A medal to mark the occasion

At 10:00am this morning, in the Sumaré residence in Rio de Janeiro, a special ceremony was held to present the Medal commemorating the Apostolic Voyage of His Holiness, Pope Francis to Rio de Janeiro for the XXVIII World Youth Day.

Greeting of His Eminence, Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone

Your Excellency, Orani Tempesta, Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro,

Your Eminence, Cardinal Stanslaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity,

Honorable Mister Marcone Leal, Vice-President of the Brazilian Mint,

Dear brothers and sisters,

At the feet of Corcovado, the mountain upon which stands the statue of Christ, the Redeemer, who with open arms blesses the city of Rio de Janeiro, and from the top of which we can witness a view that really lives up to the title of the City of Marvels, we have gathered today to participate in the presentation of the commemorative medal for the first Apostolic Visit of His Holiness, Pope Francis to Brazil for the XXVIII World Youth Day.

First, on behalf of the Holy Father, I wish to thank the Brazilian Mint for this beautiful initiative of minting these medals which allow us to concretely mark in a physical way, the memory of this celebration of faith and joy which brings together young people from all the continents.

On one side, the medal in question features the image of Pope Francis, cheerful and smiling, demonstrating his closeness to the people and the simplicity of his gestures.  From the moment he was announced as the new Bishop of Rome, he conquered the world.  The other side of the medal features the images of the Cathedral of Saint Sebastian (in Rio de Janeiro) and the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, representing the two Brazilian cities which share the joy of receiving the first visit outside Italy of the first Latin American pope.

With your permission, I would like to reflect very briefly on the significance of this memory coined in metal.  I think it should provide one more reason for us to live these historic days here in Brazil with gratitude.  Yesterday, in the welcoming celebration at the Guanabara Palace, Pope Francis reminded us that the motivation that brought him to Brazil was none other than to feed the flame of brotherly love that burns in every heart, particularly in the hearts of the youth, who are the window through which the future enters the world (Welcoming speech, July 22, 2013).  Because we all want a better world, it is necessary that we invest in our youth.  Therefore, seeing this medal struck with the image of Pope Francis, we are called to allow the words that he will speak lead us during these days, so that they can be minted in our minds and in our hearts.

Dear friends, I wish to thank you all once again for the laudable initiative that brings us together today, and for the stupendous opportunity it gives me to be here, watching the masterpiece of nature that is the Tijuca forest.  Turning my eyes toward the statue of Christ the Redeemer, I ask Him to bless all of you, your families and your work.  Thank you.