In the evening hours of this day, we celebrated the life of another of the family of faith who has now completed her earthly journey and entered the house of the Father. Tomorrow, she will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband and her cherished son, but first we took a moment to thank God for all that we have known and lived with her.
Funeral homily for
Marilyn (Marney) St. James
The parish family of Saint Peter the Apostle gathers this
evening along with you Nancy, Tom, Greg and Brittany and with other siblings
of our beloved sister Marney to accompany her on this final leg of her earthly
journey.Tomorrow, you will lay her
moral remains beside those of her beloved husband and her cherished son, but
first, we have a precious moment to reflect on the life that
Marney lived and the many ways in which our loving God has been present to her
and now welcomes her into eternal rest.
Marilyn Hodgson was the first of six children to be born
to Hamilton and Lila Hodgson.In the
lumbering community of Goward, she and her siblings learned their first lessons
about life, about giving and about loving at the knees of their parents.It was in the church of Saint Elizabeth in
the nearby town of Temagami that Marney was baptized and began her life of
faith.This relationship of faith was
also evidenced each time she celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation,
every time she received the Eucharist, on the day when she was wed to her
beloved husband Gail and each time she in turn brought her children to the font
to celebrate the faith that was being passed on to them.
The relationship of faith that begins at baptism is
strong enough to support us in times of struggle, such as the tragic death of
her son Gregory, and the later physical struggles that Gail faced as he confronted the increasing challenges imposed by the progression of Alzheimer’s.Like them, she now stands at the threshold of
heaven, where she can experience Saint John’s vision of the new heaven and the new earth for herself
(cf Rev 21:1).
In the final hours of Gail’s life here on earth, he no
longer knew Marney by name, but he was comforted by her presence, he knew her
voice and welcomed her loving touch.In
a similar way, Marney is now enveloped by the Lord’s presence.She recognizes his gentle touch and hears the
words he speaks with tenderness and joy: Come,
you whom my Father has blessed; take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for
you since the foundation of the world (Mt 25:34).
After Gail’s earthly journey was complete, Marney was
able to dedicate lots of time and energy to spending time with her brothers and
sisters, and with her cherished grandchildren.The memories of her unfailing commitment to bringing joy to those she
met: in gestures such as flipping burgers and catering lunches, or spending
time with Greg and Brittany at the hockey rink are part of the treasure she leaves for each of you.She found great joy and pride in all your accomplishments, and there was
no greater joy and motivation for her than to be part of your lives.Cherish these times; remember them always with great fondness.
Marney’s soul is now in
the hand of God, and no torment will ever trouble her again (cf Wis
3:1).From her place in heaven, where
she is reunited with Gail and Gregory, she watches over us, helping us to
experience the grace and mercy which
the Lord reserves for his holy ones as he
watches over his elect (Wis 3:9).
At noon today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study at the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the expected Sunday gathering.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.
This Sunday's gospel (Jn 6:1-15) presents the great scene of the multiplication of the loaves according to the accounting of John the Evangelist. Jesus is on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, and is surrounded by a great crowd, attracted by signs he was performing for the sick (Jn 6:2). He acts with the merciful power of God, healing the recipients from every bodily and spiritual ill. But Jesus is not only a healer, he is also a master: in fact, he climbs the mountain and sits down, with the attitude typical of a teacher who teaches: he sits upon his cathedra, created by his heavenly Father. At this point, Jesus, who knows very well what he is about to do, puts his disciples to the test. How are they to feed so many people? Philip, one of the Twelve, makes a quick calculation: he organizes a collection, and estimates that they can collect a maximum of two hundred denarii, in order to by bread, which however would never be enough to feed five thousand people.
The disciples think in marketing terms, but Jesus replaces the logic of purchasing with another logic, the logic of giving. Thus Andrew, another of the Apostles, the brother of Simon Peter, finds a young boy who brings forward all that he has: five loaves and two fish, but certainly - says Andrew - this is nothing when compared with the size of the crowd (cf Jn 6:9). But Jesus was waiting precisely for this. He commands the disciples to seat the people, then he takes the bread and the fish, gives thanks to the Father and distributes them (cf Jn 6:11). These actions anticipate those of the Last Supper, when Jesus gives bread its true meaning. The bread of God is Jesus himself. In Communion with Him, we receive his life in us and we become children of our heavenly Father and brothers and sisters with one another. Through this Communion we encounter the truly living and risen Jesus! Participating in the Eucharist signifies our entrance into the logic of Jesus, the logic of gratitude of sharing. And to all those who are poor, we can give something. Entering into Communion, also means drawing from Christ the grace that makes us capable of sharing what we have and what we are with others.
The crowd is amazed by the prodigious multiplication of the loaves; but the gift that Jesus offers is the fullness of life for man who is hungry. Jesus satisfies not only material hunger but the deeper hunger, the hunger for a sense of life, hunger for God. Faced with the suffering, solitude, poverty and difficulties of so many people, what can we do? Complaining doesn't solve anything, but we can offer the little that we have, like the young boy in the Gospel. We certainly have a few hours of time, some talent, some ability ... Who among us does not have five loaves and two fish? We all have them! If we are ready to place them into the hands of the Lord, that will be enough because there will be a bit more love in the world, a bit more peace, a bit more justice and especially a bit more joy. Oh, how we need joy in our world! God can multiply our small gestures of solidarity and make them partakers in his gift.
May our prayer support our common commitment to ensure that no one ever is short of the Bread of heaven that is the promise of eternal life and all that is needed for a dignified life: the affirmation of the logic of sharing and love. May the Virgin Mary accompany us with her maternal intercession.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today, the registrations for the thirty-first World Youth Day are open, a meeting that will take place next year in Poland. I myself wanted to open the registrations; for this reason, I have invited a young man and a young woman to stand beside me today, so that they could be with me at the moment when the registrations are opened, here in front of us. (Note: the Pope clicked on the keypad of an IPad which was offered to him). There, I am now registered for the Day as a pilgrim by means of this electronic device. Celebrated during the Year of Mercy, this Day will be, in a certain sense, a jubilee of youth, called to reflect on the theme: Blessed are the merciful, for they will find mercy (Mt 5:7). I invite the youth of the world to come on this pilgrimage either by coming to Krakow or by participating in this moment of grace in their own communities.
In a few days' time, we will mark the second anniversary since, in Syria, Father Paolo Dall'Oglio was captured. I want to make an urgent and heartfelt appeal for the release of this esteemed priest. Neither can I forget the Orthodox Bishops who were captured in Syria and all the other persons who, in various war zones, have been sequestered. I am hopeful for renewed commitment on the part of competent local and international Authorities, that our brothers may soon have their freedom restored. With affection and sharing their suffering, I wish to remember them in prayer; let's all pray for them right now: Hail Mary ...
I greet all of you, pilgrims who have come from various parts of Italy and from other countries. I greet the international pilgrimage of the Sisters of San Felice, the faithful from Salamanca, the youth from Brecia who are helping at the Caritas soup kitchen here in Rome, and the youth from Ponte San Giovanni (Perugia).
Today, July 26, the Church recalls Saint Joachim and Saint Ann, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and therefore the grandparents of Jesus. On this occasion, I want to greet all grandfathers and grandmothers, and I want to thank them for their precious presence in families and for the sake of younger generations. Let us offer a greeting and applause for all living grandparents and for all those who watch us now from heaven.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch. Good bye!
Ever since 1067AD, there has been a division in the Church. The Bishop of Rome is the recognized leader of the Western Church while the recognized leader of the Eastern Church is the Archbishop of Constantinople (Turkey).
For each of the churches belonging to the Eastern Church, there is also a sub-branch which is in union with Rome, such as the Ukrainian Catholic Church (vs the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which recognizes the supremacy of the Archbishop of Constantinople).
The Bishop of Rome alone has legitimate authority to appoint Shepherds to lead local Churches within the Western Church. For the Eparchies which are part of the Eastern uniate Churches, the Holy Father acts on the advice of the Synods of the respective Patriarchates.
The Holy Father has accepted the Ecclesiastical Communion which was asked of him according to Canon 76, § 2 of the Code of Eastern Canons, and recognizes His Beatitude, Grégoire Pierre XX Ghabroyan, canonically elected as Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenians on July 24, 2015 by the Synod of that Patriarchal Church.
Message of His Holiness, Pope Francis
to His Beatitude Grégoire Pierre XX Ghabroyan
Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenians
Your election to the See of Cilicia for the Armenians is for me a moment of great joy and I thank you for the letter by which Your Beatitude has shared this news with me, asking for ecclesiastical communion.
I join with all the faithful of that Patriarchate in expressing my fraternal and cordial congratulations and I implore for you an abundance of divine gifts, that your new ministry might bear abundant fruit. May the Lord grant his blessings, so that the earth might bear these fruits (cf Ps 85:13)!
Your Beatitude's election takes place at a moment when your Church is confronted with certain difficulties and new challenges, such as the situation of certain Armenian Catholics who are experiencing great trials in the Middle East. However, guided by the light of faith in the Risen Christ, our outlook on the world is full of hope and mercy, for we are sure that the Cross of Christ is the tree of life.
I am convinced that Your Beatitude, in communion with the venerable Syond Fathers, with the help of the Holy Spirit, will be capable, with an entirely evangelical wisdom, of being Father and Head, the Good Shepherd of the portion of the people of God which is confided to your care. The numerous Armenian martyrs and Saint Gregory of Narek, Doctor of the Church, will surely intercede for you.
I willingly grant to Your Beatitude the desired ecclesiastical communion, in accordance with the tradition of the Church and the norms currently in effect.
Confiding you and your ministry to Jesus Christ and to the protection of the Most Venerable Mother of God, I willingly send you the Apostolic Benediction which I also extend to the entire Patriarchate.
Having learned of the death of His Eminence, William Wakefield Cardinal Baum, Archbishop emeritus of Washington, DC (USA) and Major Pennitentiary emeritus, which took place on Thursday, July 23, 2015, Pope Francis sent the following message to the current Archbishop of Washington, His Eminence, Donald William Cardinal Wuerl.
Telegram of His Holiness, Pope Francis
expressing condolences upon the death of Cardinal Baum
His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl
Archbishop of Washington
I was saddened to learn of the death of Cardinal William Wakefield Baum, Archbishop emeritus of Washington, and I offer my heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayers, to you and to all the faithful of the Archdiocese. With gratitude for the late Cardinal’s years of episcopal service in Springfield-Cape Girardeau and in Washington, and for his long service to the Apostolic See as Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and subsequently Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, I join you in commending the late Cardinal’s soul to God the Father of mercies. To all present at the Mass of Christian Burial and to all who mourn Cardinal Baum in the hope of the Resurrection, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of strength and consolation in the Lord.
This afternoon at 5:00pm local time, the Holy Father met with participants taking part in the Modern Slavery and Climate Change Workshop: the Commitment of the Cities in the Synod Hall at the Vatican. This gathering was organized by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and involves the Mayors from many of the large cities throughout the world in order to address two related emergencies: the climate crisis and new forms of slavery.
During his meeting with the Mayors from various parts of the world, the Pope shared a brief impromptu remarks in Spanish.
Remarks of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the meeting with participants in the
Modern Slavery and Climate Change Workshop
Allow me to speak in Spanish.
Good evening, welcome.
I sincerely thank you with all my heart for the work that you have done. It is true that everything revolved around the theme of caring for the environment, around this culture of caring for the environment, but this culture of caring for the environment is not only an attitude - and I mean this in the true sense of the word - green, it is not only about having a green attitude, it's much more than that. Taking care of the environment means having an attitude of human ecology. We cannot say, that is, that a person stands here and the issue of creation, of the environment, is over there. Ecology is all encompassing, it is human. This is what I wanted to express in the Encyclical Laudato si': that we cannot separate man from the rest; there is a reciprocal relationship, between the effect of the environment on the person and the way that a person treats the environment; and even the effects that rebound against man when the environment is mistreated. This is the reason why I answered a question that was asked of me by saying: No, this is not a green encyclical, it is a social encyclical. In society, in man's social life, we cannot neglect caring for the environment. What's more, caring for the environment is a social attitude, one that socializes us, in one sense or another - everyone can give it the value he or she wants - on the other hand, we get what we give - I like the Italian expression, when speaking about the environment, about the Creation, as that which we have been given as a gift, that is to say: the environment.
On the other hand, what was the reason for this invitation, which seems to me was the idea of the Pontifical Academy of Science, it was Bishop Sánchez Sorondo's idea, a great idea, to invite the Mayors of the largest cities, and of some of the not so large cities, to invite them to come here and to speak about this? Because one of the things we notice when creation is not being taken care of is the disproportionate growth of cities. This is a worldwide phenomenon. As though the leaders, the largest cities, became large, but in every case still retain a tie to poverty and to the greatest cases of suffering, where people suffer the effects of environmental neglect. Along the same lines, the phenomenon of migration also gets involved. Why do people come to the large cities, as though they are attracted to large cities - villas of suffering, barracks, favelas? Why do they do this? Simply because the rural world does not provide enough opportunity. This is a point that is raised in the Encyclical - with great respect, however, we should denounce it - the idolatry of technocracy. Technocracy leads to the destruction of work, it creates unemployment. There are many cases of unemployment and people are forced to emigrate, in search of new horizons. There are alarmingly large numbers of those who are unemployed. I don't have the statistics, but in some of the countries in Europe, especially among the youth, youth unemployment - those who are 25 years old and younger - the rate is 40% and in some cases even 50%. Between 40, 47 - I'm thinking of other countries - and 50. I'm thinking of other statistics which were furnished by government leaders, directly from Heads of State. And if we project into the future, we see a ghost. There are so many unemployed youth today who wonder about the possibilities, what future is there? What future is there for our youth: dependency, boredom, not knowing what to do with their lives - lives that have no meaning, very difficult lives, youth suicide - statistics about youth suicide have not been published in their entirety - or should they look to other possibilities, even guerrilla possibilities, for a meaning to their lives?
On the other hand, our health is at stake. The rising number of rare illnesses, as they are called, that are the result of many elements used to fertilize our fields - or who knows, no one is too sure yet about the causes - but nonetheless come from an excess of technology. Among the most serious problems at stake are those of oxygen and water. Many large areas are becoming deserts due to deforestation. Beside me here is the Cardinal Archbishop in charge of the Brazilian Amazon, who can explain the effects of deforestation in the Amazon today, the lungs of the world. Congo and the Amazon are the great lungs of the world. There has been great deforestation in my country in the past number of years ... 8, 9 years ago, I remember that the Federal Government undertook a process in one of the provinces to bring an end to deforestation that was affecting the people.
What happens when all these phenomena of excessive technocracy, without taking care of the environment, in addition to natural phenomena, affect migration? Lack of employment and human trafficking. Every time work becomes more common on the black market, without the existence of a contract, work that is under the table. This is a growing phenomenon! Black market work is widespread, and this means that people can't earn enough to live. This can provoke reactions, things that happen in large cities due to such migrations provoked by excessive reliance on technology. Above all, I am referring to the agricultural environment and to the trafficking of people involved in mining activity. Slavery in the mining sector is widespread and very strong, including the use of certain elements in the treatment of minerals - arsenic, cyanide ... - that make people sick. We have a great responsibility in this respect. Everything bounces back, everything will come back, everything ... The effects bounce back on the same people. It could be human trafficking or slave labour or even prostitution that become sources of work, for some people to survive today.
This is the reason why I am happy that you have reflected on these phenomena - I have only mentioned a few, no more - that affect large cities. In the end, I would say that all of this should be of interest to the United Nations. I really hope that during the Paris summit in November, they will reach a fundamental and basic agreement. I have great hope. However, the United Nations should look at these phenomena with great strength, above all, human trafficking that is motivated by this environmental phenomenon, the exploitation of people.
A few months ago, I received a delegation of women from the United Nations, who are dealing with problems of sexual exploitation of children in countries which are at war. Children are being treated as objects of exploitation. This is another phenomenon. Wars also have their effect on the environment.
Finally, I want to end with a reflection, which is not my own, but that of the theologian and philosopher Romano Guardini, who speaks of two forms of ignorance: ignorance that God has left us, so that we can transform it into culture, and this is the reason why he has given us the mandate to care for, to increase and to have dominion over the earth; and the second ignorance, when man does not respect this relationship with the earth, does not take care of it - it is very clear in the biblical account, which is a type of mystical literature. When we do not take care of it, man tries to dominate that culture and begins to change it. We are ignorant: we try to change it, but we lose control and we give rise to a second form of ignorance: atomic energy is good, it can help. So far, so good but think of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There, we created disaster and destruction, to use an old example. Today, in all forms of iignorance, as with those I have spoken of, this second form of ignorance leads to the destruction of man. A rabbi from the Middle Ages, more or less the era of Saint Thomas Aquinas - maybe someone has heard me speaking about him - explained in a midrash, the problem of the Tower of Babel to his parishioners in the Synagogue by saying that to construct the Tower of Babel, much time and much work was required, especially to make the bricks. They had to prepare the mud, look for straw, mix them, cut them, dry them, then place them in the kiln, bake them ... A brick was a gem, worth a lot of money. And they brought the bricks to build the tower. When a brick fell, it was a very serious problem and the culprit, the one who neglected his work and dropped the brick, was punished. When a worker fell, one of those who was working on the building, nothing happened. This is the drama of the second form of ignorance: man as the creator of ignorance and not of culture; man creates ignorance because he does not care for the environment.
This is the reason why this invitation was issued by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences to the Mayors of cities, because, even if this knowledge moves from the centre toward the peripheries, the most serious and most important work begins in the peripheries and moves toward the centre, that is, through you toward the consciences of all of humanity. The Holy See, or one country or another, can have a wonderful discussion with the United Nations, but if the work doesn't begin in the peripheries and move toward the centre, it will have no effect. This is the responsibility of the Mayors of cities.
I want to thank you very much for coming to this meeting from the peripheries and for taking this problem very seriously. Each of you has within your city, things like those which I have spoken of and over which you must govern, resolve and so on. Thank you for your collaboration. Bishop Sánchez Sorondo has told me that many of you have spoken and what you have said is very enriching.
I thank you and ask the Lord to grant you the grace to be more and more aware of this problem of destruction that we are bringing upon ourselves by not taking care of human ecology, by not having an ecological conscience like the one that was given to us in the beginning in order to transform our first ignorance into culture, to stop there and not to turn this culture into ignorance.
Here is the text of the homily I prepared for the funeral we celebrated today for one of God's beloved disciples.
Funeral homily for
Donald Leblanc
Friends and family members have gathered in this place
today along with you Edna, Victoria and Richard, to give thanks to God for the
gift of your beloved husband and father. Suzanne could not physically be present with us today, but she is here in spirit, praying with us.
Yesterday, at the funeral home, we gathered around
Donald’s mortal remains to utter a short prayer of thanksgiving.At that time, I asked you to bring to mind
reasons for which you would like to thank God for the gift that Donald was to
all of you.Today, we are gathered once
again, to commend the soul of our brother into the loving arms of our God.
Donald first began to learn about God when he was brought
to the baptismal font and welcomed into the family to which we all belong.His parents were the first to teach him his
catechism and in time they also entrusted his training to the care of religious
Brothers who taught at the vocational school where he was a student.Based on the example he saw in these first
teachers Don began to learn about Jesus and about how he was called to be a
disciple.
Donald spent the better part of his life working very
hard in order to provide for his family.He taught by example and using words when necessary.He taught you the value of an honest day’s
work, and he taught you to always give your very best efforts toward
accomplishing the task at hand.Throughout his life, I think it would be fair to say that he sought to please God, and in return, God loved him (Wis 4:10).His
soul being found pleasing to the Lord, he has now been taken from among
mortals to discover the fullness of God’s love (cf Wis 4:14).
A father and a mother can relate, at least somewhat, to the love God has for His children if they have discovered the bond that unites them to their own
offspring, yet the love that God has for us is beyond the limits of human comprehension.Saint John reminds us that Jesus asks us only
to listen to his words, and believe in
the One who sent him in order that we should have the reward of eternal
life (Jn 5:24).Our gathering here today
is therefore a celebration of great joy, the fulfillment of a life of faith,
for Don, who has completed his earthly journey, now hears the voice of the Son of God, and all who hear this voice will
live (Jn 5:25).
Even though we ourselves are still on our journey of
faith, we know that when we were baptized
in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death … so that as Christ was raised
from the dead … we too are already living a new life (Rom 6:3-4).We celebrate this new life with great joy
whenever we recognize and celebrate his goodness to us, whenever we gather with
others of our brothers and sisters in faith around the table of the
Eucharist.Christ himself teaches us
through his word that God, our Father is
the source of life (Jn 5:26) everlasting life which all of us will one day
share with him in heaven.Having now
entered into eternal life, Donald watches over us, ready to help us, to
guide us on our way until the day that we too will see God face to face.
Today, let us give thanks for all that we have known and
loved about Don, and let us commend him to the love and mercy of the Father who
has loved him into the fullness of life.
Here is the text of the reflection I prepared for this week's gathering of God's people: some thoughts about the strength we draw from sharing the journey, and from having the joy of knowing Jesus.
We come to tell
our story
Each week, we gather in this place.We meet friends and family members, some of
whom we have not seen all week long.We
take some time to get caught up: to exchange stories of the adventures we have
lived throughout the intervening time, to describe decisions we have to make,
perhaps even to ask for advice and guidance.We do this with family and friends, and we do this with God.
In last week’s gospel passage, we heard that Jesus
gathered his disciples and sent them out two by two.Today, we hear the next chapter in the
story.After they had gone out and begun
to tell others about Jesus, the Apostles
returned from their mission.They
gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught (Mk
6:30).This gathering of companions
would have been not unlike our gathering here: a chance to get caught up, to
exchange stories, to describe some of their joys and struggles, and an occasion
for seeking advice and guidance.
Even today, we need to gather with Jesus, to participate
in such exchanges: opportunities for us to come
away to a deserted place with trusted friends, and to rest awhile (Mk 6:31).For
some of us, the deserted place is a cottage or some other oasis.For others, it is found in travel to visit
with friends and family in places near and far.The important thing is that we know where our deserted place is – the
place where we can be renewed, rejuvenated, where our souls can be refreshed,
and where we can touch base with Jesus too.
If we don’t take the time to take care of ourselves - our
need for physical, mental and spiritual re-energizing – we lose our focus.Instead of having our eyes fixed on Jesus,
they become fixed on ourselves.Instead
of being concerned with others, we become increasingly concerned only for
ourselves, and our egos leave no room for the discipleship of service and
love.Eventually we become like the
shepherds described in today’s first reading: those who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture (Jer 23:1).
Before it’s too late, let us ask for the grace to
recognize the great gift that Jesus has already given us: we who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ;
in his flesh, he has made us all one, and has broken down the walls of hostility between us (Eph
2:13-14).Gathered around this table, we
find the courage to tell our stories, to seek advice, to be refreshed and
prepared to go out into the world so that we can share the joy of the gospel.
At noon today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the usual Sunday appointment.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.
I see that you are courageous with all this heat in the Square; congratulations!
Today's gospel says that the apostles, after the experience of their mission, returned happy but also tired. And Jesus, filled with compassion, wanted to give them a bit of relief, so he took them away, to a deserted place so that they could rest a while (cf Mk 6:31). However, many saw them leaving and understood ... and went ahead of them (Mk 6:32). At this point, the evangelist offers us an image of Jesus which is particularly striking, picture worthy, so to speak, his eyes portraying the feelings within his heart; the evangelist says: leaving the boat, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things (Mk 6:34).
Let us focus on the three words within this suggestive picture: to see, to have compassion, to teach. We can call them the Shepherd's verbs. To see, to have compassion, to teach. The first and the second - to see and to have compassion - are always associated with Jesus' attitudes: in fact, his way of seeing is not the same as the way a sociologist or a photo journalist might see, because he always looks with the eyes of the heart. These two verbs - to see and to have compassion - characterize Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Even his compassion is not only a human sentiment, but it is the Messiah's emotion in whom the tenderness of God took on flesh. From the heart of this compassion, Jesus' desire to feed the crowd with the bread of his Word is born, that is, his desire to teach the Word of God to the people. Jesus sees, Jesus has compassion, Jesus teaches. This is beautiful.
I asked the Lord to send the Spirit of Jesus, the Good Shepherd to guide me during the Apostolic visit that I have recently completed in Latin America, which allowed me to visit Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay. I thank the Lord with all my hear for this gift. I thank the people of those three countries for their affectionate and warm welcome and enthusiasm. I renew my gratitude to the authorities of those countries for their welcome and collaboration. With great affection, I thank my brother Bishops, the priests, the consecrated persons and all the faithful for the warmth with which they participated. With these brothers and sisters, I praise the Lord for the marvels that he has accomplished in the People of God who are journeying in that land, for the faith that has enlivened and continues to animate their lives and their cultures. We also praised Him for the natural beauty of those who have enriched those countries. The Latin American continent has great human and spiritual potential, including profound Christian roots, but it is also experiencing serious social and economic problems. Contributing to the solution of this challenge, the Church is committed to mobilizing both spiritual and moral strength of her communities, collaborating with all the sectors of society. Faced with great challenges to the proclamation of the gospel, I invited the them to draw from Christ the Lord the grace that saves and that strengthens their commitment to Christian witness, and to develop the sharing of the Word of God so that the strong religious commitment that is characteristic of that people may be a witness to the faith of the gospel.
To the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary, who is venerated throughout Latin America as patroness under the title of Our Lady of Guadaloupe, I entrust the fruits of this unforgettable Apostolic journey.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you all very cordially, both Romans and pilgrims!
I especially greet the young people from the Dioceses of Pamplona and Tudela in Spain.
I greet the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth who are meeting here in Rome for their General Chapter; the orchestra from Offanengo-Casalbuttano; the choirs from Vigo Cavedine (Trento); the young volunteers from the Arco convent in Trento, the young people from Meana Sardo and those who are participating in the vacation organized by INPS from Pomezia and the young people from Catholic Action in Mellaredo and Rivale (Padua).
I wish you all a good Sunday, and I ask you all, please, pray for me, don't forget. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), through its Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity, Religious Relations with the Jews, and Interfaith Dialogue, has published a new resource to coincide with the conclusion of the month of Ramadan (Id al-Fitr, July 18), entitled: A Church in Dialogue: Catholics and Muslims in Canada : Believers and Citizens in Society.
In a letter introducing the document, the Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the CCCB, explains that the pamphlet is meant to help Canadian Catholics better understand their Muslim neighbours. This is the first time the CCCB has published a resource on relations between Catholics and Muslims in Canada.
The first part presents the origins of Islam, its main currents today, and its similarities with and differences from Christianity. The second part provides an overview of the history and present state of inter-religious dialogue between Catholics and Muslims, both at the national and international levels, concluding with some suggestions on how everyone can contribute to such dialogues.
Archbishop Durocher emphasizes that our country is home to an impressive array of cultures and religions, and the Catholic Bishops of Canada wish to foster understanding and dialogue amongst the diverse people of our land.
The Holy Father has sent a message to the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, His Eminence, Peter Kodwo Appiah Cardinal Turkson, on the occasion of the opening of the Meeting A Day of Reflection - United to God, we hear a cry, organized and promoted by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and involving representatives of communities affected by mining activity in countries throughout Africa, Asia and America, taking place in Rome, at the Salesianum, from July 17 to 19, 2015.
Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the opening of the meeting
A Day of Reflection - United to God, we hear a cry
To our venerated brother
Cardinal Peter Dodwo Appiah Turkson
President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Your Eminence,
I am pleased to send my greetings and my encouragement to those participating in the meeting of representatives from communities interested in mining activities, organized by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in collaboration with the Latin American network Iglesias y Minería on the theme: United to God, we hear a cry.
They come from different situations and in various ways, have experienced the repercussions of mining activity, either on the part of large industrial companies, artisans or informal workers. They wanted to gather in Rome for this day of reflection which is linked to a passage from the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (cf EG, 187-190), to echo the cry of the many people, families and communities who suffer either directly or indirectly from the consequences, too often negative, of mining activities. A cry for land which has been lost; a cry for the extraction of wealth from the ground while paradoxically the local populations remain poor; a cry of pain in reaction to violence, threats and corruption; a cry of outrage and support for human rights violations, discretely or blatantly trampled regard for people's health, working conditions, sometimes slavery and human trafficking which lead to the tragic situations of prostitution; a cry of sadness and of powerlessness regarding the pollution of water, air and soil; a cry of misunderstanding regarding the lack of adequate and inclusive processes and support from civil, local and national authorities, which have the fundamental duty to promote the common good.
The minerals, and more generally, the riches located in the soil and under the soil are a precious gift from God, which humanity has been using for thousands of years (cf Job 28:1-10). In fact, minerals are fundamental to many sectors of life and of human activity. In the Encyclical Laudato si'I wanted to issue an urgent appeal for all people to collaborate in taking care of our common home, in contrast to the dramatic consequences of environmental degradation in the lives of the poor and those who are excluded, and working toward an integrated, inclusive and sustainable development (LS, 13). The entire mining sector is undoubtedly called upon to undertake a radical change of paradigm in order to improve the situations in many countries. Contributions to these efforts can be made by governments in the countries of origin of multinational companies and the countries in which they operate, entrepreneurs and investors, local authorities who oversee the conduct of mining operations, workers and their representatives, international supply chains including various intermediaries and those who work in the markets for these materials and consumers of goods which require the consumption of minerals. All these people are called to adopt a behaviour inspired by the fact that we are all one human family, that everyone is related, and that the authentic care of our own lives and of our relationship with nature is inseparable from fraternity, justice and loyalty in our relationships with others (LS, 70).
I encourage all those taking part in this meeting to reflect on how they can work constructively together with other parties involved, in a sincere and respectful dialogue. I hope that this gathering will contribute to greater awareness and responsibility on these matters: it is in beginning with human dignity that the culture required to face the current crisis will be made possible.
I pray that the Lord will make your work during these days rich in fruitfulness, and that this fruit will be shared with all those who have need of it. I ask you please to pray for me and with affection, I bless you all, as well as the communities you belong to and the members of your families.
At 11:30am today, in the John Paul II Hall at the offices of the Holy See Press Centre, there was a press conference held to present the details of the Meeting entitled A day of reflection - United to God we hear a cry, promoted and organized by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and including representatives from various communities involved in mining from countries in Africa, Asia and America. This meeting is taking place in Rome, at the Salesianum, from July 17 to 19, 2015.
Presentation prepared by His Eminence, Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson
President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Dearest ladies and gentlemen,
I thank Father Lombardi and the staff of the Vatican Press Centre for another occasion to present some of the work of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
During these two days, at the invitation of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, there are about thirty representatives of communities involved in mining activity gathered at the Congress Centre at the Salesianum. They come from Africa, Asia and America for this gathering focusing on the title: A day of reflection - United to God we hear a cry. The aim of this meeting is to focus on the situations in these various communities.
On September 27, 2013, responding to the desire of some Executive Directors of mining companies, guided by the Director of the International Council of Mining and Metals, Mark Cutifani, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace organized a day of reflection entitled Mining for the common Good for 24 members and representatives of various mining companies, eager to critically examine the character of the worldwide mining industry. The PCGP prepared that event, with the collaboration of members of the Religious Congregations already engaged in those areas, and at the end of the day of reflection, the PCGP had prepared and distributed a report about that event in order to inform various regional Episcopal Conferences.
Now that the executives of mining companies wanted to hold a second day of reflection, as they had decided during the first such encounter, and this time with the title: Creating a new future, Re-imaging the future of mining, the PCGP has thought it prudent to proceed with the preparation of this second day of reflection, which will take place from September 17-19, 2015, an occasion for listening to the communities affected by the activities of this industry.
There were many reasons for this decision on the part of the Pontifical dicastery: With the encyclial Laudato si',the Holy Father exhorts us to hear the cry of the earth as much as the cry of the poor (LS, 49). We cannot remain indifferent to such cries, because the need to listen comes from the same liberating work of grace in each one of us, therefore this is not a mission only reserved for some: The Church, guided by the gospel of mercy and of love for human beings, hears the cry for justice and wishes to respond with all her efforts (Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, 188).
There are many of us who are aware of this agonizing cry from many places where people attempt to extract minerals. To site only a few examples: Kofi Annan's Africa Progress Report, the OECD Directive Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas; numerous and detailed reports prepared by the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples regarding extracting industries; the initiative Publish what you pay; legislation concerning the traceability of minerals being developed in the European Parliament; cinematic endeavours such as the films Blood Diamonds, Avatar and so on.
The Church too, on many occasions and for many years, is closely following mining activity. At the national level, the documents of Episcopal Conferences denouncing violence against human rights, lawlessness, violence and the exploitation of deposits which pollute and cause many problems for local food security. A letter written by USA Bishop Richard Pates, published on July 24, 2014, explains the context in which some multinational mining companies operate in these terms: calamitous public health and environmental consequences of mining operations ... violence, gang activity, narcotics, weapons and human trafficking, inadequate institutions of law enforcement and corruption/impunity, poverty, as well as unequal and inadequate economic development. The Pontifical Council is also aware of the commitment of multiple stakeholders
a) at regional levels such as Continental Episcopal Conferences: the Red Eclesial Panamazónica, or the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa's Department of Justice and Peace with the recent declaration entitled Laying foundations for a just extractive industry; and
b) at trans-national levels, such as the Franciscan network, CIDSE and the Caritas family.
All these voices are pointing in the same direction: faced with such situations, we cannot allow indifference, cynicism and impunity to continue. What is needed is a radical paradigm shift toward the common good, justice, sustainability and human dignity.
Through this three-day meeting, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace brings together representatives of communities affected in various ways by mining activity. They also bring with them, in a certain sense, the cry of those who could not be here, from regions and situations which are not represented, which often escape the eye of experts and of commentators. I must emphasize that some of the people participating in this meeting have been pressured and intimidated in recent days, for example, after having requested a passport. The Pontifical Council has received testimonies of threats, violence and killings, reprisals and of compensation that has never arrived and of promises that have not been kept.
There are therefore, individuals who are working without a truly human purpose (Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, 188). There are doubts about the primacy of the human being, insensitivities about approvals regarding the social and natural environments and full experiences of fragility, abandonment and rejection. Those who are responsible for these conditions are investors, businessmen, politicians and governments of countries where we find such incidents as well as countries where the headquarters of he multinational countries are located.
On the other hand, in exploited and poor countries, it is a matter of all levels of government working together, educated persons and investors with an acute sense of justice and of the common good, for it is morally unacceptable, politically dangerous, environmentally unsustainable and economically unjustifiable that people in developing countries (continue) to fuel the development of richer countries at the price of their own present or future ... (Laudato si', 52 and 160).
It is our hope that the closeness of the Church will be made known to the participants and to all people who are affected by this industry by means of our various networks and institutions, especially during the upcoming day of reflection with Directors of mining companies.
Thank you.
Testimonial given by Prassant Kumar Paikray
India
I promote peace and harmony in Odisha by keeping out the steel company. I have done this for 10 years. When a company comes in the community with a memo of understanding (MOU) the community becomes divided with pros and cons regarding the company. We have sustained this effort for 10 years by peaceful demonstrations near the border of the proposed project areas. The companies not only want the land but also the water which we have for drinking and for irrigating the fields.
Just July16, 2015 the company said it was temporarily suspending the project due to lack of progress and the drop on steel prices.
This success did have a cost. There have been 370 criminal cases against the people by the government, police and by the companies which are false. 2500 persons have been under warrant 500 of them are women. 700 persons have been in jail and 4 persons have died.
We have a stay on the cutting of trees on the private land.
At the Council for the Economy meeting on 14 July 2015, Cardinal Pell and the staff from the Secretariat for the Economy presented the Consolidated Statements for the Holy See and the Financial Statements for the Governatorato. The Statements had been prepared by the Prefecture for Economic Affairs and reviewed and verified by the Secretariat, the Audit Committee of the Council and the External Auditor.
It was noted that 2014 was a year of transition to new Financial Management policies based on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). The former accounting principles and consolidation perimeter (comprising 64 Holy See entities) were used in preparation of the 2014 Statements. Managers were however asked to ensure they had included all assets and liabilities and to provide appropriate certification as to completeness and accuracy. Working with the external auditor, third party confirmation of balances were requested so that, consistent with sound audit practice, amounts could be independently verified. To include all assets and liabilities in the accounts at year end and to prepare for the new policies, a number of closing entries were included which make direct comparison with 2013 figures difficult. Where appropriate relevant points of comparison were provided to the Council.
The journey of transition to new policies is progressing well and the Secretariat was pleased to report high levels of interest and cooperation in the entities. The 2014 Financial Statements reflect an enormous amount of work by staff in many Holy See entities, particularly in the Prefecture for Economic Affairs and the Secretariat for the Economy and Council members expressed their gratitude for the rigorous and professional work and the strong commitment to implementing the financial reforms approved by the Holy Father.
The Financial Statements for the Holy See for 2014 indicate a deficit of 25,621,000 Euro which is similar to the deficit of 24,471,000 Euro reported in the 2013 Statements. Had the same accounting treatment applied in 2014 been applied in 2013, the 2013 deficit would have been reported as 37,209,000 Euro - the improvement in 2014 was largely due to favourable movements in investments held by the Holy See. The main sources of income in 2014, in addition to investments, include the contributions made pursuant to Canon 1271 of the Code of Canon Law (21,000 Euro) and the contribution from the Institute of Works of Religion (50,000 Euro).
Canon1271: By reason of the bond of unity and charity and according to the resources of their dioceses, bishops are to assist in procuring those means which the Apostolic See needs, according to the conditions of the times, so that it is able to offer service properly to the universal Church.
Net assets increased by 939,000 Euro as adjustments were made to include all assets and liabilities in the closing balances for 2014. For the entities included in the consolidation perimeter, assets previously off the Balance sheet amounted to 1,114,000 Euro and liabilities amounted to 222,000 Euro. While the patrimonial situation in the Pension Fund was not reflected in the closing Balance Sheet, it was reported that the new Pension Fund Board will be asked to prepare an updated assessment of the overall situation.
As in previous years, the most significant expense included in the Holy See Financial Statements is the cost of staff (126,600 Euro) and the Statements indicate total staffing of 2880 in the 64 Holy See entities included in the consolidation.
The Financial Statements for the Governatorato for 2014 indicate a surplus of 63,519,000 Euro which is a significant improvement over the 2013 surplus of 33,042,000 Euro, largely due to continued strong revenue from the cultural activities (especially the Museums) and favourable movements in investments. Net assets increased by 63,500 Euro and there were no adjustments necessary to include additional assets and liabilities in closing balances for 2014. The Statements indicate a total staffing in the Governatorato of 1930.
Following the meeting of the Council for the Economy, the Secretariat for the Economy was advised the Auditor confirmed that a clear audit certificate had been issued for the Holy See and Governatorato Financial Statements.
The Council also received a further update on the 2015 Budget. The 2015 Budgets were prepared under the new Financial Management Policies, approved last year by the Holy Father. The Council in late May received a detailed budget submission prepared by the Secretariat. The submission highlighted proposed activities as well as anticipated revenue and expenditure for the coming year and included specific recommendations for each of the 136 entities on the list, as approved by the Holy Father, who are subject to control and vigilance of the Council and Secretariat. The Budgets indicate the deficits experienced in recent years are likely to continue in 2015.
While rapid progress is being made in implementing reforms requested by the Holy Father, the complete transition to the IPSAS is likely to take several years. The 2015 Budgets and the 2015 Statements are the first important steps. From 2015, the Consolidated Statements for the Holy See will include the new practices and additional entities, as required under the new Financial Management Policies and the IPSAS Standards.
At 11:30am today, in the John Paul II Hall at the Holy See Press Centre, a press conference was held to present the Workshop on Modern Slavery and Climate Change: the Commitment of the Cities and the Symposium on Prosperity, People and Planet: Achieving Sustainable Development in Our Cities; which will be held in the Synod Hall at the Vatican respectively on the 21st and 22nd of July. Mayors from the largest cities throughout the world have been invited to participate, as well as local governors and representatives from the United Nations who will share best practices in combating climate change and modern slavery.
Presenters at this morning's press conference included: His Excellency, Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences; Doctor Michael Shank, Media Consultant; and Mister Alessandro Gaetano, Consultant.
Presentation prepared by His Excellency, Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo
Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
We are here today to talk about the meeting of July 21, in which the mayors of the world will examine two interconnected emergencies: the climate crisis and modern slavery. I think it's the first time the mayors are invited to the Vatican.
The Mayors
Why the mayors? When the Santa Marta Group was founded by the Pope, Cardinal Nichols and a few bishops a couple of years ago at the headquarters of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences to bring together police chiefs and bishops from all over the world, the police chiefs stressed the importance of having the bishops support their moral commitment towards the poorest of the poor. However, they also pointed out that they report not to the bishops but to the governors, and in many cases to the mayors. Following their advice, we have thus tried to bring together the mayors to determine the best practices to mitigate climate change and eradicate modern slavery.
Anthropic Global Warming
As stated in Laudato si’, The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all. At the global level, it is a complex system linked to many of the essential conditions for human life (LS, 23). The Pope adds that there is a very solid scientific consensus indicating that we are presently witnessing a disturbing warming of the climatic system. As the Pontifical Academy of Sciences has shown in several studies, available as free downloads on our website www.pas.va, this warming has been accompanied by a constant rise in the sea level. Moreover, it’s difficult not to link it to extreme weather events such as prolonged drought, heat waves and destructive storms, which are becoming more and more frequent.
Humanity, therefore, is called to recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order to combat this warming or at least the human causes, which produce or aggravate it. As the Pope says in Laudato si’, The problem is aggravated by a model of development based on the intensive use of fossil fuels, which is at the heart of the worldwide energy system (LS, 23).
Relativism: The Other As a Mere Object
According to Laudato si’, these human-induced climate-related phenomena, coupled with the culture of relativism, encourage individuals to take advantage of other individuals as mere objects, using them for forced labour or enslaving them. Pope Francis believes this is the same logic that leads to the sexual exploitation of children and abandonment of the elderly who no longer serve our interests.
Links Between the Climate Crisis and Social Exclusion
The Pontifical Academy of Sciences agrees with the Holy Father that there is a clear link between the two human-induced emergencies of the climate crisis and the social crisis. Following the Encyclical, our commitment is to make the whole of society aware of these phenomena and of the human responsibilities of these crises and to react firmly, as a new moral imperative for all of humanity in favour of the common good.
In this fundamental moral context, cities and their mayors play a key role. Currently, most of humanity is concentrated in formal and informal urban settlements and this trend is set to increase. Each of our cultural traditions also affirms the inherent dignity and the social responsibility of each individual in relation to the common good. They emphasize the importance of living together in the polis for the fulfilment of the social, cultural and religious identity of every human being and for the beauty, wonder and inherent goodness of the world, recognizing it as a precious gift that supports life and is entrusted to our stewardship. It is not a matter of preserving it as in a museum, but of developing it according to its potential, following the very laws of nature. Respecting and developing our common home rather than devastating it is a moral imperative.
The Poor and the Excluded are the Most Exposed
As the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences has remarked, although the poor and the excluded have the least effect on climate change and often live on the outskirts of the city, they are the most exposed to the terrible threat posed by human-induced climate disruption. However, the world now has within reach the scientific knowledge, technological tools and financial means to reverse anthropogenic climate change, while ending extreme poverty at the same time through solutions that include renewable and low carbon emission energy sources.
We therefore hope to achieve that integral ecology proposed by Laudato si'to recover a serene harmony with creation, reflecting on our lifestyle and our ideals, and contemplating the Creator who lives among us and surrounds us (LS, 225), particularly in the cities in which we lead our social life. Financing the initiative in favour of this integral ecology, including the decisive containment of human-induced climate change, could also be based on the relentless pursuit of peace, which would allow a redistribution of public spending from military expenditure towards urgent investments for the benefit of social inclusion and the effective monitoring of carbon emissions, particularly in the cities.
The Mayors’ Commitment
We intend for the mayors to commit to promoting the empowerment of the poor and of those who live in vulnerable conditions in our cities and in our urban settlements, reducing their exposure to extreme weather events caused by radical environmental, economic and social instabilities, which create fertile ground for forced migration and human trafficking.
At the same time, we would like the mayors to commit to putting an end to abuse, exploitation, human trafficking and all forms of modern slavery within their communities. These tragic occurrences, which Pope Benedict and Pope Francis termed crimes against humanity, also include forced labour, prostitution, organ trafficking and domestic servitude.
We would also like the mayors to commit to developing resettlement and social integration programmes for the victims, at the national and local levels, in order to avoid their involuntary repatriation (cf The PASS’ revision of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, no. 16.2).
In short, we would like our cities and urban settlements to become more socially inclusive, safe, resilient and ecologically integrated (cfr UN Sustainable Development Goals, no. 11).
List of participating Mayors/Governors
Mr. Edmund G. Brown Jr., Governor of California
Ms. Betsy Hodges (Minneapolis)
Mr. Ed Murray (Seattle)
Mr. Charlie Hales (Portland)
Mr. Marty Walsh (Boston)
Mr. Mitch Landrieu (New Orleans)
Ms. Anne Hidalgo (Paris)
Mr. Stian Berger Røsland (Oslo)
Mr. Ignazio Marino (Rome)
Mr. Dario Nardella (Florence)
Mr. Luigi de Magistris (Naples)
Ms. Giusi Nicolini (Lampedusa, Italy)
Mr. Piero Fassino (President of the Italian Municipalities Association and Mayor of Turin, Italy)
Mr. Antonio Decaro (Bari, Italy)
Mr. Gregor Robertson (Vancouver, CA)
Mr. Eduardo Paes (Rio de Janeiro)
Mr. Eduardo Accastello (Villa Maria, Argentina)
Mr. Tony Chammany (Kochi, India)
Dr. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (Tehran, Iran)
Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (Edo State, Nigeria)
Mr Mambé (Governor of the Autonomus District d’Abidjan)
Madame Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda (Libreville, Gabon)
Mr. Aliou Sall, Mayor of Guédiawaye and President of the National Association of Mayors of Senegal
Mr. Jarosław Jóźwiak (Deputy-Mayor of Warsaw)
Ms. Yelgi Lavinia Verley Knight (Siquirres, Costa Rica)
Hon. Alfred Martin Aruo (Soroti, Uganda)
Ms. Karin Wanngård (Stockholm)
Ms. Angela Brown-Burke (Kingston, Jamaica)
Mr. Matthew Appelbaum (Boulder, Colorado)
Mr. Witold Śmiałek (Advisor to the Mayor of Krakow)
Mr. Marcio Lacerda (Belo Horizonte)
Mr. Fernando Haddad (Sao Paulo)
Ms. Mónica Fein (Rosario)
Mr. Gustavo Petro (Bogotá)
Mr. Miguel Ángel Mancera Espinosa (Mexico City)
Mr. George Ferguson (Bristol)
Mr. José Fortunati (Porto Alegre)
Mr. Christian Gaebler (State Secretary for Transport and Environment, Berlin)
Mr. William A. Bell (Birmingham, Alabama)
Mr. Milan Bandic (Zagreb)
Mr. Enzo Bianco (Catania)
Mr. Edwin Lee (San Francisco)
Mr. Leoluca Orlando (Palermo)
Mr. Massimo Zedda (Cagliari)
Mr. Sam Liccardo (San José, California)
Mr. Mpho Parks Tau (Johannesburg)
Honorable Mr KagisoThutlwe (Gaborone, Botswana)
Mr. Paulo Garcia (Goiânia)
Mr. Gustavo Fruet (Curitiba)
Mr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije (Accra)
Mr. Tony Lloyd (Manchester)
Ms. Manuela Carmena (Madrid)
Mr. Mahamudo Amurane (Nampula)
Mr. Giuliano Pisapia (Milan)
Mr. Antônio Carlos Magalhães Neto (Salvador)
Mr. Nasereddine Zenasni (Algiers)
Mr. Virginio Merola (Bologna)
Mr. Giorgio Gori (Bergamo)
Mr. Jean Oscar Sanguza Mutunda (Lubumbashi)
Mr. Federico Pizzarotti (Parma)
Father Federico Lombardi’s answer to questions from journalists regarding the agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme:
The agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme is viewed in a positive light by the Holy See.
It constitutes an important outcome of the negotiations carried out so far, although continued efforts and commitment on the part of all involved will be necessary in order for it to bear fruit.
It is hoped that those fruits will not be limited to the field of nuclear programme, but may indeed extend further.
At the Silvio Pettirossi international airport in Asunción, the Holy Father, Pope Francis took his leave from Paraguay this evening, having completed his 9th Apostolic Visit.
At the airport, the Pope was welcomed by the President of the Republic, Mister Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara, with whom His Holiness spent a few moments in private before the national anthems were played and the two delegations greeted one another.
The aircraft - an Alitalia A330 - carrying the Holy Father, departed for Rome shortly before 7:30pm local time. The expected arrival at Ciampino airport in Italy is expected at 2:00pm local time (Monday, July 13), following a flight of approximately 13 hours.
Telegram of His Holiness, Pope Francis
to the President of Paraguay
Following his departure from Asunción, as he left Paraguayan airspace, the Holy Father sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic:
To His Excellency, Doctor Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara
President of the Republic of Paraguay
Asunción
Leaving Paraguay and continuing my flight back to Rome, I am pleased to send a cordial greeting to Your Excellency, renewing once again my affection for this beloved people. I keep you all in my heart and ask the Lord to grant you abundant graces, to help you all to progress in fraternity and harmony.
This afternoon, the Holy Father left the Apostolic Nunciature in Asunción and travelled by car to Costanera, the riverfront area not far from the López Presidential Palace for the final appointment of his Apostolic Visit: a meeting with young people.
Following an opening procession with the pilgrim cross, the meeting began with greetings offered by His Excellency, Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Ríos, Bishop of Villamica del Espíritu Santo, who is responsible for the Pastoral Care of Youth, and an allegorical presentation of the life of young people in Paraguay today.
Responding to questions which had been asked by two young people during their testimonials, the Pope held an impromptu discussion with those who were gathered (the transcription of which will be provided as soon as it is made available), leaving his prepared speech with the organizers to be distributed later.
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis for the gathering with youth at Costanera, Paraguay
Dear young people, good afternoon!
After having read the Gospel, Orlando came up to me and said, I ask you to pray for the freedom of each one of us, of everyone. This is the blessing which Orlando asked for each one of us. It is the blessing which all of us together now pray for: freedom. Freedom is a gift that God gives us, but we have to know how to accept it. We have to be able to have a free heart, because we all know that in the world there are so many things that bind our hearts and prevent them from being free. Exploitation, lack of means to survive, drug addiction, sadness, all those things take away our freedom. And so we can all thank Orlando for having asked for this blessing of having a free heart, a heart that can say what it thinks, that can express what it feels, and can act according to how it thinks and feels. That is a free heart! And that is what we are going to ask for together: the blessing which Orlando requested for all. Repeat with me: Lord Jesus, give me a heart that is free, that I may not be a slave to all the snares in the world. That I may not be a slave to comfort and deception. That I may not be a slave to the good life. That I may not be a slave to vice. That I may not be a slave to a false freedom, which means doing what I want at every moment. Thank you Orlando, for making us realize that we need to ask God for a heart that is free. Ask him for this everyday!
We heard two testimonies: from Liz and from Manuel. Liz has taught us all something. Just as Orlando taught us how to pray for a heart that is free, Liz, by sharing her experience, teaches us that we must not be like Pontius Pilate and wash our hands of things. Liz could quite easily have put her mother into one home, and her grandmother into another home, and then gone on to enjoy her youth, following the path of studies she desired. But Liz said, No, there is my mother, and my grandmother. Liz became a servant, and much more: she became a servant for her mother and her grandmother. And she did it with such love! She did it to the point, as she herself said, that the roles were reversed in her family, and she ended up being a mother to her mother, in the way she cared for her. Her mother, with that cruel illness which confuses everything. She still gives herself fully, even today, at age twenty-five, serving her mother and her grandmother. All by herself? Not at all. She told us two things that can help us. She talked about an angel, an aunt who for her was like an angel; and she talked about getting together with her friends on weekends, with a youth group committed to evangelization, a youth group that strengthened her faith. And those two angels, the aunt who watched out for her and the youth group, gave her the strength to keep going. This is what we call solidarity. What do we call it? (The young people all respond: “Solidarity!). This happens when we take interest in other people’s problems. There she found a haven to rest her weary heart. But there’s something still missing here. She didn’t say: I do this and that is it. She studied. She is a nurse. And what helps her is the solidarity she received from you, from your youth group, the solidarity she received from that aunt who was like an angel. All these helped her move forward. And today, at age twenty-five, she enjoys the grace that Orlando showed us how to pray for: she has a free heart. Liz is obeying the Fourth Commandment: Honour your Father and your Mother. Liz offers her life in service to her mother. It is indeed a high degree of solidarity, the highest degree of love. This is witness. Father, is it possible to love? There you have a person who shows us how to love.
So first of all: freedom, a free heart. So all together: (The young people repeat each phrase). First: a free heart. Second: a solidarity that accompanies. Solidarity. This is the lesson of this testimony. And Manuel was not a spoiled child. He is not a good kid. He was never a kid, a young person who had it easy in life. He used strong words: I was taken advantage of, I was mistreated, I risked falling into addiction, and I was alone. Exploitation, mistreatment, and loneliness. But instead of going out and getting in trouble, instead of going out to steal, he found a job. Instead of wanting to take revenge on life, he looked ahead. And Manuel used a beautiful phrase: I could move forward because in the situation I was in, it was hard even to talk about a future. How many young people, how many of you today have the opportunity to study, to sit at the table with your family every day, not to worry about the essentials. How many of you enjoy this? Altogether, those of you who have these things, let us say, Thank you Lord! (The young people repeat the phrase). We have here a testimony from a young man who from childhood knew what it was to feel pain, sadness, to be exploited, mistreated, not to have food and to be alone. Lord, save all those young people who are in those conditions! And for ourselves let us pray, Thank you, Lord!. Everyone: Thank you, Lord!.
Freedom of heart. Do you remember? Freedom of heart. That is what Orlando told us. And service and solidarity. That is what Liz told us. Hope, employment, making an effort to live and to move forward. That is what Manuel told us. As you can see, life is not easy for many young people. And I want you to understand this, and I want you to keep it always in mind: If my life is relatively easy, there are other young men and women whose lives are not relatively easy. What is more, desperation drives them to crime, drives them to get involved in corruption. To those young people we want to say that we are close to them, we want to lend them a helping hand, we want to support them, with solidarity, love, and hope.
There were two things that Liz and Manuel both said. Two things that are beautiful. Listen to them. Liz said that she began to know Jesus and that this meant opening the door to hope. And Manuel said: I came to know God as my strength. To know God is strength. In other words, to know God, to draw closer to Jesus, is hope and strength. And that is what we need from young people today: young people full of hope and strength. We don’t want namby-pambies, young people who are just there, lukewarm, unable to say either yes or no. We don’t want young people who tire quickly and who are always weary, with bored faces. We want young people who are strong. We want young people full of hope and strength. Why? Because they know Jesus, because they know God. Because they have a heart that is free. A heart that is free, please repeat this. (The young people repeat each word). Solidarity, work, hope, effort. To know Jesus. To know God, my strength. Can a young person who lives this way have a bored look on his face? No. A sad heart? No!. This then is the path! But it is a path that requires sacrifice, it requires going against the tide. The plan... The plan is to go against the tide. Jesus said: Happy are those who are poor in spirit. He does not say, Happy are the rich, those who make lots of money. No. Those who are poor in spirit, those who are capable of approaching and understanding those who are poor. Jesus does not say: Happy are those who have a good time of it, but rather: Happy are those who can suffer for the pain of others. I would ask you to read the Beatitudes at home, later on; they are in the fifth chapter of Saint Matthew’s Gospel. Which chapter? (The fifth!) Which Gospel? (Saint Matthew!). Read them and think about them; they will do you a lot of good.
I must thank you Liz; I thank you, Manuel, and I thank you, Orlando. A free heart, which is the way it should be. I have to go now (No!) The other day, a priest jokingly said to me: Yes, keep telling young people to make a ruckus. But afterwards, we are the ones who have to clear it up. So make a ruckus! But also help to clean it up. Two things: make a ruckus, but do a good job of it! A ruckus that brings a free heart, a ruckus that brings solidarity, a ruckus that brings us hope, a ruckus that comes from knowing Jesus and knowing that God, once I know him, is my strength. That is the kind of ruckus which you should make.
I already knew your questions, because I had them beforehand, so I wrote down some words for you, to share with you. But it’s boring to read a speech, so I am leaving it with the bishop in charge of the youth apostolate so that he can publish it. And now, before going (No!), I ask you, first of all, to continue to pray for me; second, that you carry on creating a ruckus; and third, that you organize that ruckus without ruining anything. And together now, in silence, let us raise our hearts to God. Each from the heart, in a quiet voice, let us repeat these words:
Lord Jesus, I thank you for being here, I thank you because you gave me brothers and a sister like Manuel, Orlando, and Liz. I thank you because you have given us many brothers and sisters like them. They found you, Jesus. They know you, Jesus. They know that you, their God, are their strength. Jesus, I pray for all those young boys and girls who do not know that you are their strength and who are afraid to live, afraid to be happy, afraid to have dreams. Jesus, teach them how to dream, to dream big, to dream beautiful things, things which, although they seem ordinary, are things which enlarge the heart. Lord Jesus, give us strength. Give us a free heart. Give us hope. Give us love and teach us how to serve. Amen.
And now I will give you my blessing and I ask you please, to pray for me and to pray for all the many young people who do not have the grace which you have had: the grace of knowing Jesus, who gives you hope, who gives you a free heart, and who makes you strong.
Prepared speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the gathering with young people at Costanera, Paraguay
Dear young people,
I am happy to be with you in this atmosphere of celebration. Happy to listen to your witness and to share your enthusiasm and love for Jesus.
I thank Bishop Ricardo Valenzuela, who is in charge of the youth apostolate, for his kind words. I also thank Manuel and Liz for their courage in sharing their lives and their testimony at this meeting. It is not easy to speak about personal things, and even less so in front of so many people. You have shared the greatest treasure which you have: your stories, your lives and how Jesus became a part of them.
To answer your questions, I would like to speak about some of the things you shared.
Manuel, you told us something like this: Today I really want to serve others, I want to be more generous. You experienced hard times, and very painful situations, but today you really want to help others, to go out and share your love with others.
Liz, it is not easy to be a mother to your own parents, all the more when you are young, but what great wisdom and maturity your words showed, when you said: Today I play with her, I change her diapers. These are all things I hand over to God today, but I am barely making up for everything my mother did for me.
You, young Paraguayans, you certainly show great goodness and courage.
You also shared how you have tried to move forward. Where you found strength. Both of you said it was in your parish. In your friends from the parish and the spiritual retreats organized there. These two things are key: friends and spiritual retreats.
Friends: Friendship is one of the greatest gifts which a person, a young person, can have and can offer. It really is. How hard it is to live without friends! Think about it: isn’t that one of the most beautiful things that Jesus tells us? He says: I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you (Jn 15:15). One of the most precious things about our being Christians is that we are friends, friends of Jesus. When you love someone, you spend time with them, you watch out for them and you help them, you tell them what you are thinking, but also you never abandon them. That’s how Jesus is with us; he never abandons us. Friends stand by one another, they help one another, they protect one another. The Lord is like that with us. He is patient with us.
Spiritual retreats: Saint Ignatius has a famous meditation on the two standards. He describes the standard of the devil and then the standard of Christ. It would be like the football jerseys of two different teams. And he asks us which team we want to play for.
In this meditation, he asks us to imagine: What it would be like to belong to one or the other team. As if he was saying to us: In this life, which team do you want to play for?
Saint Ignatius says that the devil, in order to recruit players, promises that those who play on his side will receive riches, honour, glory and power. They will be famous. Everyone will worship them.
Then, Ignatius tells us the way Jesus plays. His game is not something fantastic. Jesus doesn’t tell us that we will be stars, celebrities, in this life. Instead, he tells us that playing with him is about humility, love, service to others. Jesus does not lie to us; he takes us seriously.
In the Bible, the devil is called the father of lies. What he promises, or better, what he makes you think, is that, if you do certain things, you will be happy. And later, when you think about it, you realize that you weren’t happy at all. That you were up against something which, far from giving you happiness, made you feel more empty, even sad. Friends: the devil is a con artist. He makes promises after promise, but he never delivers. He’ll never really do anything he says. He doesn’t make good on his promises. He makes you want things which he can’t give, whether you get them or not. He makes you put your hopes in things which will never make you happy. That’s his game, his strategy. He talks a lot, he offers a lot, but he doesn’t deliver. He is a con artist because everything he promises us is divisive, it is about comparing ourselves to others, about stepping over them in order to get what we want. He is a con artist because he tells us that we have to abandon our friends, and never to stand by anyone. Everything is based on appearances. He makes you think that your worth depends on how much you possess.
Then we have Jesus, who asks us to play on his team. He doesn’t con us, nor does he promise us the world. He doesn’t tell us that we will find happiness in wealth, power and pride. Just the opposite. He shows us a different way. This coach tells his players: Blessed, happy are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. And he ends up by telling them: Rejoice on account of all this!.
Why? Because Jesus doesn’t lie to us. He shows us a path which is life and truth. He is the great proof of this. His style, his way of living, is friendship, relationship with his Father. And that is what he offers us. He makes us realize that we are sons and daughters. Beloved children.
He does not trick you. Because he knows that happiness, true happiness, the happiness which can fill our hearts, is not found in designer clothing, or expensive brand-name shoes. He knows that real happiness is found in drawing near to others, learning how to weep with those who weep, being close to those who are feeling low or in trouble, giving them a shoulder to cry on, a hug. If we don’t know how to weep, we don’t know how to laugh either, we don’t know how to live.
Jesus knows that in this world filled with competition, envy and aggressivity, true happiness comes from learning to be patient, from respecting others, from refusing to condemn or judge others. As the saying goes: When you get angry, you lose. Don’t let your heart give in to anger and resentment. Happy are the merciful. Happy are those who know how to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, those who are able to embrace, to forgive. We have all experienced this at one time or another. And how beautiful it is! It is like getting our lives back, getting a new chance. Nothing is more beautiful than to have a new chance. It is as if life can start all over again.
Happy too are those who bring new life and new opportunities. Happy those who work and sacrifice to do this. All of us have made mistakes and been caught up in misunderstandings, a thousand of them. Happy, then, are those who can help others when they make mistakes, when they experience misunderstandings. They are true friends, they do not give up on anyone. They are the pure of heart, the ones who can look beyond the little things and overcome difficulties. Happy above all are the ones who can see the good in other people.
Liz, you mentioned Chikitunga, this Paraguayan servant of God. You told us how she was your sister, your friend, your model. Like so many others, she shows us that the way of the Beatitudes is a way of fulfilment, a path we can really follow, a path which can make our hearts brim over. The saints are our friends and models. They no longer play on our field, but we continue to look to them in our efforts to play our best game. They show us that Jesus is no con artist; he offers us genuine fulfillment. But above all, he offers us friendship, true friendship, the friendship we all need.
So we need to be friends the way Jesus is. Not to be closed in on ourselves, but to join his team and play his game, to go out and make more and more friends. To bring the excitement of Jesus’ friendship to the world, wherever you find yourselves: at work, at school, on WhatsApp, Facebook or Twitter. When you go out dancing, or for a drink of tereré, when you meet in the town square or play a little match on the neighbourhood field. That is where Jesus’ friends can be found. Not by conning others, but by standing beside them and being patient with them. With the patience which comes from knowing that we are happy, because we have a Father who is in heaven.
At the conclusion of this gathering, after having venerated the pilgrim cross, the Holy Father, Pope Francis confided it to the youth who will send it to the missions.
His Holiness then travelled to the Asunción international airport for his departure for Rome.
