This afternoon, the Holy Father, Pope Francis left the Bishop's residence in Port Louis (Mauritius) and travelled by car to the Shrine of Père Laval.
At the entrance to the church adjacent to the Shrine, three Bishops from CEDOI were waiting for the Pope, as well as the Pastor and the head of the Shrine.
Upon his arrival, the Holy Father was welcomed, at the entrance to the Shrine, by a family who offered him the gift of flowers which the Pope placed at the tomb of Blessed Father Jacques-Désiré Laval, pausing there in silent prayer. There were approximately 65 people in attendance.
Exiting the Shrine, Pope Francis greeted some sick persons and family members of drug dependents who are being housed at CASA A, a reception facility run by a permanent deacon and his wife.
At the conclusion of his visit, the Holy Father travelled by car to the Presidential Palace for a courtesy visit with the interim President of the Republic of Mauritius.
At 4:55pm (8:55am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis paid a courtesy visit to the interim President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mister Barlen Vyapoory.
Upon his arrival, at the main entrance to the Presidential Palace, the Pope was welcomed by the President who the accompanied him to the Blue Room where their meeting took place.
After their private meeting and introductions of the President's family members, there was an exchange of gifts and the Pope signed the Book of Honour.
Immediately afterwards, the interim President of the Republic introduced the Holy Father to the Prime Minister, Mister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, and at 5:15pm local time (9:15am EDT), Pope Francis met privately with the Prime Minister in the Blue Room.
At the conclusion of the meeting with the Prime Minister, after the introduction of his family members and the presentation of a tryptic of Pontifical medals, the interim President of the Republic met the Pope and the Prime Minister and together, they made their way to the Great Salon for a Meeting with local Authorities, representatives from civil society and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
At 5:30pm local time (9:30am EDT), the Holy Father met with local Authorities, representatives of civil society and members of the Diplomatic Corps at the Presidential Palace.
Following some introductory remarks presented by the interim President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mister Barlen Vyapoory, and greetings presented by the Prime Minister, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, the Pope shared his speech.
At the completion of the encounter, the interim President of the Republic accompanied the Holy Father to the garden of the palace where he blessed some trees. Then, before taking his leave of the Authorities who were present and travelling by car to the airport in Port Louis for the departure ceremony, the Pope greeted some of the religious leaders who were present for the meeting.
Mr President,
Mr. Prime Minister,
Honourable Members of Government and the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Representatives of Civil Society
and the different Religious Confessions,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I offer a cordial greeting to the authorities of the State of Mauritius and I thank them for the invitation to visit your Republic. I thank the President and the Prime Minister for their kind words and for the reception that they have accorded to me. I greet the Members of Government, the representatives of civil society, and the Diplomatic Corps. I would also acknowledge the presence among us of representatives of other Christian confessions and of the different religions present in Mauritius, and I thank them fraternally.
Thanks to this brief visit, I have the pleasure of encountering your people, known not only for cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, but above all for the beauty born of the ability to acknowledge, respect and harmonize existing differences in view of a common project. This sums up the history of your people, born of the arrival of migrants from different horizons and continents who brought their own traditions, cultures and religions, and gradually learned to be enriched by the difference of others and to find ways of living together and striving to build a society committed to the common good.
In this regard, you possess an authoritative voice, one that has taken on life. A voice that can remind us that it is possible to achieve lasting peace when we start with the conviction that diversity is a beautiful thing when it can constantly enter into a process of reconciliation and seal a sort of cultural covenant resulting in a ‘reconciled diversity’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 230). This in turn serves as a foundation for the opportunity to build true fellowship within the greater human family, without feeling the need to marginalize, exclude or reject anyone.
Your people’s DNA preserves the memory of those movements of migration that brought your ancestors to this island and led them to be open to differences, to integrate them and to promote them for the benefit of all. For this reason, I encourage you, in fidelity to your roots, to take up the challenge of welcoming and protecting those migrants who today come looking for work and, for many of them, better conditions of life for their families. Make an effort to welcome them, following the example of your ancestors, who welcomed one another. Be protagonists and defenders of a true culture of encounter that enables migrants (and everyone) to be respected in their dignity and their rights.
Recalling the recent history of your people, I would like to render homage to the democratic tradition that took root following your independence and that helps to make Mauritius a haven of peace. I express the hope that this art of living democracy can be cultivated and developed, especially by resisting every form of discrimination. For authentic political life, grounded in law and in frank and fair relations between individuals, experiences renewal whenever we are convinced that every woman, man and generation brings the promise of new relational, intellectual, cultural and spiritual energies (Message for the 2019 World Day of Peace, 1 January 2019). May those of you engaged in the political life of the Republic of Mauritius be examples to the men and women who count on you, and in particular to the young. By your conduct and your determination to combat all forms of corruption, may you demonstrate the grandeur of your commitment in service to the common good, and always be worthy of the trust placed in you by your fellow citizens.
Since its independence, your country has experienced a steady economic development that should certainly be a reason to rejoice, but also to be on guard. In the present context, it appears that economic growth does not always profit everyone and even sets aside – by certain of its mechanisms and processes – a certain number of people, particularly the young. That is why I would like to encourage you to promote an economic policy focused on people and in a position to favour a better division of income, the creation of jobs and the integral promotion of the poor (cf EG, 204). To encourage you not to yield to the temptation of an idolatrous economic model that feels the need to sacrifice human lives on the altar of speculation and profit alone, considering only immediate advantage to the detriment of protecting the poor, the environment and its resources. This entails moving forward with that constructive approach that, as Cardinal Piat wrote on the fiftieth anniversary of Mauritius’ independence, works for an integral ecological conversion. A conversion that seeks not only to avoid terrible climatic phenomena or extreme natural catastrophes, but also to promote a change in the way we live, so that economic growth can really benefit everyone, without the risk of causing ecological catastrophes or serious social crises.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to express my appreciation for the way that here in Mauritius the different religions, while respecting their specific identities, work hand-in-hand to contribute to social harmony and to uphold the transcendent value of life against every kind of reductionism. And I express once more the desire of the Catholics of Mauritius to continue to participate in this fruitful dialogue that has so deeply marked the history of your people. Thank you for your witness.
Once again, I thank all of you for your warm welcome. I ask God to bless your people and every effort you make to foster the encounter of different cultures, civilizations and religious traditions in the promotion of a just society, one that does not forget its young and, above all, those who are most vulnerable. May God’s love and mercy continue to accompany you and to protect you! Thank you for your attention.
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
Texte en français
At the entrance to the church adjacent to the Shrine, three Bishops from CEDOI were waiting for the Pope, as well as the Pastor and the head of the Shrine.
Upon his arrival, the Holy Father was welcomed, at the entrance to the Shrine, by a family who offered him the gift of flowers which the Pope placed at the tomb of Blessed Father Jacques-Désiré Laval, pausing there in silent prayer. There were approximately 65 people in attendance.
Exiting the Shrine, Pope Francis greeted some sick persons and family members of drug dependents who are being housed at CASA A, a reception facility run by a permanent deacon and his wife.
At the conclusion of his visit, the Holy Father travelled by car to the Presidential Palace for a courtesy visit with the interim President of the Republic of Mauritius.
At 4:55pm (8:55am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis paid a courtesy visit to the interim President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mister Barlen Vyapoory.
Upon his arrival, at the main entrance to the Presidential Palace, the Pope was welcomed by the President who the accompanied him to the Blue Room where their meeting took place.
After their private meeting and introductions of the President's family members, there was an exchange of gifts and the Pope signed the Book of Honour.
Immediately afterwards, the interim President of the Republic introduced the Holy Father to the Prime Minister, Mister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, and at 5:15pm local time (9:15am EDT), Pope Francis met privately with the Prime Minister in the Blue Room.
At the conclusion of the meeting with the Prime Minister, after the introduction of his family members and the presentation of a tryptic of Pontifical medals, the interim President of the Republic met the Pope and the Prime Minister and together, they made their way to the Great Salon for a Meeting with local Authorities, representatives from civil society and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
At 5:30pm local time (9:30am EDT), the Holy Father met with local Authorities, representatives of civil society and members of the Diplomatic Corps at the Presidential Palace.
Following some introductory remarks presented by the interim President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mister Barlen Vyapoory, and greetings presented by the Prime Minister, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, the Pope shared his speech.
At the completion of the encounter, the interim President of the Republic accompanied the Holy Father to the garden of the palace where he blessed some trees. Then, before taking his leave of the Authorities who were present and travelling by car to the airport in Port Louis for the departure ceremony, the Pope greeted some of the religious leaders who were present for the meeting.
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the meeting with local Authorities,
members of civil society and members of the Diplomatic Corps
Mr President,
Mr. Prime Minister,
Honourable Members of Government and the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Representatives of Civil Society
and the different Religious Confessions,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I offer a cordial greeting to the authorities of the State of Mauritius and I thank them for the invitation to visit your Republic. I thank the President and the Prime Minister for their kind words and for the reception that they have accorded to me. I greet the Members of Government, the representatives of civil society, and the Diplomatic Corps. I would also acknowledge the presence among us of representatives of other Christian confessions and of the different religions present in Mauritius, and I thank them fraternally.
Thanks to this brief visit, I have the pleasure of encountering your people, known not only for cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, but above all for the beauty born of the ability to acknowledge, respect and harmonize existing differences in view of a common project. This sums up the history of your people, born of the arrival of migrants from different horizons and continents who brought their own traditions, cultures and religions, and gradually learned to be enriched by the difference of others and to find ways of living together and striving to build a society committed to the common good.
In this regard, you possess an authoritative voice, one that has taken on life. A voice that can remind us that it is possible to achieve lasting peace when we start with the conviction that diversity is a beautiful thing when it can constantly enter into a process of reconciliation and seal a sort of cultural covenant resulting in a ‘reconciled diversity’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 230). This in turn serves as a foundation for the opportunity to build true fellowship within the greater human family, without feeling the need to marginalize, exclude or reject anyone.
Your people’s DNA preserves the memory of those movements of migration that brought your ancestors to this island and led them to be open to differences, to integrate them and to promote them for the benefit of all. For this reason, I encourage you, in fidelity to your roots, to take up the challenge of welcoming and protecting those migrants who today come looking for work and, for many of them, better conditions of life for their families. Make an effort to welcome them, following the example of your ancestors, who welcomed one another. Be protagonists and defenders of a true culture of encounter that enables migrants (and everyone) to be respected in their dignity and their rights.
Recalling the recent history of your people, I would like to render homage to the democratic tradition that took root following your independence and that helps to make Mauritius a haven of peace. I express the hope that this art of living democracy can be cultivated and developed, especially by resisting every form of discrimination. For authentic political life, grounded in law and in frank and fair relations between individuals, experiences renewal whenever we are convinced that every woman, man and generation brings the promise of new relational, intellectual, cultural and spiritual energies (Message for the 2019 World Day of Peace, 1 January 2019). May those of you engaged in the political life of the Republic of Mauritius be examples to the men and women who count on you, and in particular to the young. By your conduct and your determination to combat all forms of corruption, may you demonstrate the grandeur of your commitment in service to the common good, and always be worthy of the trust placed in you by your fellow citizens.
Since its independence, your country has experienced a steady economic development that should certainly be a reason to rejoice, but also to be on guard. In the present context, it appears that economic growth does not always profit everyone and even sets aside – by certain of its mechanisms and processes – a certain number of people, particularly the young. That is why I would like to encourage you to promote an economic policy focused on people and in a position to favour a better division of income, the creation of jobs and the integral promotion of the poor (cf EG, 204). To encourage you not to yield to the temptation of an idolatrous economic model that feels the need to sacrifice human lives on the altar of speculation and profit alone, considering only immediate advantage to the detriment of protecting the poor, the environment and its resources. This entails moving forward with that constructive approach that, as Cardinal Piat wrote on the fiftieth anniversary of Mauritius’ independence, works for an integral ecological conversion. A conversion that seeks not only to avoid terrible climatic phenomena or extreme natural catastrophes, but also to promote a change in the way we live, so that economic growth can really benefit everyone, without the risk of causing ecological catastrophes or serious social crises.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to express my appreciation for the way that here in Mauritius the different religions, while respecting their specific identities, work hand-in-hand to contribute to social harmony and to uphold the transcendent value of life against every kind of reductionism. And I express once more the desire of the Catholics of Mauritius to continue to participate in this fruitful dialogue that has so deeply marked the history of your people. Thank you for your witness.
Once again, I thank all of you for your warm welcome. I ask God to bless your people and every effort you make to foster the encounter of different cultures, civilizations and religious traditions in the promotion of a just society, one that does not forget its young and, above all, those who are most vulnerable. May God’s love and mercy continue to accompany you and to protect you! Thank you for your attention.
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
Texte en français
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