At 10:00am this morning, in the Consistory Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the Benefactors (Supporters) of the Pontifical Swiss Guard Foundation.
Dear brothers and sisters!
I am happy to welcome and to greet each one of you, members of the two Swiss foundations established in order to offer economic, material and technical support to the Pontifical Swiss Guard. I greet the respective Presidents: Jean-Pierre Roth and Pascal Couchepin and I thank them for the kind words they have addressed to me. You have come together on the occasion of the official inauguration of the new Operations Centre, toward which you have generously contributed. I am grateful to you for this visit which takes place on the day when you celebrate your Patron, Saint Nicholas de Flüe who was born six hundred years ago. At the same time, I wish to show my gratitude for your solicitude toward the meritorious Corps of the Swiss Guard and for the generous cooperation which has been established between its Leadership and the competent Vatican Authorities.
In carrying out your activities, you express a spirit of community and solidarity - reference to which was made by President Couchepin - which is typical of the presence of Catholics in society. This attitude traces its roots to the call of the gospel of love for our neighbour (cf Mt 12:31) and is aimed at helping us to overcome social differences and tensions between different groups. As a result, you bear concrete witness through your actions to gospel values and, in the Swiss social fabric, you are an example of fraternity and sharing.
Love for our neighbour is a response to the commandment and an example of Christ if it is founded on a true love for God. Thus it is possible for the Christian, through his devotion, to help others experience the providential tenderness of our heavenly Father. In order to give love to our brothers, we need to draw love from the furnace of divine charity, through prayer, listening to the Word of God and participating in the Holy Eucharist. With these spiritual points of reference, it is possible to work according to the logic of gratitude and service.
I thank you again for all that you are doing to help many Swiss youth who decide to consecrate their years and their lives to the service of the Church and the Holy See. For me, this is an occasion to repeat my observation that their discrete, professional and generous presence is very much appreciated and useful for the good order and functioning of the activities here at the Vatican.
May the Holy Virgin and Saint Nicholas de Flüe protect you and your families, and may they make you more and more witnesses of joy and goodness. To all of you here present and to all those who contribute to your laudable activities in support of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, I trust that you will continue your fruitful commitment and, while asking you to pray for me, I grant to you my Apostolic Blessing accompanied by all my affection.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
offered to Benefactors of the
Pontifical Swiss Guard Foundation
Dear brothers and sisters!
I am happy to welcome and to greet each one of you, members of the two Swiss foundations established in order to offer economic, material and technical support to the Pontifical Swiss Guard. I greet the respective Presidents: Jean-Pierre Roth and Pascal Couchepin and I thank them for the kind words they have addressed to me. You have come together on the occasion of the official inauguration of the new Operations Centre, toward which you have generously contributed. I am grateful to you for this visit which takes place on the day when you celebrate your Patron, Saint Nicholas de Flüe who was born six hundred years ago. At the same time, I wish to show my gratitude for your solicitude toward the meritorious Corps of the Swiss Guard and for the generous cooperation which has been established between its Leadership and the competent Vatican Authorities.
In carrying out your activities, you express a spirit of community and solidarity - reference to which was made by President Couchepin - which is typical of the presence of Catholics in society. This attitude traces its roots to the call of the gospel of love for our neighbour (cf Mt 12:31) and is aimed at helping us to overcome social differences and tensions between different groups. As a result, you bear concrete witness through your actions to gospel values and, in the Swiss social fabric, you are an example of fraternity and sharing.
Love for our neighbour is a response to the commandment and an example of Christ if it is founded on a true love for God. Thus it is possible for the Christian, through his devotion, to help others experience the providential tenderness of our heavenly Father. In order to give love to our brothers, we need to draw love from the furnace of divine charity, through prayer, listening to the Word of God and participating in the Holy Eucharist. With these spiritual points of reference, it is possible to work according to the logic of gratitude and service.
I thank you again for all that you are doing to help many Swiss youth who decide to consecrate their years and their lives to the service of the Church and the Holy See. For me, this is an occasion to repeat my observation that their discrete, professional and generous presence is very much appreciated and useful for the good order and functioning of the activities here at the Vatican.
May the Holy Virgin and Saint Nicholas de Flüe protect you and your families, and may they make you more and more witnesses of joy and goodness. To all of you here present and to all those who contribute to your laudable activities in support of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, I trust that you will continue your fruitful commitment and, while asking you to pray for me, I grant to you my Apostolic Blessing accompanied by all my affection.
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