Thursday, December 7, 2017

Meeting with a choir from Bologna

At 11:15am today, in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the small Mariele Ventre Choir from the Antoniano in Bologna.  This choir is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Zecchino d'Oro.


Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the visit of the Mariele Ventre Choir

Dear children and young people,

I greet all of you with great affection, as well as all those who follow the activities of the Small Mariele Ventre Choir from the Antoniano in Bologna.  This year, you are celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the competition referred to as Lo Zecchino d'Oro.

I want to express my appreciation for the fame that your choir has achieved over the years because of your beautiful musical performances which have brought satisfaction to children as well as adults.  This is because with your songs, you communicate a sense of serenity, simply and bravely, which is so necessary for everyone, especially for families who are facing difficulties and suffering.

Continue your journey: sing about the authentic values of life, and through your singing, praise and thank God for all the good that he does for us.  In this time of Advent, in preparation for Christmas, your songs narrate the events of the birth of Jesus; may they help those who hear them to understand the love and the wonder of all that took place in Bethlehem two thousand years ago.  God made himself a child in order to be closer to mankind in every age, demonstrating for us his infinite tenderness.

I ask you to pray for me, and with all my heart, I invoke upon you the blessing of the Lord, which I extend also to your Spiritual Directors, to the Franciscan Fathers and to all of your family members.

Now, from the places where you are sitting, let us all gaze upon Our Lady who is waiting for the Child, waiting for Jesus.  We too are waiting for Jesus, all of us, and he will come into our hearts.  let us pray together to Our Lady, a Hail Mary.

Hail Mary ...

Every time that we are in need, every time that we are sad or facing any difficulty, sickness or problem, we can look to Our Lady, who teaches us to wait for Jesus.  Jesus is always coming to us.  We just need a bit of patience, like she was patient - even despite great difficulty! - waiting to receive Jesus.

Now, I will give you my blessing.

(Blessing)

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