Vatican City, 3 February 2016 (VIS) – Next week Pope Francis will begin his apostolic trip to Mexico. From 12 to 17 February he will visit Mexico City, Ecatepec, Tuxtla Gutierrez, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Morelia and Ciudad Juarez, and will pray before Our Lady of Guadalupe. For the occasion, the agency Notimex recorded a series of brief questions and expressions of hope for the Mexican people in four videos, presented to the Holy Father. The Pope responded with a video that will be broadcast today on the Notimex website. The following is a summary of the questions and answers. The images can be obtained from the Vatican Television Centre. Question: Why are you coming to Mexico? What brings you to Mexico? Pope Francis: “What moves me most is this: what are coming to look for in Mexico? I will come to Mexico not like a Wise Man loaded with things to bring, messages, ideas, solutions to problems … I come to Mexico as a pilgrim, to look for something among the Mexican people. … I come to seek the wealth of faith you have, I come for that infectious wealth of faith. You have an idiosyncrasy, a way of being that is the fruit of a very long road, a history that has been forged slowly, with pain, with success, with failures, with searching, but with a common thread. You have great richness in your heart and, above all, you are not an orphaned people, as you are proud to have a Mother, and when a man or a woman or a people do not forget their Mother, this provides a wealth that cannot be described; it is received and transmitted. So, I will go in search of some of this in you. A people that does not forget its Mother, the Mother who forged her people in hope”. Question: What does Our Lady of Guadalupe represent for the Pope? Pope Francis: “Security, tenderness. Sometimes I am afraid of certain problems or something unpleasant happens and I do not know how to react, and I pray to her. I like to repeat to myself, ‘Do not be afraid, am I not here, your Mother?’. They are her words: ‘Do not be afraid’. … I feel this, that she is our Mother, who cares, protects and leads a people, who leads a family, who gives the warmth of home, who caresses with tenderness and who banishes fear. … It is an eloquent image, that of a Mother like a blanket who covers and cares, in the midst of her people. … This is what I feel before Her. … What I would ask you, as a favour, is that this time, the third time I will be on Mexican soil, that you will let me spend a moment before the image. That is the favour I ask of you”. Question: How would you help us to face the violence here? Pope Francis: “Violence, corruption, war, children who cannot go to school because their country is at war, trafficking, arms manufacturers who sell weapons so that the wars of the world can continue … this is more or less the climate that we live in the world, and you are experiencing a part of it, a part of this ‘war’, this part of suffering, of violence, of organised trafficking. If I come to you, it is to receive the best of you and to pray with you, so that the problems … that you know exist may be resolved, because the Mexico of violence, the Mexico of corruption, the Mexico of drug trafficking, the Mexico of the cartels, is not the Mexico that our Mother loves, and of course I do not wish to cover up any of that; on the contrary, I would urge you to fight, day by day, against corruption, against trafficking, against war, against disunity, against organised crime, against human trafficking”. “‘May you bring us a little peace’, one of you said. Peace is something that must be worked on every day, and – to use a phrase that sounds like a contradiction – it must be fought for, every day. It is necessary to combat every day for peace, not for war. It is necessary to sow gentleness, understanding, peace. St. Francis prayed, ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace’. I would like to be an instrument of peace in Mexico, but with all of you. … And how is peace formed? Peace is a craft, it is formed by hand. From the education of a child to the care for an elderly person: they are all seeds of peace. Peace is born of tenderness, peace is born of understanding, peace is born or is made in dialogue, not in rupture, and this is the key word: dialogue. Dialogue between leaders, dialogue with the people, and dialogue among all people. … Do not be afraid of listening to others, to seeing their motivations. And please, do not enter into any traps to make money; it enslaves life in an inner war and takes away freedom, because peace brings freedom. I come to ask the Virgin, along with you, to give us this peace, so that Our Lady of Guadalupe may give us peace in our heart, in the family, in the city, and in all the country”. Question: What do you wish for from us, and what are your hopes for us? Pope Francis: “I come to serve, to be a servant of the faith for you … because I felt this vocation … to serve the faith of the people. But this faith must grow and go out into daily life; it must be a public faith. And faith becomes strong when it is public, above all … in moments of crisis. … It is true that there is a crisis of faith in the world. But it is also true that there is a great blessing and a desire … for faith to come forth, for faith to be missionary, for faith not to be closed up in a tin. Our faith is not a museum faith, and the Church is not a museum. Our faith is born of contact, of dialogue with Jesus Christ, our Saviour, with the Lord. … If faith does not go out into the street, it is no use; and taking faith out into the street does not mean merely a procession. That faith goes out into the street means that we show ourselves to be Christians in the workplace, in the family, at university, in college. … Faith wants to be on the streets, like Jesus. … Where did Jesus spend most of his time? On the street, preaching the Gospel, bearing witness. … Our faith demands that we too go forth, that we do not keep Jesus confined to ourselves without letting Him out, as Jesus goes out with us, so if we do not go forth, neither does He. … Renewing the faith means going out into the streets, not being afraid of conflict, seeking solutions to family, school, social and economic problems. Faith has to be my inspiration for my commitment to my people, and it has its risks and its dangers. I would like to end with some of our Mother’s words; through me, she is saying to you, ‘Do not be afraid of going forth, do not be afraid, my child, I am here and I am your Mother”….
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on Wednesday inaugurating the new premises of the Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embsassy) to Slovenia, in the capital Ljubljana.
Listen to Cardinal Parolin’s Address:
“This is a significant moment in the relations between Slovenia and the Holy See, which allows me to recall that the Holy See was among the very first to recognize the independence of Slovenia, on 13th January 1992,” Cardinal Parolin said.
He said this latest development means the Pope now has “his own house” in Slovenia.
“As we inaugurate this building, it is, of course, important to recall that an Apostolic Nuncio must be competent above all in building the bridges of human relationships, through dialogue and an openness to the humanity at the heart of every problem,” Cardinal Parolin said. “That is ultimately the vocation of each and every Christian and underlines that the solid foundation from which we must start building is always Christ.”
The full text of Cardinal Parolin’s Speech is below
Speech of His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness Pope Francis, at the Blessing and Inauguration ceremony of the new premises of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ljubljana
February 3rd, 2016
Dear Mister President of the Republic of Slovenia,
Distinguished Members of the National Government and of the Municipality of Ljubljana,
Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Excellencies, Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
Distinguished Representatives of the Religious Denominations
Dear Guests,
Thank you Mr President (Archbishop Janusz, Apostolic Nuncio) for your kind words. I was delighted to accept the invitation to preside at this ceremony to bless and inaugurate the new buildings of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ljubljana. This has happily afforded me the opportunity to visit the wonderful country of Slovenia during this year of celebrations for twenty-five years of Independence. Whilst recognising the increased role which the country now plays within the international community, it is impossible to think of Slovenia without calling to mind its Christian tradition, its love of learning, and its cultural and architectural heritage.
This is a significant moment in the relations between Slovenia and the Holy See, which allows me to recall that the Holy See was among the very first to recognize the independence of Slovenia, on 13th January 1992. Very soon thereafter, on 8th February 1992, diplomatic relations were established. In the following years Slovenia twice welcomed Pope John Paul II, in May 1996 and in September 1999, and these visits remain vivid in the memory of your people.
The friendly and constructive relationship blossomed between Slovenia and the Holy See, and a major step came on 14th December 2001, with an agreement addressing juridical questions, which was subsequently ratified on 28th May 2004. Now it is our hope that our constructive cooperation might lead to further steps being made together.
So it is with great joy that we are now able to bless and officially inaugurate this Apostolic Nunciature, the diplomatic mission of the Holy See to Slovenia.
The term “Holy See” is frequently used in the language of international law and international relations. The word “see” derives from the Latin word sedes and refers to the seat or chair of Saint Peter. All subsequent Popes, who are successors of Peter, occupy this seat or chair. The Holy See also refers to the residence of the Pope along with the Roman Curia and the central administration of the Catholic Church. This term, however, is not synonymous with Rome, the Vatican, or the Vatican City State. Its significance, in essence transcends the restriction of geographic location. The Holy See is a unique entity amongst other subjects of international law. Aside its uniqueness, the Holy See enjoys an international personality similar to that of individual States. Its existence as a sovereign entity transcends territorial possession. It is a truly international person because its presence, unlike that of States, is universal.
One might ask why the Successor of Peter has need for diplomatic relations with States and with International Organizations. It is worth pointing out that the Holy See has exercised the right of legation almost from the beginning of its history. When, at the end of the fifteenth century the Nation-States were coming into being, the Roman Pontiff sent his representatives to them. Indeed, Papal diplomacy is one of the oldest in the world, and history bears witness to the Holy See’s long and vibrant presence in the international sphere.
The Holy See’s mission is multifaceted: offering a moral voice in the world of international relations; reminding the world of the existence of transcendent values; and defending the pillars on which every civil society stands, such as the family – under severe pressure from a complicated interplay of forces in today’s world. On these issues, the Holy See speaks out not just for some, but for all of humanity.
In order to speak, it is first necessary to listen. “Be quick to hear” the Book of Sirach reminds us (5:11), and, in the words of Pope Francis, we need to consider that “Sometimes it is a matter of hearing the cry of entire peoples, the poorest peoples of the earth, since ‘peace is founded not only on respect for human rights, but also on respect for the rights of peoples’. […] To speak properly of our own rights, we need to broaden our perspective and to hear the plea of other peoples and other regions than those of our own country. We need to grow in a solidarity which ‘would allow all peoples to become the artisans of their destiny’, since ‘every person is called to self-fulfilment” (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 190).
One of the primary responsibilities of the Holy See is to foster communion within the Church: between the Successor of Peter, the Pope, and the Successors of the Apostles, the Bishops, in every part of the world. In addition, the Holy See, in union with local Bishops, seeks to promote relations between the Church and the State, not forgetting relations with other religious groups that are present in a particular country.
In order properly to exercise this mission, to be truly attentive to the particular Churches and to all human necessity, the Holy See needs to be present in an adequate manner in different parts of the world.
In Slovenia the Catholic Church carries out numerous activities that benefit the whole of society: in the field of charity and education, in preserving cultural heritage and in providing spiritual assistance.
The Agreement between Slovenia and the Holy See, which I mentioned earlier, recalls the principles of religious freedom guaranteed by the Slovenian Constitution and by those universally-recognised fundamental Human Rights concerning freedom of thought, conscience and religion. At the same time the Catholic Church, with its juridical personality recognised by the State, is free to operate with respect for Slovenian Laws. The mutual collaboration between these two independent and autonomous entities is beneficial for the promotion of the human person and of the common good.
The construction of an Apostolic Nunciature, such as this, is a sign of the will of the Holy See to consolidate a stable and permanent presence in a State, in a spirit of understanding and effective collaboration with the Government and with the local Church.
Bringing such a building to completion is not always easy and sometimes requires a considerable amount of time. I know that the President of the Republic, the Mayor of Ljubljana and many important figures present here today, have accompanied this process with particular care and attention and a willingness to help. To them – to you – I would like to express the gratitude of the Holy See. At the same time, we are very grateful to the Archdiocese of Ljubljana, which for more than twenty years has offered such a convenient location for the offices and the residence of the Apostolic Nuncio.
The Pope and the Holy See now has its own house in Slovenia! This is a place that speaks of solidarity and affection; a place of meeting and exchange, where relationships are cultivated; a place which is made human by the authenticity of those relationships. And, allow me to add that, in these times marked by the mobility of increasing numbers of people, an attitude of openness and mutual acceptance needs to be fostered by all.
I would also like to publicly recognise the effort of the Apostolic Nuncios who sought out this location and helped to bring the project for this building to fruition. Allow me to recall how much was done by Archbishop Edmond Farhat and by Archbishop Santos Abril y Castellò, now Cardinal and Archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Your current Nuncio, Archbishop Juliusz Janusz (who is also Dean of the Diplomatic Corps), has accumulated extensive experience in building new Nunciatures. Indeed, after Mozambique and Hungary, this is the third building that stands as testimony to his ability.
And this building, the Nuncio tells me, has a very Slovenian touch. In the part that was renovated, the architectural style of an existing historical house was preserved, whilst in the new building there is a chapel designed and executed by a famous Slovenian artist, Father Ivan Marko Rupnik. I want to thank all those, who with their skill and hard work have contributed to this magnificent building.
As we inaugurate this building, it is, of course, important to recall that an Apostolic Nuncio must be competent above all in building the bridges of human relationships, through dialogue and an openness to the humanity at the heart of every problem. That is ultimately the vocation of each and every Christian and underlines that the solid foundation from which we must start building is always Christ.
I cordially invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace for the people and leaders of the noble Slovenian nation.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday greeted members of the American Circus, which performed during his weekly general audience.
Speaking off the cuff, Pope Francis thanked the performers, and reiterated his remarks from last week , when another circus performed in St. Peter’s Square.
“I am going to repeat what I said a week ago, when there was another performance such as this one,” Pope Francis said. “You make beauty, and beautiful things bring us closer to God. Thank you for this.”
However, Pope Francis said he wanted to emphasize another point: Such a performance “cannot be improvised.”
“Behind this beautiful show, there are hours and hours of exhausting training,” Pope Francis said.
“Training is hard work,” continued the Holy Father. “The Apostle Paul tells to get to cross finish line and win, you must rain, and this is an example to us all – because the seduction of an easy life, to seek a good outcome without effort, it’s a temptation.”
Pope Francis concluded his remarks to the circus by thanking them for their example.
“With what you have done today, and with the training behind, gives witness to the truth that a life without constant striving is a life of mediocrity,” he said.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis told consecrated men and women to never forget the beauty of their call to religious life, reminding them that the marrow of consecrated life is prayer.
“And go forth! Each of us has a place, a work in the Church,” the Pope told religious men and women in St Peter’s Square, after celebrating Mass in the basilica for the end of the Year of Consecrated Life .
“Today the Lord continues to call you with that love with which you were called,” he said. “Do not forget, do not forget that beauty, that wonder of the first call.”
Listen to Ann Schneible’s report:
Pope Francis stressed the importance of prayer for consecrated persons in continuing forward. “The marrow of the consecrated life is prayer: pray! And thus to grow old, but you will grow old like a good wine!”
He expressed special appreciation for elderly religious who have maintained a rich spiritual life.
“I really enjoy finding those religious women or men, old but with shining eyes, because they have the fire of the spiritual life still burning,” he said.
Finally, the Pope urged religious men and women to pray for new vocations “so that our work of consecration may go ahead.”
The Year for Consecrated Life, which was celebrated throughout the world, began on the First Sunday of Advent in November 2014 and came to a close on the World Day of Consecrated Life on 2 February 2016.
Below find Vatican Radio’s translation of Pope Francis’ remarks at the end of Mass:
Dear consecrated brothers and sisters, thank you so much! You have participated in the Eucharist out in the cool air! But the heart is on fire!
Thank you for having finished this Year of Consecrated Life in this way, all together. And go forth! Each of us has a place, a work in the Church. Please, don’t forget your first vocation, your initial call. Remember! Today the Lord continues to call you with that love with which you were called. Do not forget, do not forget that beauty, that wonder of the first call. And then continue to work. How beautiful it is to continue! There is always something to do. The most important thing is to pray. The marrow of the consecrated life is prayer: pray! And thus to grow old, but you will grow old like a good wine!
I have one thing to tell you. I really enjoy meeting with those religious women or men, old but with shining eyes, because they have the fire of the spiritual life still burning. It hasn’t gone out, that light hasn’t gone out! Go forward today, every day, and continue to work and to look to tomorrow with hope, always asking the Lord to send us new vocations, so that our work of consecration may go ahead. Memory: Don’t forget the initial call! The work of every day, and then the hope to go ahead and seed well, because those who come after us may receive the heritage we will leave for them.
Now let us pray to Mary. Hail Mary…
Have a good evening and pray for me!
(from Vatican Radio)…
click to download bulletin of Feb. 7, 2016