At 11:00am this morning, in the Clementine Hall at the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the members of the Representative Council of Caritas Internationalis.
During their meeting, the Pope spoke freely, responding to a few questions posed by participants taking part in the audience.
The Holy Father had also prepared a speech for this occasion, the text of which is printed below. This text was given to the participants for future reflection.
Dear brothers and sisters,
I cordially greet all of you, Members of the Representative Council and personnel from Caritas Internationalis. I am pleased to welcome you at the conclusion of your institution's meeting and to meet , through you, the entire family of national Caritas members and those in your respective countries who are committed to the Church's charitable work. I thank Cardinal Antonio Tagle, your President, for the words with which he has introduced this meeting.
The Church exists in order to evangelize, but evangelization requires us to adapt to various situations, taking account of both family and social life, as well as international life with special attention paid to peace, justice and development (cf Evangelii nuntiandi, 29). At the beginning of the Syond on the New Evangelization, Pope Benedict XVI recalled that the two pillars of evangelization are Faith and Love; and I myself dedicated a chapter of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium to the social dimension of evangelization, reaffirming the Church's preferential option for the poor. This is the reason why we are called to act against the social exclusion of the weak and to work toward their integration. In fact, our societies are often dominated by a throw away culture, need to overcome indifference and the tendency to look inward in order to learn the art of solidarity. We who are strong - says Saint Paul - have a duty to bear the infirmities of the weak without concerning ourselves with what pleases us (Rm 15:1).
This helps us to understand how fundamental is the mission of the various national Caritas offices and their specific role in the Church. In fact, they are not social agencies, but rather ecclesial organizations that share the mission of the Church. As it has been written in your Statutes, you are called to assist the Pope and the Bishops in their ministry of charity (Article 1.4). Today's social emergencies require that you put into practice that which Saint John Paul II defined as a new creativity in charity (Novo millenio ineunte, 50): which is made concrete not only in the effectiveness of the assistance provided, but above all in your capacity to be close to others, accompanying them with an attitude of fraternal sharing, even with the most disadvantaged. It is a matter of allowing charity and justice to shine in the world, in the light of the gospel and the teachings of the Church, involving the poor themselves so that they might become true participants in their own development.
I thank you very much, in the name of all the Church, for all that you do for the poor. I encourage you to continue in this mission, which allows the Church to be understood as a real travelling companion, close to the heart and the hopes of men and women in this world. Continue to share the message of the gospel of joy in all parts of the world, above all to those who have been left behind, but also to those who have the power to change things, because change is possible. Poverty, hunger, sickness and oppression are not eventualities, nor are they permanent situations. Trusting in the power of the gospel, we can truly contribute to changing things or at least to improving them. We reaffirm the dignity of those who are still waiting for a sign of our love and our help to protect and create together our common home.
I invite you to always have prophetic courage, to reject everything that demeans others, and every form of exploitation that degrade. Continue to put forth both small and greater signs of hospitality and solidarity that have the capacity to illuminate the lives of children and the elderly, migrants and refugees in search of peace. I am very happy to learn that Caritas Internationalis will develop a campaign especially focused on the theme of migration. I hope that this beautiful initiative will open the hearts of many people to welcoming refugees and migrants, so that they may truly feel at home in our communities. May your care support, with renewed commitment, the processes of development and paths of peace in countries from which these brothers and sisters of ours are fleeing or leaving in search of a better future.
Be artisans of peace and of reconciliation among people, among communities, among believers. Use all your energies and your commitment to work in synergy with other communities of faith who, like you, place the dignity of persons at the centre of their attention. Fight against poverty and, at the same time, learn from the poor. Let yourselves be inspired and guided by their simple and basic lives, by their values, by their sense of solidarity and of sharing, by their ability to recover from difficulties, and above all by their lived experience of the suffering Christ, who is the only Lord and Saviour. Learn also their life of prayer and of trust in God.
I hope that, with the support and the pastoral attention of your bishops, you may always be witnesses of generous ministry in charity, helping the community of believers to be a place for proclaiming the gospel, for celebrating the Eucharist and for joyfully serving the poor.
I invoke the intercession of Mary, our heavenly Mother and, while asking you to pray for me, I willingly impart the Lord's blessing upon you and all those who you support with your work.
During their meeting, the Pope spoke freely, responding to a few questions posed by participants taking part in the audience.
The Holy Father had also prepared a speech for this occasion, the text of which is printed below. This text was given to the participants for future reflection.
Prepared text of the speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to representatives of Caritas Internationalis
Dear brothers and sisters,
I cordially greet all of you, Members of the Representative Council and personnel from Caritas Internationalis. I am pleased to welcome you at the conclusion of your institution's meeting and to meet , through you, the entire family of national Caritas members and those in your respective countries who are committed to the Church's charitable work. I thank Cardinal Antonio Tagle, your President, for the words with which he has introduced this meeting.
The Church exists in order to evangelize, but evangelization requires us to adapt to various situations, taking account of both family and social life, as well as international life with special attention paid to peace, justice and development (cf Evangelii nuntiandi, 29). At the beginning of the Syond on the New Evangelization, Pope Benedict XVI recalled that the two pillars of evangelization are Faith and Love; and I myself dedicated a chapter of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium to the social dimension of evangelization, reaffirming the Church's preferential option for the poor. This is the reason why we are called to act against the social exclusion of the weak and to work toward their integration. In fact, our societies are often dominated by a throw away culture, need to overcome indifference and the tendency to look inward in order to learn the art of solidarity. We who are strong - says Saint Paul - have a duty to bear the infirmities of the weak without concerning ourselves with what pleases us (Rm 15:1).
This helps us to understand how fundamental is the mission of the various national Caritas offices and their specific role in the Church. In fact, they are not social agencies, but rather ecclesial organizations that share the mission of the Church. As it has been written in your Statutes, you are called to assist the Pope and the Bishops in their ministry of charity (Article 1.4). Today's social emergencies require that you put into practice that which Saint John Paul II defined as a new creativity in charity (Novo millenio ineunte, 50): which is made concrete not only in the effectiveness of the assistance provided, but above all in your capacity to be close to others, accompanying them with an attitude of fraternal sharing, even with the most disadvantaged. It is a matter of allowing charity and justice to shine in the world, in the light of the gospel and the teachings of the Church, involving the poor themselves so that they might become true participants in their own development.
I thank you very much, in the name of all the Church, for all that you do for the poor. I encourage you to continue in this mission, which allows the Church to be understood as a real travelling companion, close to the heart and the hopes of men and women in this world. Continue to share the message of the gospel of joy in all parts of the world, above all to those who have been left behind, but also to those who have the power to change things, because change is possible. Poverty, hunger, sickness and oppression are not eventualities, nor are they permanent situations. Trusting in the power of the gospel, we can truly contribute to changing things or at least to improving them. We reaffirm the dignity of those who are still waiting for a sign of our love and our help to protect and create together our common home.
I invite you to always have prophetic courage, to reject everything that demeans others, and every form of exploitation that degrade. Continue to put forth both small and greater signs of hospitality and solidarity that have the capacity to illuminate the lives of children and the elderly, migrants and refugees in search of peace. I am very happy to learn that Caritas Internationalis will develop a campaign especially focused on the theme of migration. I hope that this beautiful initiative will open the hearts of many people to welcoming refugees and migrants, so that they may truly feel at home in our communities. May your care support, with renewed commitment, the processes of development and paths of peace in countries from which these brothers and sisters of ours are fleeing or leaving in search of a better future.
Be artisans of peace and of reconciliation among people, among communities, among believers. Use all your energies and your commitment to work in synergy with other communities of faith who, like you, place the dignity of persons at the centre of their attention. Fight against poverty and, at the same time, learn from the poor. Let yourselves be inspired and guided by their simple and basic lives, by their values, by their sense of solidarity and of sharing, by their ability to recover from difficulties, and above all by their lived experience of the suffering Christ, who is the only Lord and Saviour. Learn also their life of prayer and of trust in God.
I hope that, with the support and the pastoral attention of your bishops, you may always be witnesses of generous ministry in charity, helping the community of believers to be a place for proclaiming the gospel, for celebrating the Eucharist and for joyfully serving the poor.
I invoke the intercession of Mary, our heavenly Mother and, while asking you to pray for me, I willingly impart the Lord's blessing upon you and all those who you support with your work.
No comments:
Post a Comment