This morning's General Audience began at 9:30am (3:30am EST) inside the Paul VI Hall 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 added his meditation concerning his Apostolic voyage to the United Arab Emirates which has just concluded (Gen 9:1,5).
After having summarized His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. Then, he invited all those who were present to pray for migrants from Haiti who were drowned in recent days off the coast of the Bahamas.
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 completed a brief Apostolic voyage in the United Arab Emirates. This was a brief but very important trip which, linked with the meeting that took place at Al-Azhar (Egypt) in 2017, wrote a new page in the history of the dialogue between Christianity and Islam and in our commitment to promoting peace in the world based on human brotherhood.
For the first time, a Pope travelled to the Arabian peninsula. Providence dictated that it should be a Pope whose name is Francis, 800 years after the visit of Saint Francis of Assisi to the Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil. I thought a few times about Saint Francis during this trip: he helped me to keep the gospel and the love of Jesus in my heart while I was experiencing the various parts of this visit; in my heart, there was the gospel of Christ, prayers offered to the Father for all His children, especially for the poor, for victims of injustices, wars, various forms of suffering ...; prayer that the dialogue between Christianity and Islam may be a decisive part of promoting peace in the world today.
With all my heart, I am thankful to the Crown Prince, the President, the Vice-President and to all the Authorities in the United Arab Emirates, who welcomed me with great courtesy. That country has grown a lot in recent decades: it has become a crossroads between East and West, a multi-ethnic and multi-religious oasis and therefore a suitable place to promote a culture of encounter. I express my gratitude to Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar for Southern Arabia, who prepared and organized the event for the Catholic community, and my thanks are also extended with affection to the priests, the religious and the laity who ensure the Christian presence in that land.
I had the opportunity to greet the first priest - ninety years old - who went there to establish many other communities. He is now in a wheelchair, blind, but his smile never falls from his lips, the smile that comes from having served the Lord and having done so much good. I also greeted another ninety-year-old priest - but this one is still walking and is still working. Bravo! - and many other priests who are there in service to the Latin Rite Christian community, the Syro-Malabars, Syro-Malankars and Maronites from Lebanon, India, the Philippines and from other countries.
In addition to speeches, one more step was taken in Abu Dhabi: the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and I signed a Document on Human Fraternity, in which we affirmed together the common vocation of all men and women to be brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of God, condemning every form of violence, especially those which are motivated by religious aims, and we commit ourselves to defending authentic values and peace throughout the world. This document will be studied in schools and in universities in several countries. But I also recommend that you read it, know it, so that it can provide much motivation to go forward in dialogue on human fraternity.
In an era like ours, in which temptations to see a clash between Christian and Islamic civilizations are strong, and also a time when religions can be considered as sources of conflict, we wanted to provide a further clear and decisive sign that instead of conflict, it is possible to meet others, it is possible to respect and to enter into dialogue with others, and that, despite the diversity of cultures and traditions, the Christian and the Islamic world can appreciate and care for common values: life, family, religious sense, honour for elders, the education of the young, and more.
There are a little more than one million Christians living in the United Arab Emirates: workers who were born in various Asian countries. Yesterday morning, I met a representative group of the Catholic community in the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Abu Dhabi - a very simple temple - and then, after that meeting, I celebrated for everyone - there were lots of them there! - They say that if we counted those who were inside the stadium, which has a capacity of 40,000, and those who were watching on screens outside the stadium, there were 150,000 there! I celebrated the Eucharist in the city stadium, proclaiming the gospel of the Beatitudes. During the Mass, which was concelebrated wit the Patriarchs, Major Archbishops and Bishops who were present, we prayed especially for peace and justice, with special intentions for the Middle East and for Yemen.
Dear brothers and sisters, this voyage is part of God's surprises. Therefore, let us praise Him and His providence, and let us pray that the seeds that have been sown may bear fruit according to his holy will.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages and His Holiness addressed particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking pilgrims who were there, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those from England and the United States of America. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the Lord’s blessings of joy and peace. God bless you!
At the conclusion of the General Audience, the Holy Father issued the following call for prayer:
Last Saturday, near the Bahamian archipelago, a boat sank. It was carrying dozens of migrants from Haiti in search of hope and a future of peace. My affectionate thoughts go out to the families who are being tried by suffering, including the Haitian people who have been struck by this new tragedy. I invite you to join me in praying for all those who have died so tragically and for all those who have been wounded.
In his speech, the Pope added his meditation concerning his Apostolic voyage to the United Arab Emirates which has just concluded (Gen 9:1,5).
After having summarized His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. Then, he invited all those who were present to pray for migrants from Haiti who were drowned in recent days off the coast of the Bahamas.
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 completed a brief Apostolic voyage in the United Arab Emirates. This was a brief but very important trip which, linked with the meeting that took place at Al-Azhar (Egypt) in 2017, wrote a new page in the history of the dialogue between Christianity and Islam and in our commitment to promoting peace in the world based on human brotherhood.
For the first time, a Pope travelled to the Arabian peninsula. Providence dictated that it should be a Pope whose name is Francis, 800 years after the visit of Saint Francis of Assisi to the Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil. I thought a few times about Saint Francis during this trip: he helped me to keep the gospel and the love of Jesus in my heart while I was experiencing the various parts of this visit; in my heart, there was the gospel of Christ, prayers offered to the Father for all His children, especially for the poor, for victims of injustices, wars, various forms of suffering ...; prayer that the dialogue between Christianity and Islam may be a decisive part of promoting peace in the world today.
With all my heart, I am thankful to the Crown Prince, the President, the Vice-President and to all the Authorities in the United Arab Emirates, who welcomed me with great courtesy. That country has grown a lot in recent decades: it has become a crossroads between East and West, a multi-ethnic and multi-religious oasis and therefore a suitable place to promote a culture of encounter. I express my gratitude to Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar for Southern Arabia, who prepared and organized the event for the Catholic community, and my thanks are also extended with affection to the priests, the religious and the laity who ensure the Christian presence in that land.
I had the opportunity to greet the first priest - ninety years old - who went there to establish many other communities. He is now in a wheelchair, blind, but his smile never falls from his lips, the smile that comes from having served the Lord and having done so much good. I also greeted another ninety-year-old priest - but this one is still walking and is still working. Bravo! - and many other priests who are there in service to the Latin Rite Christian community, the Syro-Malabars, Syro-Malankars and Maronites from Lebanon, India, the Philippines and from other countries.
In addition to speeches, one more step was taken in Abu Dhabi: the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and I signed a Document on Human Fraternity, in which we affirmed together the common vocation of all men and women to be brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of God, condemning every form of violence, especially those which are motivated by religious aims, and we commit ourselves to defending authentic values and peace throughout the world. This document will be studied in schools and in universities in several countries. But I also recommend that you read it, know it, so that it can provide much motivation to go forward in dialogue on human fraternity.
In an era like ours, in which temptations to see a clash between Christian and Islamic civilizations are strong, and also a time when religions can be considered as sources of conflict, we wanted to provide a further clear and decisive sign that instead of conflict, it is possible to meet others, it is possible to respect and to enter into dialogue with others, and that, despite the diversity of cultures and traditions, the Christian and the Islamic world can appreciate and care for common values: life, family, religious sense, honour for elders, the education of the young, and more.
There are a little more than one million Christians living in the United Arab Emirates: workers who were born in various Asian countries. Yesterday morning, I met a representative group of the Catholic community in the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Abu Dhabi - a very simple temple - and then, after that meeting, I celebrated for everyone - there were lots of them there! - They say that if we counted those who were inside the stadium, which has a capacity of 40,000, and those who were watching on screens outside the stadium, there were 150,000 there! I celebrated the Eucharist in the city stadium, proclaiming the gospel of the Beatitudes. During the Mass, which was concelebrated wit the Patriarchs, Major Archbishops and Bishops who were present, we prayed especially for peace and justice, with special intentions for the Middle East and for Yemen.
Dear brothers and sisters, this voyage is part of God's surprises. Therefore, let us praise Him and His providence, and let us pray that the seeds that have been sown may bear fruit according to his holy will.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages and His Holiness addressed particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking pilgrims who were there, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those from England and the United States of America. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the Lord’s blessings of joy and peace. God bless you!
At the conclusion of the General Audience, the Holy Father issued the following call for prayer:
Last Saturday, near the Bahamian archipelago, a boat sank. It was carrying dozens of migrants from Haiti in search of hope and a future of peace. My affectionate thoughts go out to the families who are being tried by suffering, including the Haitian people who have been struck by this new tragedy. I invite you to join me in praying for all those who have died so tragically and for all those who have been wounded.
No comments:
Post a Comment