and the
hope of the people; to work in concrete circumstances often
characterised by tensions, discord, suspicions, insecurities and
poverty. Faced with these painful situations, we ask God to grant us
hearts that can be moved, capable of showing empathy; there is no
greater witness than to be close to the spiritual and material needs
of the faithful. It is the task of us bishops, priests and religious
to make the people feel the nearness of God; to feel His comforting
and healing hand; to be familiar with the wounds and tears of our
people; to never tire of opening our hearts and offering a hand to
all who ask us for help, and to all those who, perhaps because they
feel ashamed, do not ask our help, but who are in great need of it.
In this regard, I wish to express my deep appreciation to religious
sisters for everything they do with such generosity, and above all
for their faithful and dedicated presence.
“Dear
priests, dear men and women religious, I encourage you to carry out
joyfully your pastoral ministry whose effectiveness is the fruit of
faith and grace, but also the fruit of a humble life, one detached
from worldly concerns. Please, do not fall into the temptation of
becoming a self-absorbed elite. The generous and transparent witness
of priestly and religious life sets an example and gives
encouragement to seminarians and to all those whom the Lord calls to
serve Him. Standing by the side of young men and women, inviting them
to share experiences of service and prayer, you will help them to
discover the love of Christ and to open themselves up to the call of
the Lord. May the People of God see in you that faithful and generous
love which Christ has left to His disciples as a legacy.
“I
wish also to offer a word to you, dear seminarians. Among the many
beautiful examples of priests and consecrated men in your country, we
remember in particular the Servant of God Petar Barbaric. His example
unites Herzegovina, where he was born, to Bosnia, where he made his
religious profession, as he also unites all priests, diocesan or
religious. May this young candidate for the priesthood, whose life
was so full of virtue, be a powerful example to each one of you.
The
Virgin Mary is always near us, as a caring mother. She is the first
disciple of the Lord, the first example of a life dedicated to him
and to his brothers. When we find ourselves in difficulty, or when
faced with a situation that makes us feel the depth of our
powerlessness, let us turn to her with childlike trust. Then she
always says to us – as at the wedding at Cana – 'Do whatever he
tells you'. She teaches us to listen to Jesus and to follow His word,
but to do so with faith! This is her secret, which as a mother, she
wishes to transmit to us: faith, a genuine faith, enough so that even
a grain of it can move mountains!
“By
abandoning ourselves in trust, we can serve the Lord with joy, sowing
hope everywhere. I assure you of remembrance in my prayers and I
bless each of you and your communities. I ask you please, do not
forget to pray for me”, concluded Francis, before imparting his
final blessing.
Ecumenical
and interreligious meeting: dialogue cannot be confined to the
leaders of religious communities
Vatican
City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) - “Today’s meeting is a sign of our
shared desire for fraternity and peace; it is a testimony to the
friendship and cooperation that has been developing over the years
and which you already experience daily. To be present here today is
already a 'message' of that dialogue which everyone seeks and strives
for”, said Pope Francis to the participants in the ecumenical and
interreligious meeting held in the Franciscan international study
centre of Sarajevo.
The
leaders of the Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic and Jewish communities of
Bosnia and Herzegovina greeted the Holy Father, who recalled one of
the fruits of this desire for encounter and reconciliation – the
establishment in 1997 of a local Council for Interreligious Dialogue,
bringing together Muslims, Christians and Jews – and congratulated
them on their work in promoting dialogue, coordinating common
initiatives and developing relations with State authorities. “Your
work in this region is immensely important, particularly in Sarajevo,
which stands as the crossroads of peoples and cultures”, he said.
“Here, on the one hand, diversity constitutes a great resource
which has contributed to the social, cultural and spiritual
development of this region, while, on the other, it has also been the
cause of painful rifts and bloody wars. It is not by chance that the
birth of the Council for Interreligious Dialogue and other valuable
initiatives in the area of interreligious and ecumenical work came
about at the end of the war, in response to the need for
reconciliation and rebuilding a society torn apart by conflict.
Interreligious dialogue here, as in every part of the world, is an
indispensable condition for peace, and for this reason is a duty for
all believers”.
Francis
underlined that interreligious dialogue, before being a discussion of
the main themes of faith, is a “conversation about human
existence”. “This conversation shares the experiences of daily
life in all its concreteness, with its joys and sufferings, its
struggles and hopes; it takes on shared responsibilities; it plans a
better future for all. We learn to live together, respecting each
other’s differences freely; we know and accept one another’s
identity. Through dialogue, a spirit of fraternity is recognised and
developed, which unites and favours the promotion of moral values,
justice, freedom and peace. Dialogue is a school of humanity and a
builder of unity, which helps to build a society founded on tolerance
and mutual respect”.
For
this reason, “interreligious dialogue cannot be limited merely to
the few, to leaders of religious communities, but must also extend as
far as possible to all believers, engaging the different sectors of
civil society. Particular attention must be paid to young men and
women who are called to build the future of this country. It is
always worth remembering, however, that for dialogue to be authentic
and effective, it presupposes a solid identity: without an
established identity, dialogue is of no use or even harmful. I say
this with the young in mind, but it applies to everyone.
“I
sincerely appreciate all that you have managed to accomplish up to
this point and I encourage each of you in your efforts for the cause
of peace of which you, as religious leaders, are the first guardians
here in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I assure you that the Catholic Church
will continue to offer her full support and willingness to help”,
the Pope emphasised. “We are all aware that there is a long way yet
to go. Let us not be discouraged, however, by the difficulties, but
rather continue with perseverance along the way of forgiveness and
reconciliation. While we seek to recall the past with honesty,
thereby learning the lessons of history, we must also avoid
lamentation and recrimination, letting ourselves instead be purified
by God Who gives us the present and the future: He is our future, He
is the ultimate source of peace.
“This
city, which in the recent past sadly became a symbol of war and
destruction, this Jerusalem of Europe, today, with its variety of
peoples, cultures and religions, can become again a sign of unity, a
place in which diversity does not represent a threat but rather a
resource, an opportunity to grow together. In a world unfortunately
torn by conflicts, this land can become a message: attesting that it
is possible to live together side by side, in diversity but rooted in
a common humanity, building together a future of peace and
brotherhood. You can live life being a peacemaker!”.
Following
his discourse, and before asking all those present to pray for him
and assuring them of his prayers, Pope Francis recited the following
prayer “to the Eternal, One and True Living God, to the Merciful
God”:
“Almighty
and eternal God,
good
and merciful Father;
Creator
of heaven and earth, of all that is visible and invisible;
God
of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob,
King
and Lord of the past, of the present and of the future;
sole
judge of every man and woman,
Who
reward Your faithful with eternal glory!
We,
the descendants of Abraham according to our faith in You, the one
God,
Jews,
Christians and Muslims,
humbly
stand before You
and
with trust we pray to You
for
this country, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
that
men and women, followers of different religions, nations and cultures
may
live here in peace and harmony.
We
pray to You, O Father,
that
it may be so in every country of the world!
Strengthen
in each of us faith and hope,
mutual
respect and sincere love
for
all of our brothers and sisters.
Grant
that we may dedicate ourselves
courageously
to building a just society,
to
being men and women of good will,
filled
with mutual understanding and forgiveness,
patient
artisans of dialogue and peace.
May
each of our thoughts, words and actions
be
in harmony with Your holy will.
May
everything be to Your glory and honour and for our salvation.
Praise
and eternal glory to You, our God!
Amen”.
The
Pope to the young of Bosnia and Herzegovina: keep the hope that
inspires life
Vatican
City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) – The final stage of the Pope's apostolic
trip to Sarajevo was his meeting with young people at the St. John
Paul II diocesan Youth Centre, in a outskirts of the city. The
centre, operative since 2006, is open to young people of different
ethnic backgrounds and religions, and organises a variety of sports,
social and voluntary activities, as well as pastoral and religious
formation for Catholics. Francis was received by the rector of the
Centre and some children who accompanied him to the gymnasium where
he was awaited by around 800 people, to unveil the plaque dedicating
the institution to St. John Paul II.
After
greetings from the auxiliary of Banja Luka, Bishop Marko Semren, the
Holy Father began a conversation with those present, setting aside
the prepared text of his discourse, published in full below.
One
of the young people asked why the Pope did not watch television any
more, and he answered, “Yes, from the mid-1990s onwards, I felt one
night that watching television was not good for, it distanced me, and
led me away… and I decided not to watch any more. When I wanted to
see a good film, I went to the television room in the Archbishop’s
residence and watched it there. But just that film. The television
used to make me feel alienated from myself. And yes, I am from the
Stone Age, I am ancient! Now, I understand that the times have
changed; we live in an age of images. And this is very important. In
an age of images we must do what was done in the age of books: choose
what is good for us! Out of this come two consequences: the
responsibility of television networks to offer programs which
encourage the good, which promote values, which build up society,
which help us advance, not ones that drag us down. And then to
produce programs that help us so that values, true values, may be
reinforced and may help to prepare us for life. This is the
responsibility of television networks. Secondly: knowing how to
choose what programs to watch, and this is our responsibility. If I
watch a program that is not good for me, that disparages my values,
that leads me to become vulgar, even filthy, I need to change the
channel. As was done in my Stone Age: when a book was good, you read
it; when a book was not good for you, you would throw it away. And
this leads to a third point: the point of evil fantasy, of those
fantasies which kill the soul. If you who are young live attached to
your computers and become slaves to the computer, you lose your
freedom! And if you use your computer to look for dirty programs, you
lose your dignity. Watch television, use the computer, but for good
reasons, for great things, things which help us to grow. This is
good”.
The
second question was whether he had felt the joy and the love that all
of the young people of Bosnia and Herzegovina had for him. “To tell
you the truth, every time I meet with young people I feel their joy
and love”, he answered. “Not only for me, but for ideals, for
life. They want to grow! But there is some particular about you: you
are, I think, the first post-war generation. You are the first
flowers of spring … you want to go forwards and never go back to
destruction, to those things that make us enemies of each another. I
see in you this desire and this enthusiasm. And this is new for me. I
see that you do not want destruction: you do not want to become each
other's enemies. You want to journey together. And this is great! …
It is not a case of 'them and us', but rather of 'we'. We want to be
'us', to not destroy our homeland, to not ruin our country. You are a
Muslim, you are a Jew, you are Orthodox, you are Catholic… but we
are 'us'. This is how to make peace. This distinguishes your
generation, and it is your joy. You are called to great things. A
great vocation: build bridges, not walls. And this is the joy that I
see in you”.
The
final question was, “What can you say to us, what is your message
of peace for us young people?”
“Everyone
speaks of peace”, said the Holy Father. “Some world leaders speak
of peace, and say beautiful things about peace, but behind it all
they still sell weapons. From you, I expect honesty, coherence
between what you think, what you feel and what you do: these three
things together. The contrary is called hypocrisy. Some years ago I
watched a movie on this city, I don’t remember the name, but the
German version (the one that I saw), was called 'Die Brücke' ('The
Bridge'). I don’t know what it’s called in your language. And in
the film I saw how bridges always unite. When a bridge is not used to
go toward another person, but is closed off, it leads to the ruin of
a city, the destruction of existence. Hence, from you, from this
first post-war generation, I expect honesty and not hypocrisy. Be
united, build bridges, but also let yourselves cross the bridges that
you build. This is brotherhood”.
As
he bid farewell to the young, and while doves were released as a sign
of peace, the Pope exclaimed, “Mir Vama! This is the task I leave
you. Make peace, together! These doves are a sign of peace which
brings joy. And peace is made among all, between everyone: Muslims,
Jews, Orthodox, Catholics and others. We are all brothers and
sisters! We all adore the One God! Never ever let there be separation
among you. Brotherhood and union. And now I must depart and I ask
you, please, to pray for me. May the Lord bless you”.
Following
the encounter, the Pope transferred by car to the airport in Sarajevo
where he was greeted by the Croat member of the Tripartite
Presidency, Dragan Covic, and at 8 p.m. he left for Rome, where he
arrived an hour and a half later.
Discourse
prepared by Pope Francis:
“Being
here in this Centre dedicated to St. John Paul II, I cannot forget
how much he did for young people, meeting them and encouraging them
all around the world. To his intercession I entrust each of you, as
well as every initiative which the Catholic Church has undertaken in
your land to express her closeness to young people and indeed her
confidence in them. We are on this journey together. I know the
doubts and the hopes that you have in your hearts”, he continued.
“Some of these have been expressed by Bishop Marko Semren and your
representatives, Darko and Nadezda. In a special way, I join you in
hoping that new generations may be offered real prospects for a
dignified future in your country, thus avoiding the sad phenomenon of
mass migration. In this regard, institutions are being called upon to
put in place timely and courageous plans that will help young men and
women to realise their legitimate aspirations; they will thus be able
to contribute energetically to the upbuilding and growth of the
country. The local Church, for her part, can contribute by means of
suitable pastoral projects, focusing on educating the civic and moral
conscience of the youth, and so help them to be protagonists in
society. The Church’s commitment can already be seen, especially
through the precious work of her Catholic schools, which are rightly
open not only to Catholic students but to students of other Christian
communities and other religions. However, the Church must always dare
to hope for more, starting from the Gospel and driven by the Holy
Spirit Who transforms persons, society, and the Church herself”.
Francis
exhorted the young to play a “decisive role … in confronting the
challenges of our times: certainly material challenges, but more so
those which concern the vision of the human person. In fact, along
with economic problems, difficulty in finding work and the consequent
uncertainty regarding the future, there is a crisis of moral values
and a diminished sense of the purpose of life. Faced with this
critical situation, some may give in to the temptation to flee, to
avoid problems, becoming self-absorbed, taking refuge in alcohol,
drugs, or ideologies which preach hatred and violence. These are
realities which I know well because they were unfortunately also
present in Buenos Aires, where I come from. Thus I encourage you not
to let yourselves be overcome by the difficulties, but to let the
strength that comes from your being human and Christian flourish
without fear; you will be then be able to sow seeds of a more just,
fraternal, welcoming and peaceful society. Together with Christ, you
young men and women are the vitality of the Church and society. If
you let Christ form you, if you are open to dialogue with him in
prayer, by reading and meditating upon the Gospel, you will become
prophets and witnesses to hope.
“You
are called to this mission: to reclaim the hope in your present
circumstances of being open to the wonders of living; the hope which
you have to overcome the way things are; hope to prepare for the
future marked by a more dignified social and human environment; hope
to live in a more fraternal world which is more just and peaceful,
more genuine, worthier of the measure of mankind. My hope is that you
will be always more aware that you are sons and daughters of this
earth which has given life to you. This earth asks you to love her
and to help her rebuild, to grow spiritually and socially, also with
the help of your ideas and your work. To overcome every trace of
pessimism, you will need the courage to offer yourselves joyfully and
with dedication to the building of a welcoming society, a society
which is respectful of all differences and oriented towards a
civilisation of love. An great example of this way of living is seen
in Blessed Ivan Mert. St. John Paul II Beatified him in Banja Luka.
May he always be an example for you and be your protector.
“The
Christian faith teaches us that we are called to an eternal destiny,
to be sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters in Christ, who
create fraternity for the love of Christ. I am so pleased by the
ecumenical and interreligious works taken up by you, young Catholics
and Orthodox, with the involvement of Muslim young people as well.
The John Paul II Youth Centre plays a central role in this important
work, with initiatives that deepen mutual understanding and
solidarity, allowing the various ethnic and religious groups to
coexist peacefully together. I encourage you to continue this work,
dedicating yourselves to common projects with real gestures that show
your closeness and support to the poorest and most in need.
“Dear
young people, your joyful presence, your thirst for truth and high
ideals are signs of hope! Being young does not mean being passive,
but rather means being tenacious in your efforts to achieve important
goals, even if this comes at a price. Being young does not mean
closing your eyes to difficulties: instead, it requires a refusal to
compromise or be mediocre. It does not mean escaping or fleeing, but
engaging rather in solidarity with everyone, especially the weakest.
The Church counts on you and will continue to count on you who are
generous and capable of great energy and noble sacrifices. For this
reason, together with your pastors I ask you: do not isolate
yourselves, but rather be ever more united among yourselves so that
you may enjoy the beauty of fraternity and be always more fruitful in
your actions.
“Everyone
will see that you are Christians by how you, young Christians of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, love one another and how committed you are to
service. Be not afraid; do not flee from reality; be open to Christ
and to your brothers and sisters. You are a vital part of that great
people who make up the Church: a universal people, a people in whom
all nations and cultures can receive God’s blessing and can
discover the path to peace. With this people, each of you is called
to follow Christ and to give your life to God and to your brothers
and sisters, in the way that the Lord will reveal to you, or perhaps
is revealing to you now! Will you respond? Do not be afraid. We are
not alone. We are always in the presence of God our heavenly Father,
with Jesus our Brother and Lord, in the Holy Spirit; and we have the
Church and Mary our Mother. May She protect you and always give you
the joy and courage to witness to the Gospel”.
Following
the meeting, the Pope greeted a number of sick young people and
appeared at the terrace of the Centre to bless the faithful gathered
outside. Shortly after 7.30 p.m. he transferred by car to Sarajevo
airport where he was greeted by the Croatian member of the Tripartite
Presidency, Dragan Covic, and at 8 p.m. he departed for Rome, where
he arrived an hour and a half later.
The
Pope interviewed by journalists during return flight from Sarajevo
Vatican
City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) – Medjugorje, a possible visit to Croatia,
the need to make peace and not merely to talk about it, and the use
of new technologies by young people were some of the issues the Pope
reflected upon as he conversed with the journalists who accompanied
him on the return flight to Rome following his apostolic trip in
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
With
regard to Medjugorje, which is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Francis recalled that Benedict XVI had instituted a commission of
theologians and specialists, chaired by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, which
had studied the matter in depth and, although the definitive final
meeting has not yet taken place, it is expected that the results will
be communicated shortly.
In
relation to Croatia, he mentioned that during his first trip in
Europe, in Albania, he had said that he would like to visit the
continent starting from its smallest countries. “In the Balkans,
there are martyred countries which have suffered greatly and this is
why my preference is here”.
“It
is not enough to talk about peace, peace must be made. To speak about
peace without making it is contradictory, and those who speak about
peace while promoting war, for example through the sale of weapons,
are hypocrites. It is very simple”, he said in response to a
question linked to his meeting with the young in which he spoke about
the fomentation of a climate of war.
Finally,
with reference to virtual communication, he affirmed that virtual
language is “a reality that we cannot deny: we must lead it onto a
virtuous path, as it is a form of progress for humanity. But when
this draws us away from life together, from family life, as well as
from sport and art, and stay attached to the computer, this is a
psychological malady”.
Pilgrimage
is a symbol of life
Vatican
City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) – As in previous years, the Pope has sent a
message to participants in the 37th nocturnal pilgrimage on foot from
Macerata to Loreto, Italy, gathered in the Helvia Recina stadium of
Macerata during the night of 6 June to attend the opening Mass
celebrated by Cardinal George Pell. This time, due to his apostolic
trip to Sarajevo, the Holy Father's message was recorded in advance
and broadcast on the occasion.
“Pilgrimage
is a symbol of life”, says Francis. “It makes us think of life as
walking, as a path. If a person does not walk, but instead stays
still, this is not useful; it accomplishes nothing. Think of water:
when water is not in the river, it does not course, but instead it
remains still and stagnates. A soul that does not walk in life doing
good, doing many things that one must do for society, to assist
others, or who does not walk through life seeking God and inspiration
from the Holy Spirit, is a soul that finishes in mediocrity and in
spiritual poverty. Please: do not stand still in life!”
Cardinals
Menichelli and Macario do Nascimento Clemente to take possession of
their titular churches
Vatican
City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) – The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of
the Supreme Pontiff today communicated that the following cardinals
will take possession of their titles in the coming days:
On
Friday, 12 June at 7.00 p.m., Cardinal Edoardo Menichelli, archbishop
of Ancona-Osimo, Italy, will take possession of the title of Sacri
Cuori di Gesù e Maria a Tor Fiorenza (Via Poggia Moiano, 12).
On
Sunday, 14 June at 5 p.m., Cardinal Manuel Jose Macario do Nascimento
Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon, Portugal, will take possession of the
title of Sant'Antonio in Campo Marzio (Via dei Portoghesi, 2).
Audiences
Vatican
City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father received in audience:
-
Seven prelates of the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference, on their “ad
Limina” visit:
-
Archbishop Roberto Octavio Gonzalez Nieves, O.F.M., of San Juan de
Puerto Rico, with former auxiliary Bishop Hector Manuel Rivera Perez;
-
Bishop Daniel Fernandez of Arecibo;
-
Bishop Ruben Antonio Gonzalez Medina, C.M.F., of Caguas;
-
Bishop Eusebio Ramos Morales of Fajardo-Humacao;
-
Bishop Alvaro Corrada del Rio, S.J., of Mayaguez; and
-
Bishop Felix Lazaro Martinez, Sch.P., of Ponce.
Other
Pontifical Acts
Vatican
City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed:
-
Bishop Heiner Koch of Dresden-Meissen as metropolitan archbishop of
Berlin (area 31,200, population 5,680,705, Catholics 407,060, priests
421, permanent deacons 35, religious 668), Germany,
-
Fr. Benito Adan Mendez Bracamonte as military ordinary for Venezuela.
The bishop-elect was born in Menegrande, Venezuela in 1962 and was
ordained a priest in 1990. He holds a bachelor's degree from the
Javierian University of Bogota and specialised in bioethics at the
Pontificial Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, Rome. He has served in a
number of pastoral roles in the diocese of Trujillo, including
chaplain, vice rector of the diocesan seminary, director of the
diocesan newspaper and parish priest, and in the military ordinary of
Venezuela as military chaplain, director of formation of the seminary
and vicar general.
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