At 7:00am today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis departed by helicopter from the Vatican heliport and was transported to Assisi where he will spend the day in the context of a pastoral visit. Among the members of the Papal party who will accompany His Holiness are the eight Cardinals who have been chosen to assist him in the governance of the universal Church.
At 7:45 this morning, the papal helicopter landed on the sports field outside the Instituto Serafico in Assisi, and the Holy Father was welcomed by the Archbishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, His Excellency, Domenico Sorentino; by the President of the Region of Umbria, the Honorable Catiuscia Marini; by the Ambassador of Italy to the Holy See, His Excellency, Francesco Maria Greco; by the Apostolic Nuncio to Italy, His Excellency, Adriano Bernardini; by the Prefect of Perugia, Doctor Antonio Repucci; by the Mayor of Assisi, Doctor Claudio Ricci; and by the President of the Province of Perugia, Doctor Marco Vinicio Guasticchi.
The Holy Father then travelled on foot to the Instituto Serafico where, at 8:00am he met in the chapel with disabled and sick children who are guests of the Instituto.
Following words of welcome which were offered by the Mayor of Assisi, Claudio Ricci, and an explanation of the current state of affairs at the Instituto Serafico presented by its President, Doctor Francesca di Maolo, the Pope shared a spontaneous greeting with those who were present, choosing to leave the prepared speech with the participants for future reflection.
Doctor di Maolo, you said that we are among the wounds of Jesus. You also said that these wounds need to be listened to and recognized. The image that comes to my mind is of Jesus walking with the two saddened disciples. In the end, the Lord Jesus showed them his wounds and they recognized him; and the bread: he was there. My brother Dominic told me that in this place you do Adoration. This bread too needs to be listened to, because Jesus is present and hidden in the simplicity and sweetness of this bread. And Jesus is here, hidden in these boys, in these children, in these people. On the altar, we adore the body of Jesus, in them we find the wounds of Jesus. Jesus is hidden in the Eucharist and Jesus is hidden in these wounded ones. They need to be listened to. Perhaps not so much like the news printed in a newspaper: that kind of attention lasts for one, two, perhaps three days and then there is something else, something more ... These must be listened to by those who call themselves Christians. The Christian adores Jesus, the Christian searches for Jesus, the Christian knows how to recognize the wounds of Jesus. Today, all of us who are here need to say: These wounds need to be listened to. But there is something else too that gives us hope. Jesus is present in the Eucharist: this is the flesh of Jesus. Jesus is present among you: here, Jesus is present in the flesh, in these people, the wounds of Jesus are among you.
It's interesting: the Risen Jesus was beautiful! He didn't have bruises or wounds on his body ... nothing. He wanted to keep the wounds and take them to heaven. The wounds of Jesus are here, and they are in heaven, before the Father. We care for the wounds of Jesus here, and from heaven, He shows us his wounds and says to all of us: I am waiting for you.
May the Lord bless all of you. May his love descend upon us and walk with us; may Jesus tell us always that these wounds are His wounds, and help us to give them voice, because we Christians are listening.
Leaving the chapel, the Holy Father looked out the window and addressed the people who were gathered outside:
Good morning. I greet you all. Thank you very much for all of this. Pray for all the children, the little ones, for all those who are here in this place, and for all those who work here. Pray for them. They are so beautiful. May the Lord bless you. Pray also for me. Always. Pray for me, not against me. God bless you!
Having said this, the Holy Father left the Instituto Serafico and travelled by car to the Shrine of San Damiano. At 9:00am, the Holy Father paid a private visit to the Shrine of San Damiano. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by the General Minister of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, Father Michael Anthony Perry, and by the religious community who reside in that Convent. In the church, the Holy Father spent some time in private prayer, then he travelled by car to the Archbishop's residence.
At 7:45 this morning, the papal helicopter landed on the sports field outside the Instituto Serafico in Assisi, and the Holy Father was welcomed by the Archbishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, His Excellency, Domenico Sorentino; by the President of the Region of Umbria, the Honorable Catiuscia Marini; by the Ambassador of Italy to the Holy See, His Excellency, Francesco Maria Greco; by the Apostolic Nuncio to Italy, His Excellency, Adriano Bernardini; by the Prefect of Perugia, Doctor Antonio Repucci; by the Mayor of Assisi, Doctor Claudio Ricci; and by the President of the Province of Perugia, Doctor Marco Vinicio Guasticchi.
The Holy Father then travelled on foot to the Instituto Serafico where, at 8:00am he met in the chapel with disabled and sick children who are guests of the Instituto.
Following words of welcome which were offered by the Mayor of Assisi, Claudio Ricci, and an explanation of the current state of affairs at the Instituto Serafico presented by its President, Doctor Francesca di Maolo, the Pope shared a spontaneous greeting with those who were present, choosing to leave the prepared speech with the participants for future reflection.
Impromptu greetings shared by His Holiness, Pope Francis
with children at the Instituto Serafico in Assisi
It's interesting: the Risen Jesus was beautiful! He didn't have bruises or wounds on his body ... nothing. He wanted to keep the wounds and take them to heaven. The wounds of Jesus are here, and they are in heaven, before the Father. We care for the wounds of Jesus here, and from heaven, He shows us his wounds and says to all of us: I am waiting for you.
May the Lord bless all of you. May his love descend upon us and walk with us; may Jesus tell us always that these wounds are His wounds, and help us to give them voice, because we Christians are listening.
Leaving the chapel, the Holy Father looked out the window and addressed the people who were gathered outside:
Good morning. I greet you all. Thank you very much for all of this. Pray for all the children, the little ones, for all those who are here in this place, and for all those who work here. Pray for them. They are so beautiful. May the Lord bless you. Pray also for me. Always. Pray for me, not against me. God bless you!
Having said this, the Holy Father left the Instituto Serafico and travelled by car to the Shrine of San Damiano. At 9:00am, the Holy Father paid a private visit to the Shrine of San Damiano. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by the General Minister of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, Father Michael Anthony Perry, and by the religious community who reside in that Convent. In the church, the Holy Father spent some time in private prayer, then he travelled by car to the Archbishop's residence.
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