(Vatican Radio) ‘Young generations in the service of mankind’ is the central theme of a two day symposium taking place in Rome this week, organised by the Pontifical Justice and Peace Council to mark the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s ‘Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World’. Better known by its Latin name, ‘ Gaudium et Spes’ , meaning Joy and Hope, it was one of the last documents produced by the Council and promulgated on the final day, December 7th 1965. Among those taking part in the opening session of the symposium in the Vatican Synod Hall on Thursday were young justice and peace workers from around the globe, together with several elderly cardinals and lay people who had taken part in the Second Vatican Council. They included the former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and former president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze who spoke to Philippa Hitchen about the importance of ‘Gaudium et Spes’ today and about the surprising novelty it represented half a century ago… Listen:
Cardinal Arinze highlights the far-reaching trajectory of ‘Gaudium et spes’, pointing out that “It was breaking new ground… and [offered] a panorama on the world of today and tomorrow”. “Situations don’t stand still”, he adds. Noting that he was the youngest bishop at the final session of the Council, Cardinal Arinze says “the Church is ever young” and 50 years is not all that long a period in which to evaluate the enduring legacy of its documents. In response to those who raise the possibility of Vatican III, Cardinal Arinze reminds us that “we haven’t digested Vatican II”. Cardinal Arinze summarises the message of Gaudium et spes for the younger generations of today, explaining how “God gave us Earth… our presence is not a joke, it is not a play…our religion is one piece with our daily life… the lay person takes on a distinctive role and makes this world a better place in which to live”. Introducing the work of the symposium on Thursday morning, ahead of a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, was the head of Missio, the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, Oblate Fr Andrew Small …. Fr Andrew speaks of the creativity and flexibility of Gaudium et spes , adding it was the Church’s way of “catching up with other global institutions”, in order to make the Christian message more relevant. Bearing in mind the post-Second World War context of the document, he says its content “had been bubbling away for years”. The novelty of the document, he says, lies in the fact that ordinary voices, including people from the poorest parts of the southern hemisphere, were heard and welcomed at the Council. He also mentions in particular the voices of German participants during the process of drawing up the document, including that of Cardinal Ratzinger, now known as Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. Fr Andrew talks about Pope Francis’ approach, taking up the legacy of ‘Gaudium et Spes’, as he encourages young people to “make a noise, be prepared make a mess”, urging them not to be passive, but to engage in the future. The director of Missio concludes by reflecting on the work that his organisation continues today in bringing people of different backgrounds together today, via digital and other platforms, in service to the Church throughout the world. (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Christian includes, he does not close the door to anyone, even if this provokes resistance. He who excludes, because he believes himself to be better, generates conflicts and divisions, and does not consider the fact that “we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.” That was the message of Pope Francis during Thursday morning’s Mass at Casa Santa Marta.
The attitude of Christ is to include
In the Letter to the Romans, Saint Paul exhorts us not to judge and not to despise our brothers, because, the Pope said, this leads to excluding them from “our little group,” to being selective, and this is not Christian.” Christ, in fact, “with His sacrifice on Calvary” unites and includes “all men in salvation.” In the Gospel, publicans and sinners draw near to Jesus – “that is, the excluded, all those that were outside,” – and “the Pharisees and the scribes complained”:
“The attitude of the Scribes and the Pharisees is the same, they exclude. [They say,] ‘We are the perfect, we follow the law. These people are sinners, they are publicans’; and the attitude of Jesus is to include. There are two paths in life: the path exclusion of persons from our community and the path of inclusion. The first can be little but is the root of all wars: all calamities, all wars, begin with an exclusion. One is excluded from the international community, but also from families, from friends – How many fights there are! – and the path that makes us see Jesus and teaches us Jesus is quite another, it is contrary to the other: to include.”
There is resistance in the face of inclusion
“It is not easy to include the people,” Pope Francis said, “because there is resistance, there is that selective attitude.” For this reason, Jesus tells two parables: the parable of the lost sheep, and the parable of the woman and the lost coin. Both the shepherd and the woman will do anything to find what they have lost, and when they find it, they are full of joy:
“They are full of joy because they have found what was lost and they go to their neighbours, their friends, because they are so happy: ‘I found, I included.’ This is the ‘including’ of God, against the exclusion of those who judge, who drive away people, persons: ‘No, no to this, no to that, no to that…’; and a little of circle of friends is created, which is their environment. It is a dialectic between exclusion and inclusion. God has included us all in salvation, all! This is the beginning. We with our weaknesses, with our sins, with our envy, jealousies, we all have this attitude of excluding which – as I said – can end in wars.”
If I exclude, I will one day stand before the tribunal of God
Jesus, the Pope said, acts like His Father, Who sent Him to save us; “He seeks to include us,” “to be a family.”
“We think a little bit, and at least – at least! – we do our little part, we never judge: ‘But this one has acted in this way…’ But God knows: it is his life, but I don’t exclude him from my heart, from my prayer, from my greeting, from my smile, and if the occasion arises I say a good word to him. Never excluding, we have no right! And how Paul finishes the Letter: ‘We shall all stand before the judgment seat of God . . . then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.’ If I exclude I will one day stand before the judgment seat of God, I will have to give an account of myself to God. Let us ask the grace of being men and women who always include, always, always! in the measure of healthy prudence, but always. Not closing the doors to anyone, always with an open heart: ‘It pleases me, it displeases me,’ but the heart is open. May the Lord grant us this grace.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a Message to the Global Christian Forum, which is holding a meeting in Tirana, Albania, under the theme “Discrimination, Persecution, Martyrdom: Following Christ Together.”
“I think with great sadness of the escalating discrimination and persecution against Christians in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and elsewhere throughout the world. Your gathering shows that, as Christians, we are not indifferent to our suffering brothers and sisters,” writes Pope Francis.
Listen to our report:
“In various parts of the world, the witness to Christ, even to the shedding of blood, has become a shared experience of Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, Protestants, Evangelicals and Pentecostals, which is deeper and stronger than the differences which still separate our Churches and Ecclesial Communities. The communio martyrum is the greatest sign of our journeying together,” continues the Holy Father.
The Global Christian Forum is one of the most inclusive ecumenical meetings, and includes the participation of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Pentecostal World Fellowship, World Council of Churches, and the World Evangelical Alliance.
“Your gathering will give voice to the victims of such injustice and violence, and seek to show the path that will lead the human family out of this tragic situation;” Pope Francis tells the gathering.
“ With these sentiments, I assure you of my spiritual closeness. May the martyrs of today, belonging to many Christian traditions, help us to understand that all the baptised are members of the same Body of Christ, his Church (cf. I Cor 12:12-30)”- the Message continues – “Let us see this profound truth as a call to persevere on our ecumenical journey towards full and visible communion, growing more and more in love and mutual understanding.”
The full text of the Message is below
His Eminence Cardinal Kurt Koch
President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
I extend greetings to you and all those participating in the Global Christian Forum Consultation, to be held in Tirana from 2 to 4 November 2015, as you reflect on the theme “Discrimination, persecution, martyrdom: following Christ together”.
In a particular way, I wish to greet our brothers and sisters of different Christian traditions who represent communities suffering for their profession of faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. I think with great sadness of the escalating discrimination and persecution against Christians in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and elsewhere throughout the world. Your gathering shows that, as Christians, we are not indifferent to our suffering brothers and sisters. In various parts of the world, the witness to Christ, even to the shedding of blood, has become a shared experience of Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, Protestants, Evangelicals and Pentecostals, which is deeper and stronger than the differences which still separate our Churches and Ecclesial Communities. The communio martyrum is the greatest sign of our journeying together.
At the same time, your gathering will give voice to the victims of such injustice and violence, and seek to show the path that will lead the human family out of this tragic situation. With these sentiments, I assure you of my spiritual closeness. May the martyrs of today, belonging to many Christian traditions, help us to understand that all the baptised are members of the same Body of Christ, his Church (cf. I Cor 12:12-30). Let us see this profound truth as a call to persevere on our ecumenical journey towards full and visible communion, growing more and more in love and mutual understanding.
From the Vatican, 1 November 2015
(from Vatican Radio)…