At 11:30am today, in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience those individuals who are participating in the Jubilee of Circuses.
Dear brothers and sisters,
I cordially welcome all of you, who in various ways work in the world of travelling shows. I thank the Cardinal President for his words, and I thank your representatives who have offered their testimonies and also a brief show, as well as all those who have worked together to prepare this gathering. I extend my greetings to your families and colleagues who could not be present as well.
Circuses and fairs, fairground workers and street artists, designers and band members, you form a large family of travelling and popular shows. You do great things! You are artisans of celebration, of wonder; you are artisans of that which is beautiful: with these qualities, you enrich the world, and also with your ambition to nourish sentiments of hope and trust. You do this through exhibitions that have the ability to elevate the soul, to demonstrate the boldness of particularly challenging exercises, of fascinating others with the marvel of beauty and by offering opportunities for healthy entertainment.
Celebration and joy are distinctive signs of your identity, of your profession and of your life, and in the Jubilee of Mercy, we could not overlook this meeting. You have a special resource: with your constant movement, you can offer the love of God, his embrace and his mercy to everyone. You can be a community of itinerant Christians, bearing witness to Christ who is always on a journey toward encounter, seeking to meet even those who have been distanced.
I congratulate you, for during this Holy Year, you have opened your shows to those who are most in need, to the poor and to those who are homeless, to prisoners and to abandoned children. This too is mercy: sowing beauty and joy in a world that at times is gloomy and sad. Thank you, thank you for this.
Travelling circuses are among the most ancient forms of entertainment; they are meant for everyone and are within reach of every person, small or large, especially to families; they spread the culture of encounter and sociability through enjoyment. Your working environment can become a place for meeting and for friendship. Therefore, I encourage you to always be welcoming toward those who are weak and in need; offering words and gestures of consolation to those who are closed in upon themselves, remembering the words of Saint Paul: He who does the work of mercy will accomplish it with joy (Rom 12:8). As Saint John Paul II said, you can bring a smile to a child's face and brighten the desperate look on a single person's face, even just for a moment and, through your show and an atmosphere of celebration, bring people closer to each other (VI International Meeting of those involved in the Pastoral Care of Circus workers and Carnival staff, 16 December 1993). You can even scare the Pope by making him pet the tiger ... You are powerful people!
I am well aware that, because of the rhythm of your lives and the demands of your work, it is difficult for you to be part of a parish community on an ongoing basis, so I invite you to take care of your faith. Seize every opportunity to be close to the Sacraments. Teach your children to love God and our neighbour: the path of beauty. I call on all diocesan Churches and parishes to be attentive to your needs and those of all people who are on the move. As you know, the Church is preoccupied with the problems that are part of your travelling lifestyle, and wants to help you to eliminate prejudice that sometimes pushes you to the margins of society. May you always carry out your work with love and care, confident that God accompanies you with his providence, and be generous in the work of charity, willing to offer your resources and the genius of your arts and of your professions. You cannot imagine the good that you do: a goodness that sows seeds. Whenever I hear the beautiful music of the film La strada (The road), I think of a girl who, with her humility, her travelling works of goodness, managed to soften the hardened heart of a man who had forgotten how to cry. And you did not know it, but the seed has been sown! You sow this seed: seeds that do much good for many people who you perhaps have never known ... But be sure: you are doing these things. Thank you for this, thank you!
I entrust you to the maternal protection of Holy Mary, the Mother of Mercy. I impart my blessing upon you and those who are dear to you , and I ask you please, don't forget to pray for me.
Address of His Holiness, Pope Francis
for the Jubilee of Circuses
Dear brothers and sisters,
I cordially welcome all of you, who in various ways work in the world of travelling shows. I thank the Cardinal President for his words, and I thank your representatives who have offered their testimonies and also a brief show, as well as all those who have worked together to prepare this gathering. I extend my greetings to your families and colleagues who could not be present as well.
Circuses and fairs, fairground workers and street artists, designers and band members, you form a large family of travelling and popular shows. You do great things! You are artisans of celebration, of wonder; you are artisans of that which is beautiful: with these qualities, you enrich the world, and also with your ambition to nourish sentiments of hope and trust. You do this through exhibitions that have the ability to elevate the soul, to demonstrate the boldness of particularly challenging exercises, of fascinating others with the marvel of beauty and by offering opportunities for healthy entertainment.
Celebration and joy are distinctive signs of your identity, of your profession and of your life, and in the Jubilee of Mercy, we could not overlook this meeting. You have a special resource: with your constant movement, you can offer the love of God, his embrace and his mercy to everyone. You can be a community of itinerant Christians, bearing witness to Christ who is always on a journey toward encounter, seeking to meet even those who have been distanced.
I congratulate you, for during this Holy Year, you have opened your shows to those who are most in need, to the poor and to those who are homeless, to prisoners and to abandoned children. This too is mercy: sowing beauty and joy in a world that at times is gloomy and sad. Thank you, thank you for this.
Travelling circuses are among the most ancient forms of entertainment; they are meant for everyone and are within reach of every person, small or large, especially to families; they spread the culture of encounter and sociability through enjoyment. Your working environment can become a place for meeting and for friendship. Therefore, I encourage you to always be welcoming toward those who are weak and in need; offering words and gestures of consolation to those who are closed in upon themselves, remembering the words of Saint Paul: He who does the work of mercy will accomplish it with joy (Rom 12:8). As Saint John Paul II said, you can bring a smile to a child's face and brighten the desperate look on a single person's face, even just for a moment and, through your show and an atmosphere of celebration, bring people closer to each other (VI International Meeting of those involved in the Pastoral Care of Circus workers and Carnival staff, 16 December 1993). You can even scare the Pope by making him pet the tiger ... You are powerful people!
I am well aware that, because of the rhythm of your lives and the demands of your work, it is difficult for you to be part of a parish community on an ongoing basis, so I invite you to take care of your faith. Seize every opportunity to be close to the Sacraments. Teach your children to love God and our neighbour: the path of beauty. I call on all diocesan Churches and parishes to be attentive to your needs and those of all people who are on the move. As you know, the Church is preoccupied with the problems that are part of your travelling lifestyle, and wants to help you to eliminate prejudice that sometimes pushes you to the margins of society. May you always carry out your work with love and care, confident that God accompanies you with his providence, and be generous in the work of charity, willing to offer your resources and the genius of your arts and of your professions. You cannot imagine the good that you do: a goodness that sows seeds. Whenever I hear the beautiful music of the film La strada (The road), I think of a girl who, with her humility, her travelling works of goodness, managed to soften the hardened heart of a man who had forgotten how to cry. And you did not know it, but the seed has been sown! You sow this seed: seeds that do much good for many people who you perhaps have never known ... But be sure: you are doing these things. Thank you for this, thank you!
I entrust you to the maternal protection of Holy Mary, the Mother of Mercy. I impart my blessing upon you and those who are dear to you , and I ask you please, don't forget to pray for me.
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