At noon local time today, in Saint Peter's Square, the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with members of the National Confederation of Mercy and groups of blood donors from Fratres Italia.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
I welcome all of you who are part of Misericordia d'Italia and the Fratres groups, as well as your relatives and those who have come to take part in your pilgrimage. I greet Monsignor Franco Agostinelli, Bishop of Prato and your Counsellor general, and the National President of your Confederation, Mister Roberto Trucchi. I wish to thank him for the words with which he introduced our meeting today. I also wish to express my appreciation to all of you for the important work you are accomplishing on behalf of those who are suffering.
Mercy, an ancient expression among Catholic laity, is firmly rooted in the territory of Italy. Your task is to bear witness to the Gospel of charity among the sick, the elderly, the disabled, minors, immigrants and the poor. All your acts of service take their meaning and form from the word misericordia, a Latin word which comes from the phrase miseris cor dare, meaning to give one's heart to mercies, an action that is very much needed, especially by those who suffer.
This is what Jesus did: he poured out his Heart in mercy for us. The gospel is rich in accounts that demonstrate the mercy of Jesus, the gracious gift of his love for the suffering and the weak. In the gospel accounts, we can see the closeness, the goodness, the tenderness with which Jesus approached and comforted those who were suffering, gave them relief and often cured them. Following the example of our Master, we too are called to draw close, to share the conditions of persons who we meet. Thus, it is necessary that our words, our gestures, our attitudes should express solidarity, our willingness not to remain on the outside, at a distance from the suffering of others, but instead to approach with fraternal warmth, never resorting to any form of paternalism.
We have so much information and statistics available to us regarding human poverty and human tribulations. It would be quite easy for us to remain as informed but disinterested spectators to this reality, or we can make wonderful speeches that end with verbal solutions and very little sense of obligation to do anything about the real problems. Too many words, to many words, too many words, while nothing is really done! This is always a danger, but not for you. You work, you work well, very well! But there is always a risk ... When I hear some conversations between people who know the statistics, they say: What barbarism, Father! That's barbarism, that's barbarism! But what are you doing about all the barbarism? Nothing, I speak! And this solves nothing! We have heard so many words! What we need is action, your action, Christian witness, we need you to go out to the suffering, be close to them like Jesus was close to them. Imitate Jesus: He travelled in the streets and didn't have a plan for the poor or for the sick or for the invalids who crowded around him along the way; but with the first who he encountered, he stopped, he became a soothing presence, a sign of God's closeness which is goodness, providence and love.
The work of your association is inspired by the seven works of corporal mercy, which I want to call to mind, because it's good to hear them mentioned again: giving food to the hungry; giving drink to those who are thirsty; clothing the naked; providing lodging for pilgrims; visiting the sick; visiting the imprisoned, burying the dead. I encourage you to joyfully continue your actions and to model them on the actions of Christ, allowing all those who suffer to look to you and to count on you in their moments of need.
Dear brothers and sisters, thank you! Thank you again to all of you for what you do. Thank you! May all the Misericordie and the Fratres groups continue to be places of welcome and thanksgiving, signs of authentic merciful love for every person. May the Lord bless you, and may the Virgin Mary protect you! Thank you!
(Blessing)
And please, don't forget to pray for me. I too need your prayers! Thank you!
Address of His Holiness, Pope Francis
for the meeting with members of the
National Confederation of Mercy
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
I welcome all of you who are part of Misericordia d'Italia and the Fratres groups, as well as your relatives and those who have come to take part in your pilgrimage. I greet Monsignor Franco Agostinelli, Bishop of Prato and your Counsellor general, and the National President of your Confederation, Mister Roberto Trucchi. I wish to thank him for the words with which he introduced our meeting today. I also wish to express my appreciation to all of you for the important work you are accomplishing on behalf of those who are suffering.
Mercy, an ancient expression among Catholic laity, is firmly rooted in the territory of Italy. Your task is to bear witness to the Gospel of charity among the sick, the elderly, the disabled, minors, immigrants and the poor. All your acts of service take their meaning and form from the word misericordia, a Latin word which comes from the phrase miseris cor dare, meaning to give one's heart to mercies, an action that is very much needed, especially by those who suffer.
This is what Jesus did: he poured out his Heart in mercy for us. The gospel is rich in accounts that demonstrate the mercy of Jesus, the gracious gift of his love for the suffering and the weak. In the gospel accounts, we can see the closeness, the goodness, the tenderness with which Jesus approached and comforted those who were suffering, gave them relief and often cured them. Following the example of our Master, we too are called to draw close, to share the conditions of persons who we meet. Thus, it is necessary that our words, our gestures, our attitudes should express solidarity, our willingness not to remain on the outside, at a distance from the suffering of others, but instead to approach with fraternal warmth, never resorting to any form of paternalism.
We have so much information and statistics available to us regarding human poverty and human tribulations. It would be quite easy for us to remain as informed but disinterested spectators to this reality, or we can make wonderful speeches that end with verbal solutions and very little sense of obligation to do anything about the real problems. Too many words, to many words, too many words, while nothing is really done! This is always a danger, but not for you. You work, you work well, very well! But there is always a risk ... When I hear some conversations between people who know the statistics, they say: What barbarism, Father! That's barbarism, that's barbarism! But what are you doing about all the barbarism? Nothing, I speak! And this solves nothing! We have heard so many words! What we need is action, your action, Christian witness, we need you to go out to the suffering, be close to them like Jesus was close to them. Imitate Jesus: He travelled in the streets and didn't have a plan for the poor or for the sick or for the invalids who crowded around him along the way; but with the first who he encountered, he stopped, he became a soothing presence, a sign of God's closeness which is goodness, providence and love.
The work of your association is inspired by the seven works of corporal mercy, which I want to call to mind, because it's good to hear them mentioned again: giving food to the hungry; giving drink to those who are thirsty; clothing the naked; providing lodging for pilgrims; visiting the sick; visiting the imprisoned, burying the dead. I encourage you to joyfully continue your actions and to model them on the actions of Christ, allowing all those who suffer to look to you and to count on you in their moments of need.
Dear brothers and sisters, thank you! Thank you again to all of you for what you do. Thank you! May all the Misericordie and the Fratres groups continue to be places of welcome and thanksgiving, signs of authentic merciful love for every person. May the Lord bless you, and may the Virgin Mary protect you! Thank you!
(Blessing)
And please, don't forget to pray for me. I too need your prayers! Thank you!
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