This morning's General Audience began at 9:30am (3:30am EDT) in Saint Peter's Square, where the Holy Father, pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from every corner of the world.
In his speech, the Pope focused his mediation on his Apostolic Voyage to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia which he completed yesterday (Biblical passage: Psalm 126:1-6).
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. He then issued a call on the occasion of the signing of a Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China concerning the appointment of Bishops in China, which took place in Beijing on 22 September of this year.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
In recent days, I have made an Apostolic Journey to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on the occasion of the centenary of independence of those countries which we refer to as the Baltics. They have experienced these one hundred years half under the yoke of the occupations, the Nazi one first, and the Soviet one later on. They are people who have suffered greatly, and for this reason the Lord has looked upon them with favour. I'm sure about this. I thank the Presidents of the three Republics and civil authorities for the exquisite receptions I received. I thank the Bishops and all those who collaborated to prepare and carry out this ecclesial event.
My visit took place in a very changed context compared to the one that Saint John Paul II encountered; therefore my mission was to proclaim to those peoples the joy of the Gospel and the revolution of tenderness and mercy because freedom is not enough to give meaning and fullness to life without love, love that always comes from God. In times of trial, the Gospel gives strength to our souls to help us fight against the struggle for liberation; in times of freedom it is light for the daily journey of people, families, societies and it is salt that gives flavour to ordinary life and preserves it from the corruption of mediocrity and of selfishness.
In Lithuania, Catholics are the majority, while Lutherans and Orthodox prevail in Latvia and Estonia, but many have turned away from religious life, so the challenge is to strengthen the communion among all Christians which developed during the harsh period of persecution. In fact, the ecumenical dimension was intrinsic to this journey, and it found expression in the moment of prayer in the Riga Cathedral and in the meeting with young people in Tallinn.
In addressing the respective Authorities of the three countries, I emphasized the contribution they provide to the community of nations and especially to Europe: the contribution of human and social values passed through the melting pot of proof. I encouraged dialogue between the generation of the elderly and that of the young, because contact with their roots can continue to fertilize the present and the future. I urged them to always combine freedom with solidarity and hospitality, according to the tradition of those lands.
Two specific meetings were dedicated to young people and to the elderly: with the young people in Vilnius and with the elderly in Riga. In the square in Vilnius, which was filled with boys and girls, the motto of the visit to Lithuania was palpable: Jesus Christ our hope. The testimonies showed the beauty of prayer and of singing, where the soul opens to God; the joy of serving others, leaving the enclosures of the I to get moving again, able to get up after their falls. With the elderly, in Latvia, I emphasized the close link between patience and hope. Those who have gone through hard trials are the roots of a people, to be guarded with the grace of God, so that new sprouts can grow and flourish and bear fruit. The challenge for those who age is not to harden inside, but to remain open and tender in mind and heart; and this is possible with the sap of the Holy Spirit, in prayer and listening to the Word of God.
Even with priests, consecrated persons and seminarians, who I met in Lithuania, the dimension of constancy appeared to be essential for hope: to be centred in God, firmly rooted in his love. What a great testimony they have given and still give: many priests, religious men and women religious! They have suffered slanders, prisons, deportations ... but they always remained steadfast in the faith. I urged them not to forget, to keep the memory of the martyrs, to follow their examples.
And speaking of memory, in Vilnius I paid tribute to the victims of the Jewish genocide in Lithuania, exactly 75 years after the closure of the great Ghetto, which was the antechamber of death for tens of thousands of Jews. At the same time I visited the Museum of Occupations and Freedom: I stopped in prayer right in the rooms where the opponents of the regime were detained, tortured and killed. They killed more or less forty per night. It is moving to see how far human cruelty can come. Let's think about this.
The years pass by, the regimes pass by, but above the Gate of the Dawn in Vilnius, Mary, Mother of Mercy, continues to watch over her people, as a sign of sure hope and consolation (cf Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution, Lumen Gentium, 68).
Concrete charity is always a living sign of the Gospel. Even where secularization is strong, God speaks with the language of love, care, free service to those in need. And then hearts are opened, and miracles happen: new life sprouts in the desert.
In the three Eucharistic celebrations - in Kaunas, Lithuania, in Aglona, Latvia, and in Tallinn, Estonia - the holy faithful People of God walking in those lands renewed their yes to Christ our hope; they renewed it with Mary, who always shows herself to be the Mother of her children, especially the most suffering; they renewed it as a chosen, priestly and holy people, in whose heart God awakens the grace of baptism.
Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Thank you!
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and His Holiness offered greetings to each group of pilgrims in attendance. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly the groups from England, Scotland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Nigeria, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada and the United States of America. In a particular way my greeting goes to the new seminarians of the Venerable English College as they begin their priestly formation here in Rome, and to the seminarians of the Pontifical North American College and their families gathered for the ordination to the Diaconate which will be celebrated tomorrow. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless you!
At the conclusion of the Audience, the Holy Father issued the following call:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Last Saturday, September 22, a Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China was signed in Beijing concerning the appointment of Bishops in China. The Agreement is the fruit of a long and thoughtful journey of dialogue, intended to foster a more positive collaboration between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities for the good of the Catholic community in China and for the harmony of that whole society.
In this spirit, I have decided to address a message of fraternal encouragement to Chinese Catholics and to the whole universal Church, which will be published today. With this, I hope that in China a new phase can be opened, which helps to heal the wounds of the past, to restore and maintain the full communion of all Chinese Catholics and to take up the proclamation of the Gospel with renewed commitment.
Dear brothers and sisters, we have an important task! We are called to accompany our brothers and sisters in China with fervent prayer and fraternal friendship. They know they are not alone. The whole Church is praying with them and for them. We ask Our Lady, Mother of Hope and Help of Christians, to bless and keep all Catholics in China, while for the entire Chinese people we invoke from God the gift of prosperity and peace.
In his speech, the Pope focused his mediation on his Apostolic Voyage to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia which he completed yesterday (Biblical passage: Psalm 126:1-6).
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. He then issued a call on the occasion of the signing of a Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China concerning the appointment of Bishops in China, which took place in Beijing on 22 September of this year.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
In recent days, I have made an Apostolic Journey to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on the occasion of the centenary of independence of those countries which we refer to as the Baltics. They have experienced these one hundred years half under the yoke of the occupations, the Nazi one first, and the Soviet one later on. They are people who have suffered greatly, and for this reason the Lord has looked upon them with favour. I'm sure about this. I thank the Presidents of the three Republics and civil authorities for the exquisite receptions I received. I thank the Bishops and all those who collaborated to prepare and carry out this ecclesial event.
My visit took place in a very changed context compared to the one that Saint John Paul II encountered; therefore my mission was to proclaim to those peoples the joy of the Gospel and the revolution of tenderness and mercy because freedom is not enough to give meaning and fullness to life without love, love that always comes from God. In times of trial, the Gospel gives strength to our souls to help us fight against the struggle for liberation; in times of freedom it is light for the daily journey of people, families, societies and it is salt that gives flavour to ordinary life and preserves it from the corruption of mediocrity and of selfishness.
In Lithuania, Catholics are the majority, while Lutherans and Orthodox prevail in Latvia and Estonia, but many have turned away from religious life, so the challenge is to strengthen the communion among all Christians which developed during the harsh period of persecution. In fact, the ecumenical dimension was intrinsic to this journey, and it found expression in the moment of prayer in the Riga Cathedral and in the meeting with young people in Tallinn.
In addressing the respective Authorities of the three countries, I emphasized the contribution they provide to the community of nations and especially to Europe: the contribution of human and social values passed through the melting pot of proof. I encouraged dialogue between the generation of the elderly and that of the young, because contact with their roots can continue to fertilize the present and the future. I urged them to always combine freedom with solidarity and hospitality, according to the tradition of those lands.
Two specific meetings were dedicated to young people and to the elderly: with the young people in Vilnius and with the elderly in Riga. In the square in Vilnius, which was filled with boys and girls, the motto of the visit to Lithuania was palpable: Jesus Christ our hope. The testimonies showed the beauty of prayer and of singing, where the soul opens to God; the joy of serving others, leaving the enclosures of the I to get moving again, able to get up after their falls. With the elderly, in Latvia, I emphasized the close link between patience and hope. Those who have gone through hard trials are the roots of a people, to be guarded with the grace of God, so that new sprouts can grow and flourish and bear fruit. The challenge for those who age is not to harden inside, but to remain open and tender in mind and heart; and this is possible with the sap of the Holy Spirit, in prayer and listening to the Word of God.
Even with priests, consecrated persons and seminarians, who I met in Lithuania, the dimension of constancy appeared to be essential for hope: to be centred in God, firmly rooted in his love. What a great testimony they have given and still give: many priests, religious men and women religious! They have suffered slanders, prisons, deportations ... but they always remained steadfast in the faith. I urged them not to forget, to keep the memory of the martyrs, to follow their examples.
And speaking of memory, in Vilnius I paid tribute to the victims of the Jewish genocide in Lithuania, exactly 75 years after the closure of the great Ghetto, which was the antechamber of death for tens of thousands of Jews. At the same time I visited the Museum of Occupations and Freedom: I stopped in prayer right in the rooms where the opponents of the regime were detained, tortured and killed. They killed more or less forty per night. It is moving to see how far human cruelty can come. Let's think about this.
The years pass by, the regimes pass by, but above the Gate of the Dawn in Vilnius, Mary, Mother of Mercy, continues to watch over her people, as a sign of sure hope and consolation (cf Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution, Lumen Gentium, 68).
Concrete charity is always a living sign of the Gospel. Even where secularization is strong, God speaks with the language of love, care, free service to those in need. And then hearts are opened, and miracles happen: new life sprouts in the desert.
In the three Eucharistic celebrations - in Kaunas, Lithuania, in Aglona, Latvia, and in Tallinn, Estonia - the holy faithful People of God walking in those lands renewed their yes to Christ our hope; they renewed it with Mary, who always shows herself to be the Mother of her children, especially the most suffering; they renewed it as a chosen, priestly and holy people, in whose heart God awakens the grace of baptism.
Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Thank you!
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and His Holiness offered greetings to each group of pilgrims in attendance. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly the groups from England, Scotland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Nigeria, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada and the United States of America. In a particular way my greeting goes to the new seminarians of the Venerable English College as they begin their priestly formation here in Rome, and to the seminarians of the Pontifical North American College and their families gathered for the ordination to the Diaconate which will be celebrated tomorrow. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless you!
At the conclusion of the Audience, the Holy Father issued the following call:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Last Saturday, September 22, a Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China was signed in Beijing concerning the appointment of Bishops in China. The Agreement is the fruit of a long and thoughtful journey of dialogue, intended to foster a more positive collaboration between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities for the good of the Catholic community in China and for the harmony of that whole society.
In this spirit, I have decided to address a message of fraternal encouragement to Chinese Catholics and to the whole universal Church, which will be published today. With this, I hope that in China a new phase can be opened, which helps to heal the wounds of the past, to restore and maintain the full communion of all Chinese Catholics and to take up the proclamation of the Gospel with renewed commitment.
Dear brothers and sisters, we have an important task! We are called to accompany our brothers and sisters in China with fervent prayer and fraternal friendship. They know they are not alone. The whole Church is praying with them and for them. We ask Our Lady, Mother of Hope and Help of Christians, to bless and keep all Catholics in China, while for the entire Chinese people we invoke from God the gift of prosperity and peace.
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