At 12:45pm local time in Rome today, the Holy Father met with the members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard in the Sala Clementina of the Vatican Apostolic Palace.
Each year on this day, the members of the Swiss Guard commemorate the sacrifice of 147 soldiers who died while defending Pope Clement VII during the Sack of Rome in 1527. Remembering the heroic death of these soldiers, this anniversary is always observed as the occasion for the taking of a solemn oath by new recruits who are beginning their time of service to the Holy Father. Today, there were 35 new soldiers present for the ceremony which took place in the San Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace.
Dear friends of the Swiss Guard!
I am happy to welcome you and to speak a few words of cordial greeting to you, to your families, to your friends, to the Authorities, and to all those who have come to take part in this festive day. To all of you, dear Guards, I express sincere thanks for your precious and generous service to the Pope and to the Church. Every day I personally experience the dedication, the professionalism and the love with which you carry out your various activities. And for this, I thank you. I especially wish to thank your families who willingly welcomed your desire to live this experience of service in the Vatican, and who support you with their affection and their prayer.
On this day, you keep the memory of the sacrifice of the Swiss Guards engaged in vigorous defence of the Pope during the Sack of Rome. Today, you are called to this heroic gesture, but also to another form of sacrifice which is equally as challenging: putting your youthful energy at the service of the Church and the Pope. To do this, you must be strong, motivated by love and sustained by your faith in Christ. This year, your celebration is part of the Year of Faith, which the Church is living in all parts of the world. I am certain that the decision to spend the next few years at the service of the Pope is motivated by your faith. Indeed, the deeper motivations that have driven you here to Rome find their source in your faith. A faith that you learned in your families, cultivated in your parishes and which also manifests the commitment of Swiss Catholics to the Church. Remember well: the faith that God gave you on the day of your Baptism is the most valuable treasure that you have! And your mission at the service of the Pope and the Church finds its source there: in faith.
During your stay in Rome, you are called to bear witness to your faith with joy and special delicacy. These traits are important for the sake of those who come to visit Vatican City. But it is also important for the sake of those who work here in the Holy See, and also for me. Your presence is a sign of the strength and the beauty of the Gospel, which in every time calls young people to follow. And I would also like to invite you to live the period of time you spend in the Eternal City in a spirit of genuine brotherhood, helping one another to live good Christian lives, which correspond to your faith and to your mission in the Church. Know how to be attentive to one another, especially when someone among you might be facing some difficulty. Be prepared to listen, to be close to one another. Pray for one another and practice mutual communion, drawn from Jesus gift in the Eucharist.
Your specific ecclesial experience in the Swiss Guard Corps is a privileged opportunity to deepen your knowledge of Christ and of his Gospel, for following in his footsteps, almost breathing in here in Rome the catholicity of the Church. When some of you today swear your allegiance to faithfully carry out your service in the Guard, and others renew this oath in their hearts, remember that the service you render is also a testimony to Christ who calls you to be authentic men and true Christians, the protagonists of your existence. Profoundly united to Him, you will be able to face the obstacles and challenges of life with maturity, with the firm conviction that the Paschal Vigil reminds us is born in the Risen Christ who is the eternal King who has overcome the darkness of the world. He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Dear Swiss Guards, do not forget that the Lord walks with you. This is a good thought, that is good for the soul; don't forget that the Lord is always at work in us, he is always at your side to support you, espcially in moments of difficulty and trial. I sincerely hope that you will always know the joy and the consolation of his illuminating and merciful presence.
I commend each of you and your precious service to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary and to that of your Patron Saints; and I cordially impart to each of you, to your families and to all of those present here my Blessing, as a sign of great affection and special gratitude.
Each year on this day, the members of the Swiss Guard commemorate the sacrifice of 147 soldiers who died while defending Pope Clement VII during the Sack of Rome in 1527. Remembering the heroic death of these soldiers, this anniversary is always observed as the occasion for the taking of a solemn oath by new recruits who are beginning their time of service to the Holy Father. Today, there were 35 new soldiers present for the ceremony which took place in the San Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace.
Address of His Holiness, Pope Francis
to the members of the Swiss Guard and their families
on the occasion of the swearing in of new recruits
Dear friends of the Swiss Guard!
I am happy to welcome you and to speak a few words of cordial greeting to you, to your families, to your friends, to the Authorities, and to all those who have come to take part in this festive day. To all of you, dear Guards, I express sincere thanks for your precious and generous service to the Pope and to the Church. Every day I personally experience the dedication, the professionalism and the love with which you carry out your various activities. And for this, I thank you. I especially wish to thank your families who willingly welcomed your desire to live this experience of service in the Vatican, and who support you with their affection and their prayer.
On this day, you keep the memory of the sacrifice of the Swiss Guards engaged in vigorous defence of the Pope during the Sack of Rome. Today, you are called to this heroic gesture, but also to another form of sacrifice which is equally as challenging: putting your youthful energy at the service of the Church and the Pope. To do this, you must be strong, motivated by love and sustained by your faith in Christ. This year, your celebration is part of the Year of Faith, which the Church is living in all parts of the world. I am certain that the decision to spend the next few years at the service of the Pope is motivated by your faith. Indeed, the deeper motivations that have driven you here to Rome find their source in your faith. A faith that you learned in your families, cultivated in your parishes and which also manifests the commitment of Swiss Catholics to the Church. Remember well: the faith that God gave you on the day of your Baptism is the most valuable treasure that you have! And your mission at the service of the Pope and the Church finds its source there: in faith.
During your stay in Rome, you are called to bear witness to your faith with joy and special delicacy. These traits are important for the sake of those who come to visit Vatican City. But it is also important for the sake of those who work here in the Holy See, and also for me. Your presence is a sign of the strength and the beauty of the Gospel, which in every time calls young people to follow. And I would also like to invite you to live the period of time you spend in the Eternal City in a spirit of genuine brotherhood, helping one another to live good Christian lives, which correspond to your faith and to your mission in the Church. Know how to be attentive to one another, especially when someone among you might be facing some difficulty. Be prepared to listen, to be close to one another. Pray for one another and practice mutual communion, drawn from Jesus gift in the Eucharist.
Your specific ecclesial experience in the Swiss Guard Corps is a privileged opportunity to deepen your knowledge of Christ and of his Gospel, for following in his footsteps, almost breathing in here in Rome the catholicity of the Church. When some of you today swear your allegiance to faithfully carry out your service in the Guard, and others renew this oath in their hearts, remember that the service you render is also a testimony to Christ who calls you to be authentic men and true Christians, the protagonists of your existence. Profoundly united to Him, you will be able to face the obstacles and challenges of life with maturity, with the firm conviction that the Paschal Vigil reminds us is born in the Risen Christ who is the eternal King who has overcome the darkness of the world. He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Dear Swiss Guards, do not forget that the Lord walks with you. This is a good thought, that is good for the soul; don't forget that the Lord is always at work in us, he is always at your side to support you, espcially in moments of difficulty and trial. I sincerely hope that you will always know the joy and the consolation of his illuminating and merciful presence.
I commend each of you and your precious service to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary and to that of your Patron Saints; and I cordially impart to each of you, to your families and to all of those present here my Blessing, as a sign of great affection and special gratitude.
No comments:
Post a Comment