economic political, social or personal, it could be me in their place, me   
   longing for someone to help me. As well as desiring this help, if I am in their   
   shoes, I have the right to be respected".   
    Another theme was economic growth and the creation of wealth.   
    "Certainly every country needs economic growth and the creation of wealth, and   
   the extension of these to each citizen, without exclusion. And this is   
   necessary. But the creation of this wealth must always be at the service of the   
   common good, and not only for the benefit of a few. On this point we must be   
   very clear. For 'the worship of the ancient golden calf has returned in a new   
   and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an   
   impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose'. Those charged with promoting   
   economic development have the responsibility of ensuring that it always has a   
   human face. Economic development must have a human face. ... They have in their   
   hands the possibility of providing employment for many persons and in this way   
   of giving hope to many families. ... I ask them not to yield to an economic   
   model   
   which is idolatrous, which needs to sacrifice human lives on the altar of money   
   and profit. In economics, in business and in politics, what counts first and   
   foremost, in every instance, is the human person and the environment in which   
   he   
   or she lives".   
    "Paraguay is rightly known throughout the world for being the place where the   
   Reductions began. These were among the most significant experiences of   
   evangelisation and social organisation in history. There the Gospel was the   
   soul   
   and the life of communities which did not know hunger, unemployment, illiteracy   
   or oppression. This historical experience shows us that, today too, a more   
   humane society is possible. You have truly lived this here. It is possible!   
   Where there is love of people and a willingness to serve them, it is possible   
   to   
   create the conditions necessary for everyone to have access to basic goods, so   
   that no one goes without. It is possible to seek solutions in every situation,   
   through dialogue".   
    The fifth question focused on the definition and importance of a country's   
   culture.   
    "There exist enlightened cultures which are good and which must be respected",   
   said Francis. "But there is another culture, which has this same value, which   
   is   
   the culture of the people, of the earliest people, and represents different   
   ethnic groups. I would dare to call this culture, in a positive sense, a   
   popular   
   culture. People possess their own culture and create culture".   
    "Before ending, I'd like to make reference to two things", he continued. "In   
   doing this, as there are political authorities present here, I wish to say this   
   fraternally. Someone told me: 'Look, Mr so-and-so was kidnapped by the Army,   
   please do something to help! I do not know if this is true, or if it is not   
   true, if it is right, or if it is not right, but one of the methods used by   
   dictatorial ideologies of the last century, which I referred to earlier, was to   
   separate the people, either by exile or imprisonment, or in the case of   
   concentration camps, Nazis and Stalinists excluded them by death. For there to   
   be a true culture of the people, a political culture, a culture of the common   
   good, there must be quick and clear judicial proceedings. No other kind of   
   strategy is required. Clear, concise judgements. That would help all of us. ...   
   And there is a second thing I would like to say: one method which does not   
   bestow freedom upon people, and enable them to work responsibly towards the   
   construction of society, is the method of blackmail. Blackmail is always   
   corruption: 'If you do this, we will do this to you, and thus destroy you'.   
   Corruption is the parasite, the gangrene of the people. For example, no   
   politician can work and carry out a function, if they are being blackmailed by   
   methods of corruption. ... This happens in all populations around the world,   
   and   
   if a society wishes to maintain its dignity, it must banish such blackmail. I   
   am   
   speaking about something universal".   
    The Holy Father concluded, "It is a great pleasure to see the number and   
   variety of associations sharing in the creation of an ever more prosperous   
   Paraguay. But if you do not dialogue, all is pointless. If there is blackmail,   
   all is pointless. This great multitude of groups and persons are like a great   
   symphony, each one with his or her own specificity and richness, yet all   
   working   
   together towards a harmonious end. That is what counts. And do not fear   
   conflict, but speak about matters and look for paths that lead to solutions.   
   Love your country, your fellow citizens, and, above all, love the poor. In this   
   way, you will bear witness before the world that another model of development   
   is   
   possible. I am convinced, by virtue of your own history, that you possess the   
   greatest strength of all: your humanity, your faith, your love. Being part of   
   the Paraguayan people is what distinguishes you among the nations of the   
   world".   
    "I ask Our Lady of Caacupe, our Mother, to watch over you and protect you, and   
   to encourage you in all your efforts. God bless you and pray for me. Thank   
   you".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Vespers in the Cathedral of Asuncion   
    Vatican City, 12 July 2015 (VIS) - Following his meeting with the "builders of   
   society", the Pope transferred by popemobile to the Cathedral of Asuncion,   
   rebuilt at the beginning of the nineteenth century and which houses the "Cruz   
   de   
   la Parra", a fifteenth-century cross, the only one left of the 29 that   
   Christopher Columbus planted during his four voyages to America. At the   
   entrance   
   of the Cathedral, which can hold up to a thousand people, the Pope was awaited   
   by the mayor, Arnaldo Samaniego, who gave him the keys to the city, while an   
   orchestra of 220 Paraguayan harps played traditional music. The Pope celebrated   
   first vespers with the priests, men and women religious, seminarians and   
   representatives of the Catholic movements of Paraguay, and then pronounced a   
   brief discourse.   
    "How good it is for all of us to pray Vespers together", he said. "How can we   
   not dream of of a Church which reflects and echoes the harmony of voices and   
   song in her daily life? That is what we are doing in this Cathedral, rebuilt so   
   many times over the years. This Cathedral symbolises the Church and each one of   
   us. At times, storms from without and within force us to tear down what had   
   been   
   built and to begin again, but always with the hope given us by God. When we   
   look   
   at this building, we can surely say that it has not disappointed the hopes of   
   the Paraguayan people, because God never disappoints! For this we give thankful   
   praise.   
    "Liturgical prayer, in its unhurried structure, is meant to be an expression   
   of   
   the whole Church, the spouse of Christ, as she strives to be ever more   
   conformed   
   to her Lord. Each one of us, in prayer, wants to become more like Jesus. Prayer   
   expresses what we experience and what we ought to experience in our daily   
   lives.   
   At least that is true of prayer that is not self-centred or merely for show.   
   Prayer makes us put into practice, or examine our consciences about, what we   
   have prayed for in the Psalms. We are the hands of the God who 'lifts up the   
   poor from the dust'. We work to turn what is dry and barren into fertile   
   ground.   
   We cry out that 'precious in the eyes of the Lord is the life of his faithful   
   ones'. We are those who fight, speak up and defend the dignity of every human   
   life, from birth to old age, when our years are many and our strength fails.   
   Prayer is the reflection of our love for God, for others and for all creation.   
   The commandment of love is the greatest way for the missionary disciple to be   
   conformed to Jesus. Union with Jesus deepens our Christian vocation, which is   
   concerned with what Jesus 'does' - which is something much greater than mere   
   'activities' - with becoming more like him in all that we do. The beauty of the   
   ecclesial community is born of this union of each of her members to the person   
   of Jesus, creating an "ensemble of vocations" in the richness of harmonic   
   diversity.   
    "The antiphons of the Gospel canticles for this weekend evoke for us the   
   sending of the Twelve by Jesus. It is always good to grow in this awareness   
   that   
   apostolic work is carried out in communion. It is admirable to see you   
   cooperating pastorally, with respect for the nature and ecclesial role of each   
   of the vocations and charisms. I want to encourage all of you, priests, men and   
   women religious, laity and seminarians to be committed to this ecclesial   
   collaboration, especially with regard to diocesan pastoral plans and the   
   continental mission, and to work together with complete availability in the   
   service of the common good. If our divisions lead to barrenness, then there is   
   no doubt that communion and harmony lead to fruitfulness, because they are   
   deeply attuned to the Holy Spirit.   
    "Each of us has his or her limitations, and no one is able to reproduce Jesus   
   in all His fullness. Although all vocations are associated with certain aspects   
   of the life and work of Jesus, some vocations are more general and essential.   
   Just now we praised the Lord for 'he did not regard equality with God as   
   something to be exploited'. This is the case with every Christian vocation: a   
   person called by God does not show off; he or she does not seek recognition or   
   applause; he or she does claim to be better than others, standing apart as if   
   on   
   a pedestal.   
    "Christ's supremacy is clearly described in the liturgy of the Letter to the   
   Hebrews. As we just read from the final part of that Letter, we are to become   
   perfect like 'the great Shepherd of the sheep'. This means that all consecrated   
   persons are to be conformed to Jesus, who in His earthly life, 'with prayers   
   and   
   supplications, with loud cries and tears', achieved perfection when, through   
   suffering, he learned the meaning of obedience. This too is part of our   
   calling.   
    "Let us conclude our celebration of Vespers. The bell tower of this Cathedral   
   was rebuilt a number of times. The sound of its bells anticipates and   
   accompanies our liturgical prayer on so many occasions. Rebuilt for God   
   whenever   
   we pray, steadfast like a bell tower, joyful in ringing out the wonders of God,   
   let us share the Magnificat and, through our consecrated life, allow the Lord   
   to   
   accomplish great things in Paraguay".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Pope at the Banado Norte: faith without solidarity is faith without Christ   
    Vatican City, 13 July 2015 (VIS) - The final day of Pope Francis' trip to   
   Paraguay began with his visit to Banado Norte, a poor and marshy area of the   
   city of Asuncion, where various Church and public aid projects are currently   
   underway. More than two thousand people awaited the Holy Father in the sports   
   field, to whom he expressed his joy as soon as he arrived: "I have looked   
   forward to being with you today. I could not come to Paraguay without spending   
   some time with you, here on your land", he said.   
    "We are meeting in this Parish named after the Holy Family, and I confess that   
   as I arrived, everything reminded me of the Holy Family. To see your faces,   
   your   
   children, your elderly, and to hear about your experiences and everything you   
   went through to be here, to have a dignified life and a roof over your heads,   
   to   
   endure the bad weather and the flooding of these last few weeks... All this   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)