This afternoon, during the flight from Mytilene to Rome at the end of his visit to Lesbos (Greece), Pope Francis met with journalists aboard the aircraft and held a press conference.
Father Lombardi
So, we welcome the Holy Father among us, for a conversation after this brief but extremely intense trip. I will re-read the communication that you received, in case some of you did not hear the news or did not receive it on your telephone, but not the entire text. The Pope wants the content to be clear.
Pope Francis
First of all, I want to thank you for this day of work which was very tiring for me, too tiring ... also for you, I am sure. Please, Miss ...
Inés San Martín
Crux
Holy Father, I don't want to disturb you, but I have two questions concerning two different things. The first is specific to this trip. This voyage comes after the agreement between the European Union and Turkey in an attempt to resolve the question of refugees in Greece. Do you think that this plan will work, or is it a political attempt to try to buy time and see what will happen? And the second question, if I may: This morning, you met the candidate for the United States Presidency, Bernie Sanders at Santa Marta. I want to ask you to comment on this meeting and whether this is his way of getting himself into North-American politics.
Pope Francis
No, first of all there is no political speculation, because these agreements between Turkey and Greece, I did not know them very well. I saw some newspapers, but this is a purely human thing (referring to the initiative to welcome a group of refugees). This is a humanitarian fact. It was an inspiration that came to me one week ago from one of my collaborators, and I immediately accepted it, right away, because I saw that it was the Spirit speaking. Everything was done according to the rules: they all have documents, from the three governments - the Vatican City State, the Italian government and the Greek government - they have all inspected everything, they have seen everything and they have all provided their visas. They are being welcomed by the Vatican: it will be up to the Vatican, with the collaboration of the Sant'Egidio Community, to find them work, if they can, or to support them ... They are guests of the Vatican, in addition to the two Syrian families who have already been welcomed by the two Vatican parishes.
Second. This morning, when I went out, Senator Sanders was there; he had come for the Centesimus Annus Foundation's convention. He know that I usually would go out at that time, and he was kind enough to want to greet me. I greeted him, I shook his hand, and the hand of his wife and those of another couple who were with him, who were staying at Santa Marta, because all the participants, except for the two presidents who are participating - who I believe stayed at their respective embassies - all the rest were staying at Santa Marta. And when I went down, he introduced himself, we greeted each other, a handshake and nothing more. This is an education: it's called education and not meddling in politics. And if anyone thinks that greeting one another is meddling in politics, I would say they should find a psychiatrist! (he laughs)
Father Lombardi
So, the second question is from Franca Giansoldati who knows the Pope well, and who the Pope also knows well.
Pope Francis
But you need to prepare for Armenia ... (he laughs)
Franca Giansoldati
Il Messaggero
Thank you, Holiness. You speak often about welcoming, but perhaps you speak too little about integration. Considering all that is going on in Europe, especially with this massive influx of immigrants, we are seeing several cities suffering from ghetto neighbourhoods ... In all this, it is clear that Muslim immigrants are the ones who are finding it most difficult to integrate with our values, with western values. I wanted to ask: would it not be easier from the point of view of integration to favour the arrival of non-Muslims? And then, today, have you not, with this very beautiful gesture, a very noble gesture, placed the priority on three families who are entirely Muslim?
Pope Francis
I did not choose between Christians and Muslims. These three families had their documents in order and it could be done. There were, for example, two Christian families on the first list who did not have their papers in order. This is not a privilege. All twelve of them are children of God. The privilege is to be a child of God: this is true. Concerning their integration, what you say is very intelligent. Thank you for having said it. You said one word that in our current culture seems to be forgotten, following the war ... Today, there are ghettos. Some of the terrorists who have perpetrated terrorist activity - a few of them - are children and grandchildren of people who were born in Europe. What happened? There was no policy of integration and this is fundamental for me; to the point that you see that in the Post-synodal Exhortation on the family - even if this is another problem - one of the three pastoral dimensions for families in difficulty is integration into the life of the Church. Today, Europe must regain this ability, that she has always had, to integrate. Because nomads and Normans arrived in Europe and so many other people, and Europe was able to integrate them and to enrich her culture. I believe that we need some teaching and education about integration. Thank you.
Elena Pinardi
European Broadcasting Union
Holy Father, there is talk about reinforcing the borders between various European countries, of check points, even of deploying battalions along the borders of Europe. Is this the end of Schengen, the end of the European dream?
Pope Francis
I do not know. I understand that governments, even some people are scared. This I understand and we must have great responsibility to be welcoming. One of the aspects of this welcoming is this: how can we integrate, these people and us? I have always said that to build walls is not a solution: did we not just see one crumble, in the last century? Walls don't solve anything. We should build bridges, but bridges are built intelligently, they are made with dialogue, with integration, and for this I understand that there is a certain fear. But closing the borders doesn't solve anything, because in the long run, that closure will hurt our own people. Europe should urgently develop policies for reception and integration, for growth, for work, for economic reform ... All these things are bridges that will lead us away from building walls. I am very sympathetic to fear, but after what I have seen - this is a change of subject, but I want to say it today - and you yourselves saw it, in that refugee camp ... they were crying. The children ... I brought them with me to show them to you: the children gave me many drawings (the Pope showed them various drawings one after another and made comments). One: what do children want? Peace, because they are suffering. There are education courses, in the camp ... but what have they seen, those children! Look at this one: they have even seen children being drowned. Children have this experience in their hearts! Truly, today they were crying. They were crying. The same theme has been depicted by this child from Afganistan: we see a boat that left Afganistan has returned to Greece. These children have these things in their memories! It will take time to process all this. Look at this one: the sun that sees and cries. If the sun i capable of crying, even we: a tear would do us good.
Fanny Carrier
Agence France Presse
Good afternoon. Why do you not differentiate between those who are fleeing from war and those who are fleeing from hunger? Can Europe welcome all the suffering of the world?
Pope Francis
It's true. I said today in my speech: some are fleeing from war, others are fleeing from hunger. Both are the result of exploitation, even of the earth. One of the Heads of State from Africa told me, a month ago more or less, that the first decision made by his government was reforestation, because the earth was dying because of exploitation and deforestation. We need to do good work with both of these. Some of them are fleeing from hunger and others are fleeing from war. I would invite the arms traffickers - because for weapons, to a certain extent, there are agreements, they are made, but traffickers, those who trade in order to create war in various places, for example in Syria: those who provide arms to various groups - I would invite these traffickers to spend a day in that camp. I believe that it would be healthy for them to do so!
Néstor Pongutá
W Radio Columbia
Your Holiness, good afternoon. This morning, you said something very special, which required much attention from us: that this was a sad voyage, and you demonstrated it through your words and it was very emotional ... However something must have changed, in your heart, to know that these twelve people are aboard, and that with this little gesture, you have given a lesson to those who sometimes turn their heads away from such suffering, in this third world war that is being fought in pieces, and which you have denounced.
Pope Francis
I will commit plagiarism! I will respond with a phrase that is not mine. The same thing was asked of Mother Teresa: But you expend so much energy, so much work just to help people to die ... What you are doing is useless! The sea is so vast! And she responded: It is a drop in the water of the sea! But after this drop in the sea, it will never be the same! I respond in this way. It is a small gesture, but small gestures are what we must all do, men and women, to reach out a hand to those who are in need.
Joshua McElwee
National Catholic Reporter
Thank you Holy Father. We have come to a country of migration, but also one of political austerity measures. I want to ask if you have a thought about economic austerity? Also for another island - Porto Rico - do you have any thoughts about these austerity measures?
Pope Francis
The word austerity has a different meanings depending on which point of view you take: economically, it means a part of a program; politically, it means something else; spiritually and according to Christianity it means something else again. When I speak of austerity, I speak of austerity as compared to waste. I have heard it said at the FAO - I believe that it was during a meeting at the FAO - that with all the food that is wasted, we could satisfy all the hunger in the world. And we, in our house, how much do we waste, how much do we waste without wanting to do so! This is the culture of discard, of waste. I speak of austerity in this sense, in the Christian sense. Let's stop here and live a little more austerity.
Francisco Romero
Rome Reports
Holiness, I simply want to say what you said - that this refugee crisis is the worst crisis since the Second World War. I want to ask you: what do you think about the crisis of immigrants who are arriving in America, in the United States, in Mexico and in Latin America?
Pope Francis
It is the same thing? It is the same, because there, they find more or less those who are fleeing from hunger. It is the same problem. In Ciudad Juárez I celebrated Mass 100 metres, more or less, from the fence. On the other side, there were fifty of the Bishops of the United States and a stadium filled with fifty thousand people who were following the Mass on jumbotrons; and there, in Mexico there was that camp filled with people ... But it is the same thing! They arrive in Mexico from Central America. You remember, two months ago, there was a conflict with Nicaragua because they did not want the refugees to cross: it has been resolved. They took them by plane to the other country without passing through Nicaragua. It is a world-wide problem! I spoke about it there, to the Mexican Bishops; I asked the to take care of refugees.
Francis Rocca
Wall Street Journal
Thank you Holy Father! I see that the questions I had in mind have already been asked, and you have responded very well. Now, if you would permit me, I want to ask a question concerning another event that has taken place in these last days: the publication of your Apostolic Exhortation. As you know very well, there was much discussion about one of the many points - I know that we spent a lot of time on it - after the publication, some people maintained that nothing had changed with respect to the discipline that governs access to the Sacraments for those who are divorced and remarried, and that the law and the pastoral practice and obviously the doctrine would remain the same; others however believed that much had changed and that there are now many openings and possibilities. My question is for a person, a Catholic who wants to know: are there any new concrete possibilities that did not exist before the publication of the Exhortation, or no?
Pope Francis
I can say yes, and that's it. But that would be too small of a response. I would recommend that you all read the presentation that Cardinal Schönborn gave; he is a great theologian. He is a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and he knows the doctrine of the Church very well. In his presentation, your question will find its response. Thank you!
Guénois
Le Figaro
I had the same question, but it is a complementary question, because I did not understand why you wrote this famous note in Amoris laetitia concerning the problems of the divorced and remarried - note 351. Why such an important thing in so small a note? Did you expect opposition or want to say that this point was not so important?
Pope Francis
Listen, one of the most recent Popes, speaking about the Council, said that there were two Councils: the first was Vatican II, which took place in Saint Peter's Basilica, and the other, the Council of the media. When I called the first Synod, the greatest preoccupation of the majority of the media was: Will those who have been divorced and remarried be able to receive communion? And since I am not a saint, this caused me a bit of frustration, and even a bit of sadness because I thought: But those who are saying this and this and this do not realize that this is not the important problem? Do they not realize that all around the world the family is in crisis? And the family is the basis for society! Do they not realize that young people don't want to get married? Do they not realize that the birth rate in Europe makes people cry? Do they not realize that the lack of work and even the possibility of work make it so that the fathers and mothers must both work and the children grow up alone and not learning to develop a dialogue with their daddies and their mommies? These are major problems! I don't remember the note, but surely if such a thing is known it must be because it was written in Evangelii gaudium. I am sure! There must have been a citation from Evangelii gaudium. I don't remember the number, but I'm sure of it.
Father Lombardi
Thank you Holiness, we have had enough conversation about the themes of this voyage and we have managed to also elaborate on your Exhortation. We congratulate you on a good trip and a good continuation of your work.
Pope Francis
Thank you to all of you. Truly, I am at peace with you. Thank you very much! Thank you for your company.
Transcript of the Press Conference
conducted aboard the flight
from Lesbos to Rome
Father Lombardi
So, we welcome the Holy Father among us, for a conversation after this brief but extremely intense trip. I will re-read the communication that you received, in case some of you did not hear the news or did not receive it on your telephone, but not the entire text. The Pope wants the content to be clear.
The Pope wanted to make a gesture of welcome regarding refugees, by inviting three families of refugees from Syria, 12 people in all, including 6 children, to accompany him on his return flight to Rome. These are all people who were already in camps in Lesbos before the agreement between the European Union and Turkey entered into effect.Now I will pass the microphone immediately to our colleagues, asking that you pose questions first about the trip, even though the Pope, as we know, is always available to us. Inés San Martiín from Crux is first.
The Pope’s initiative was brought to fruition through negotiations carried out by the Secretariat of State with the competent Greek and Italian authorities.
All the members of the three families are Muslims. Two families come from Damascus, and one from Deir Azzor (in the area occupied by Daesh). Their homes had been bombed.
The Vatican will take responsibility for bringing in and maintaining the three families. The initial hospitality will be taken care of by the Community of Sant’Egidio.
Pope Francis
First of all, I want to thank you for this day of work which was very tiring for me, too tiring ... also for you, I am sure. Please, Miss ...
Inés San Martín
Crux
Holy Father, I don't want to disturb you, but I have two questions concerning two different things. The first is specific to this trip. This voyage comes after the agreement between the European Union and Turkey in an attempt to resolve the question of refugees in Greece. Do you think that this plan will work, or is it a political attempt to try to buy time and see what will happen? And the second question, if I may: This morning, you met the candidate for the United States Presidency, Bernie Sanders at Santa Marta. I want to ask you to comment on this meeting and whether this is his way of getting himself into North-American politics.
Pope Francis
No, first of all there is no political speculation, because these agreements between Turkey and Greece, I did not know them very well. I saw some newspapers, but this is a purely human thing (referring to the initiative to welcome a group of refugees). This is a humanitarian fact. It was an inspiration that came to me one week ago from one of my collaborators, and I immediately accepted it, right away, because I saw that it was the Spirit speaking. Everything was done according to the rules: they all have documents, from the three governments - the Vatican City State, the Italian government and the Greek government - they have all inspected everything, they have seen everything and they have all provided their visas. They are being welcomed by the Vatican: it will be up to the Vatican, with the collaboration of the Sant'Egidio Community, to find them work, if they can, or to support them ... They are guests of the Vatican, in addition to the two Syrian families who have already been welcomed by the two Vatican parishes.
Second. This morning, when I went out, Senator Sanders was there; he had come for the Centesimus Annus Foundation's convention. He know that I usually would go out at that time, and he was kind enough to want to greet me. I greeted him, I shook his hand, and the hand of his wife and those of another couple who were with him, who were staying at Santa Marta, because all the participants, except for the two presidents who are participating - who I believe stayed at their respective embassies - all the rest were staying at Santa Marta. And when I went down, he introduced himself, we greeted each other, a handshake and nothing more. This is an education: it's called education and not meddling in politics. And if anyone thinks that greeting one another is meddling in politics, I would say they should find a psychiatrist! (he laughs)
Father Lombardi
So, the second question is from Franca Giansoldati who knows the Pope well, and who the Pope also knows well.
Pope Francis
But you need to prepare for Armenia ... (he laughs)
Franca Giansoldati
Il Messaggero
Thank you, Holiness. You speak often about welcoming, but perhaps you speak too little about integration. Considering all that is going on in Europe, especially with this massive influx of immigrants, we are seeing several cities suffering from ghetto neighbourhoods ... In all this, it is clear that Muslim immigrants are the ones who are finding it most difficult to integrate with our values, with western values. I wanted to ask: would it not be easier from the point of view of integration to favour the arrival of non-Muslims? And then, today, have you not, with this very beautiful gesture, a very noble gesture, placed the priority on three families who are entirely Muslim?
Pope Francis
I did not choose between Christians and Muslims. These three families had their documents in order and it could be done. There were, for example, two Christian families on the first list who did not have their papers in order. This is not a privilege. All twelve of them are children of God. The privilege is to be a child of God: this is true. Concerning their integration, what you say is very intelligent. Thank you for having said it. You said one word that in our current culture seems to be forgotten, following the war ... Today, there are ghettos. Some of the terrorists who have perpetrated terrorist activity - a few of them - are children and grandchildren of people who were born in Europe. What happened? There was no policy of integration and this is fundamental for me; to the point that you see that in the Post-synodal Exhortation on the family - even if this is another problem - one of the three pastoral dimensions for families in difficulty is integration into the life of the Church. Today, Europe must regain this ability, that she has always had, to integrate. Because nomads and Normans arrived in Europe and so many other people, and Europe was able to integrate them and to enrich her culture. I believe that we need some teaching and education about integration. Thank you.
Elena Pinardi
European Broadcasting Union
Holy Father, there is talk about reinforcing the borders between various European countries, of check points, even of deploying battalions along the borders of Europe. Is this the end of Schengen, the end of the European dream?
Pope Francis
I do not know. I understand that governments, even some people are scared. This I understand and we must have great responsibility to be welcoming. One of the aspects of this welcoming is this: how can we integrate, these people and us? I have always said that to build walls is not a solution: did we not just see one crumble, in the last century? Walls don't solve anything. We should build bridges, but bridges are built intelligently, they are made with dialogue, with integration, and for this I understand that there is a certain fear. But closing the borders doesn't solve anything, because in the long run, that closure will hurt our own people. Europe should urgently develop policies for reception and integration, for growth, for work, for economic reform ... All these things are bridges that will lead us away from building walls. I am very sympathetic to fear, but after what I have seen - this is a change of subject, but I want to say it today - and you yourselves saw it, in that refugee camp ... they were crying. The children ... I brought them with me to show them to you: the children gave me many drawings (the Pope showed them various drawings one after another and made comments). One: what do children want? Peace, because they are suffering. There are education courses, in the camp ... but what have they seen, those children! Look at this one: they have even seen children being drowned. Children have this experience in their hearts! Truly, today they were crying. They were crying. The same theme has been depicted by this child from Afganistan: we see a boat that left Afganistan has returned to Greece. These children have these things in their memories! It will take time to process all this. Look at this one: the sun that sees and cries. If the sun i capable of crying, even we: a tear would do us good.
Fanny Carrier
Agence France Presse
Good afternoon. Why do you not differentiate between those who are fleeing from war and those who are fleeing from hunger? Can Europe welcome all the suffering of the world?
Pope Francis
It's true. I said today in my speech: some are fleeing from war, others are fleeing from hunger. Both are the result of exploitation, even of the earth. One of the Heads of State from Africa told me, a month ago more or less, that the first decision made by his government was reforestation, because the earth was dying because of exploitation and deforestation. We need to do good work with both of these. Some of them are fleeing from hunger and others are fleeing from war. I would invite the arms traffickers - because for weapons, to a certain extent, there are agreements, they are made, but traffickers, those who trade in order to create war in various places, for example in Syria: those who provide arms to various groups - I would invite these traffickers to spend a day in that camp. I believe that it would be healthy for them to do so!
Néstor Pongutá
W Radio Columbia
Your Holiness, good afternoon. This morning, you said something very special, which required much attention from us: that this was a sad voyage, and you demonstrated it through your words and it was very emotional ... However something must have changed, in your heart, to know that these twelve people are aboard, and that with this little gesture, you have given a lesson to those who sometimes turn their heads away from such suffering, in this third world war that is being fought in pieces, and which you have denounced.
Pope Francis
I will commit plagiarism! I will respond with a phrase that is not mine. The same thing was asked of Mother Teresa: But you expend so much energy, so much work just to help people to die ... What you are doing is useless! The sea is so vast! And she responded: It is a drop in the water of the sea! But after this drop in the sea, it will never be the same! I respond in this way. It is a small gesture, but small gestures are what we must all do, men and women, to reach out a hand to those who are in need.
Joshua McElwee
National Catholic Reporter
Thank you Holy Father. We have come to a country of migration, but also one of political austerity measures. I want to ask if you have a thought about economic austerity? Also for another island - Porto Rico - do you have any thoughts about these austerity measures?
Pope Francis
The word austerity has a different meanings depending on which point of view you take: economically, it means a part of a program; politically, it means something else; spiritually and according to Christianity it means something else again. When I speak of austerity, I speak of austerity as compared to waste. I have heard it said at the FAO - I believe that it was during a meeting at the FAO - that with all the food that is wasted, we could satisfy all the hunger in the world. And we, in our house, how much do we waste, how much do we waste without wanting to do so! This is the culture of discard, of waste. I speak of austerity in this sense, in the Christian sense. Let's stop here and live a little more austerity.
Francisco Romero
Rome Reports
Holiness, I simply want to say what you said - that this refugee crisis is the worst crisis since the Second World War. I want to ask you: what do you think about the crisis of immigrants who are arriving in America, in the United States, in Mexico and in Latin America?
Pope Francis
It is the same thing? It is the same, because there, they find more or less those who are fleeing from hunger. It is the same problem. In Ciudad Juárez I celebrated Mass 100 metres, more or less, from the fence. On the other side, there were fifty of the Bishops of the United States and a stadium filled with fifty thousand people who were following the Mass on jumbotrons; and there, in Mexico there was that camp filled with people ... But it is the same thing! They arrive in Mexico from Central America. You remember, two months ago, there was a conflict with Nicaragua because they did not want the refugees to cross: it has been resolved. They took them by plane to the other country without passing through Nicaragua. It is a world-wide problem! I spoke about it there, to the Mexican Bishops; I asked the to take care of refugees.
Francis Rocca
Wall Street Journal
Thank you Holy Father! I see that the questions I had in mind have already been asked, and you have responded very well. Now, if you would permit me, I want to ask a question concerning another event that has taken place in these last days: the publication of your Apostolic Exhortation. As you know very well, there was much discussion about one of the many points - I know that we spent a lot of time on it - after the publication, some people maintained that nothing had changed with respect to the discipline that governs access to the Sacraments for those who are divorced and remarried, and that the law and the pastoral practice and obviously the doctrine would remain the same; others however believed that much had changed and that there are now many openings and possibilities. My question is for a person, a Catholic who wants to know: are there any new concrete possibilities that did not exist before the publication of the Exhortation, or no?
Pope Francis
I can say yes, and that's it. But that would be too small of a response. I would recommend that you all read the presentation that Cardinal Schönborn gave; he is a great theologian. He is a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and he knows the doctrine of the Church very well. In his presentation, your question will find its response. Thank you!
Guénois
Le Figaro
I had the same question, but it is a complementary question, because I did not understand why you wrote this famous note in Amoris laetitia concerning the problems of the divorced and remarried - note 351. Why such an important thing in so small a note? Did you expect opposition or want to say that this point was not so important?
Pope Francis
Listen, one of the most recent Popes, speaking about the Council, said that there were two Councils: the first was Vatican II, which took place in Saint Peter's Basilica, and the other, the Council of the media. When I called the first Synod, the greatest preoccupation of the majority of the media was: Will those who have been divorced and remarried be able to receive communion? And since I am not a saint, this caused me a bit of frustration, and even a bit of sadness because I thought: But those who are saying this and this and this do not realize that this is not the important problem? Do they not realize that all around the world the family is in crisis? And the family is the basis for society! Do they not realize that young people don't want to get married? Do they not realize that the birth rate in Europe makes people cry? Do they not realize that the lack of work and even the possibility of work make it so that the fathers and mothers must both work and the children grow up alone and not learning to develop a dialogue with their daddies and their mommies? These are major problems! I don't remember the note, but surely if such a thing is known it must be because it was written in Evangelii gaudium. I am sure! There must have been a citation from Evangelii gaudium. I don't remember the number, but I'm sure of it.
Father Lombardi
Thank you Holiness, we have had enough conversation about the themes of this voyage and we have managed to also elaborate on your Exhortation. We congratulate you on a good trip and a good continuation of your work.
Pope Francis
Thank you to all of you. Truly, I am at peace with you. Thank you very much! Thank you for your company.
No comments:
Post a Comment