Saturday, September 28, 2019

Greetings for Children from Portugal

This morning, at 11:40am local time (5:40am EDT), in the Atrium of the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the children who are guests of the Father David de Oliveria Martins Social Centre in Braga (Portugal).


Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
offered to a group of children from Portugal

Dear brothers and sisters!

I greet you all and thank you to Father Jorge for the kind words of greeting and presentation of this beautiful gift of God, this wonder that is the Social Centre of Ruílhe. This is especially the result of the gift offered by the humble and generous people in response to the call of Father David de Oliveira Martins. He didn't ask this for himself; he would ask his brothers, who would reach out for help. God has given him the grace to touch the hearts of the poor and the humble, unleashing the revolution of tenderness everywhere under the banner of The Children of Father David! From Rome, take a hug from me to the assistants of the institution who are working in various roles in the service of children, youth, the poor and the elderly. As ambassadors of your love for the Church and the good you want for me, you have sent the little ones. Thank you, Father Manuel Joaquim!

Your path leads you to look together into the future: not to look alone, not even to yourself. As Saint Paul teaches, the present or the future, everything is yours. But you are in Christ, and Christ is from God (1 Cor 3:21, 23). You are in Christ! This is the deep meaning of your story to this day, but it is above all the key to facing the future. Always be in Christ, in prayer, in the care of your little brothers. Do not be afraid to participate in the revolution to which he calls you: the revolution of tenderness (cf Evangelii gaudium, 88). Christ walks with you and will guide you.

Before greeting you more personally, I want to assure each and every one of you of my affectionate solidarity. Never let the past determine your life. Always look forward. Work and strive to achieve the things you want. And let none of you ever feel alone; indeed, it is for every man, created in the image of Christ, to be close to his neighbour. May God grant you to be bearers for each other of His mercy, tenderness, and love. And may He bless the Father David Social Centre with his energy and support, together with all who are housed there and all who run it. I am praying for you; and I ask you please to pray for me! Thank you.
Texto original em português

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