Thursday, November 9, 2017

Greetings to those discussing a modern Pope

The Holy Father, Pope Francis sent a Message to participants taking part in a Convention entitled Paul VI, the Pope of modernity: justice among people and love for Italy, which took place yesterday morning at the Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls.  The gathering was organized and promoted by the Basilica staff in collaboration with the Chair of Ecclesiastical Rights at the University of Roma Tre and with the Benedictine Abbey.


Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to participants taking part in
a convention on the modernity of Pope Paul VI

To the venerable Professor
Carlo Cardia

I have learned that this morning in Rome, a Convention dedicated to Paul VI, the Pope of modernity is taking place.  I wish to send a cordial greeting to the religious and civil authorities who are present and to all the participants, especially to the many students, and to express my gratitude to the illustrious speakers and those who have organized this initiative.

This gathering is taking place fifty years after the promulgation of the Encyclial Letter Popolorum Progressio, which sought to be a solemn appeal for concerted action toward the integral development of mankind, and development in solidarity with all humanity (PP, 5).  Such a call is urgent even today, while poverty continues to spread and peace is delayed day after day in many parts of the world.  In order to create peace, we must eliminate the causes of discord, especially beginning with injustices; peace between all people, in fact, this is a work of justice (Gaudium et spes, 83;78)Therefore, your reflection, which centres on justice among people is particularly current, inspired by the Gospel on a journey which asks us to bring Christian charity, faith and hope to encounter people in the streets today.

This conference also deals with love for Italy.  Love and Italy are two words that are joyfully approached, both by the discreet and attentive affection that Paul VI always demonstrated for his beloved country and because the most generous souls of the Italian people bear witness to the truths that solidarity and proximity are indispensable foundations for the human community.  In fact, they support authentic humanism, which is always modern and which we should never tire of reworking and promoting at all times, to the detriment of our own dignity.

Hoping for the good development of this Convention and expressing my wish that it may honour Blessed Paul VI, above all by stirring up renewed and fruitful seeds of goodness, I willingly impart my Apostolic blessing.

From the Vatican
8 November 2017

Francis

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