(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday spoke of a series of events and situations that shed shadows on our lives and lead us to ask difficult questions.
Speaking during morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope remembered a homeless man who recently died of the cold here in Rome; he recalled the sisters of Charity who were killed in an attack in Yemen; and his thoughts flew to the many people who continue to fall ill in the so-called “triangle of death” in the southern Italian region of Campania where the illegal burning of toxic waste causes cancer and despair.
As we are forced to face these “dark valleys” of our time, he said, the only answer is to trust in God.
“Even when we do not understand – such as before the illness of a child – let us put ourselves in the hands of the Lord who never abandons His people” he said.
Reflecting on the Reading of the day that tells of Susanna, a just woman who is “soiled” by the “evil desire” of two judges, but chooses to trust in God rather than succumb to their wish, Pope Francis said that that even when we find ourselves walking in a“valley of darkness” we need not fear evil.
How many dark valleys; where are you Lord?
The Lord, the Pope said, always walks with us, loves us and does not abandon us. And he turned his attention to some of the many “dark valleys” of our time:
“When we look at the many dark valleys, at the many misfortunes, at the fact there are so many people dying of hunger, there is war, there are so many children with disabilities… and asking their parents we discover they suffer from something called a ‘rare disease’… And the things we create ourselves: think of the cancers caused by the “triangle of death”… When you look at all this you ask: ‘where is the Lord’, ‘where are you?’ ‘Are you walking with me?’ This was Susanna’s sentiment. And it is ours too. Look at those four slain sisters of ours: they were serving with love; they ended up murdered in hatred! When you see that doors are being closed to refugees who are left out in the cold… you say: ‘Lord, where are You?’ “.
Why does a child suffer? I do not know why, but I trust in God
“How can I entrust myself to God – the Pope said – when I see all these things? And when things happen to me, each of us may say: how can I entrust myself to You?” There is an answer to this question, he continued, “but it cannot be explained”:
“Why does a child suffer? I do not know: it is a mystery to me” he said.
And recalling Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the Pope pointed out that although he is suffering he trusts in the Father and knows that all will not end with death, with the cross.
Pope Francis pointed out that Jesus’ last words before dying on the cross were ‘Father into your hands I commend my spirit’ and said: “To trust in God who walks with me, walks with His people, walks with the Church: this is an act of faith. To entrust myself. I cannot explain it, but I place myself in Your hands. You know why”.
Suffering and evil are not final, the Lord is always with us
And this, he said, is the teaching of Jesus: “he who entrusts himself to the Lord our Shepherd, shall lack nothing”.
Even if he finds himself going through the darkest of valleys, Pope Francis said “he knows that the suffering is only of the moment and that the Lord is with him: “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me”. This – Pope Francis said – is a grace that we must ask for: “Lord, teach me to place myself in your hands, to trust in Your guidance, even in bad times, in the darkest moments, in the moment of death”:
Pope Francis said that “We would do well, today, to think about our lives, about the problems we have, and ask for the grace to place ourselves into the hands of the Lord”.
And he invited the faithful to think of the many men and women who do not even receive a last caress before dying.
“Three days ago a homeless person died here, on the street: he died of cold. In the middle of Rome, a city that has all the possibilities of providing assistence.Why, Lord? Not even a caress … But I entrust myself to You because You never let me down.”
“Lord – he concluded – I do not understand you. This is a beautiful prayer. Without understanding, I place myself in Your hands”.
(from Vatican Radio)…
Calluses – known as hyperkeratosis in the world of science –, ingrown fingernails and toenails,
hypertrophied feet are among the ailments that can now be treated in the clinic
run by the Office of Papal Charities in the colonnade surrounding St Peter’s
Square. Located next to the showers and barber shop, the clinic began providing
podiatrist services on Monday morning, 14 March, for these common and often
painful conditions of those who live on the street. According to Papal Almoner Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the
service – provided by the Association of Italian Podiatrists – is free of
charge. The project is headed by Mauro Montesi of La Sapienza University of
Rome and president of the Association of Italian Podiatrists. Every Monday from
8:30 am to 12:00 pm one specialist and three third-year podiatry students will
assist those requiring services. The care and the number of days the clinic
provides these services are expected to increase. Podiatrist Silvana De Luca
was the first of five specialists to
work the rotation. Each week the specialist will be accompanied by three
different students. In the near future, the clinic hopes to have additional
medical equipment so as to intervene more effectively. …
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, on Sunday said the sacrifice of four Missionaries of Charity and 12 others – who were murdered in Yemen at a home for the elderly on 4 March – was “a very strong witness for all Christians around the world that love has no boundaries, love is a very important obligation for all Christians, but it sometimes comes at a great cost.”
The Archbishop was speaking on TV2000, the television network belonging to the Italian Bishops’ Conference.
He said he was “full of admiration” for those who would not abandon the elderly under their case, “remaining there despite all of the risks.”
Speaking about the migration crisis in Europe, Archbishop Gallagher said it “requires a response of generosity and magnanimity.”
“We hope that the EU countries can work together to find a common solution to this dramatic situation,” he said, adding the “problem is not going away.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday evening announced through a video-message the winner of the Global Teacher Prize , a $1 million award presented by the Varkey Foundation.
The Pope’s announcement had been previously recorded in the Vatican, and was played at the awards ceremony in Dubai.
Listen to our report:
“I would like to congratulate the teacher Hanan Al Hroub for winning this prestigious prize due to the importance she gives to the role of play in a child’s education,” Pope Francis said.
The winner of the prize is a primary school teacher in the West Bank city of al-Bireh just outside Ramallah. She grew up in a refugee camp, and now teaches refugees.
“A child has the right to play,” – Pope Francis said – “Part of education is to teach children how to play, because you learn how to be social though games, and you learn the joy of life.”
Al-Hroub later told the Associated Press it was “amazing” to hear the Pope say her name, and said she would use the million-dollar prize money to create scholarships for students who excel in order to encourage them to choose careers in teaching.
During her acceptance speech, Al-Hroub reiterated her commitment to non-violence and dialogue, a theme also touched on in Pope Francis’ video-message.
“A population that is not well educated because of wars, or by other reasons that exist in order not to get any education, is a population that decays,” said Pope Francis. “That is why I would like to highlight the noble profession of a teacher.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis had a special gift for the pilgrims and tourists present in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus prayer on the 5 th Sunday of Lent: a pocket-sized copy of the Holy Gospel According to St. Luke. Inspired by the words of our Lord as recorded in Chapter 6, verse 36 of Luke’s Gospel, “Be ye merciful as your Father [in Heaven is merciful],” the little volume is titled, St. Luke’s Gospel of Mercy , reporting the theme of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy underway in the Church throughout the world.
Volunteers from the Saint Martha Pediatric Dispensary distributed the copies of the special edition (not available for sale) to those present, with the aid of a number of grandparents of the diocese of Rome. “How worthy are grandfathers and grandmothers who transmit the faith to their grandchildren,” said Pope Francis.
The Holy Father also called the attention of the faithful to page 123 of the volume, on which the full list of the Seven Corporal and Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy appear. “It would be nice that you should learn them by heart,” he said, “so as to make it easier for you all to do them!”
“I invite you to take this gospel and to read it, a little passage every day, so that the mercy of the Father might dwell in your heart and so that you will bring that mercy to everyone you meet.”
(from Vatican Radio)…