Subject: VISnews120327
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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 65
DATE 27-03-2012
Summary:
- THE POPE LEAVES MEXICO REITERATING HIS CALL FOR SOLIDARITY
- POPE CALLS FOR JUSTICE, PEACE, FREEDOM AND RECONCILIATION FOR CUBA
- THE TRUE FACE OF THE CHURCH IS A PLACE WHERE GOD DRAWS NEAR AND ENCOUNTERS
HUMANITY
- MESSAGE FOR TWENTY-SEVENTH WORLD YOUTH DAY: "REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS"
___________________________________________________________
THE POPE LEAVES MEXICO REITERATING HIS CALL FOR SOLIDARITY
Vatican City, 26 March 2012 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father took his
leave of Mexico, arriving at the airport of Leon at 9 a.m. where the departure
ceremony took place.
Addressing Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa, president of Mexico, and other
civil and religious authorities who were there to greet him, the Pope noted
that his departure was not the end of his affection and closeness to a country
so dear to him.
"Recognising the faith in Jesus Christ which I have felt resounding in your
hearts, and your affectionate devotion to His Mother, invoked here with
beautiful titles like Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Light, a light I
have seen reflected in your
faces, I wish to reiterate clearly and with vigour a plea to the Mexican
people to remain faithful to yourselves, not to let yourselves be intimidated
by the power of evil, but to be valiant and to work to ensure that the sap of
your Christian roots may
nourish your present and your future.
"I have also seen for myself expressions of concern for various aspects of the
life in this beloved country, some more recent and others long standing, which
continue to cause such great divisions in society. I take them with me as
well, as I share in
the joys and the suffering of my Mexican brothers and sisters, so as to place
them in prayer at the foot of the Cross, in the heart of Christ, out of which
flowed the blood and water of redemption.
"In these circumstances, I strongly urge Mexican Catholics, and all men and
women of good will, not to yield to a utilitarian mentality which always
finishes by sacrificing the weakest and most defenceless. I invite you to a
common effort so that
society can be renewed from the ground up, in order to attain a life of
dignity, justice and peace for everyone. For Catholics, this contribution to
the common good is also a requirement of that essential dimension of the
Gospel which is the human
promotion and a supreme expression of charity. For this reason, the Church
exhorts all her faithful to be good citizens, conscious of their
responsibilities and concerned for the good of others, of everyone, both in
their personal lives and throughout
the various sectors of society.
"Dear Mexican friends, I say to you “Adios!” in the traditional
sense of this fine Hispanic expression: remain with God! Yes, &l
quo;Adios!”; for ever in the love of Christ, in which we meet each other
and will again meet with one
another. May the Lord bless you and may Mary Most Holy protect you!"
Having concluded his remarks the Holy Father boarded his flight for Cuba where
he is scheduled to arrive at 2 p.m. local time (9 p.m. in Rome).
___________________________________________________________
POPE CALLS FOR JUSTICE, PEACE, FREEDOM AND RECONCILIATION FOR CUBA
Vatican City, 26 March 2012 (VIS) - "I come to Cuba as a pilgrim of charity,
to confirm my brothers and sisters in the faith and strengthen them in the
hope which is born of the presence of God’s love in our lives. I carry
in my heart the just
aspirations and legitimate desires of all Cubans, wherever they may be, their
sufferings and their joys, their concerns and their noblest desires, those of
the young and the elderly, of adolescents and children, of the sick and
workers, of prisoners and
their families, and of the poor and those in need".
These were the words pronounced by Benedict XVI as he began his apostolic trip
to Cuba, where he arrived this afternoon from Mexico. The Pope was greeted at
the airport of Santiago de Cuba, the island's second largest city, by Raul
Castro, president of
Cuba, Archbishop Dionisio Guillermo Garcia Ibanez, president of the Cuban
Episcopal Conference, and Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino, archbishop of
Havana.
In his welcome address the Holy Father spoke of the "indelible mark" left on
the island by the visit of Blessed John Paul II. "For many, whether believers
or not", he said, "his example and his teachings are a luminous guide for
their personal lives and
their public activity in the service of the common good of the nation. His
visit to this island was like a gentle breath of fresh air which gave new
strength to the Church in Cuba, awakening in many a renewed awareness of the
importance of faith and
inspiring them to open their hearts to Christ, while at the same time kindling
their hope and encouraging their desire to work fearlessly for a better
future. One of the important fruits of that visit was the inauguration of a
new phase in the
relationship in Cuba between Church and State, in a new spirit of cooperation
and trust, even if many areas remain in which greater progress can and ought
to be made, especially as regards the indispensable public contribution that
religion i
s
called to make in the life of society".
The Holy Father also referred to the four hundredth anniversary of discovery
of the image of "Nuestra Senora de la Caridad del Cobre", saying that "since
the beginning she has been very much present in the personal lives of Cubans
as well as in the
great events of the nation, especially since independence, for she is honoured
by all as the true mother of the Cuban people.
"Devotion to the 'Virgen Mambisa'", he added, "has sustained the faith and
inspired the defence and promotion of all that gives dignity to the human
condition and fundamental rights, and it continues to do so today with ever
greater strength, giving
visible witness to the fruitfulness of the preaching of the Gospel in these
lands, and to the profound Christian roots which shape the deepest identity of
the Cuban soul. Following in the footsteps of countless pilgrims down the
centuries, I too wish to
go to El Cobre to kneel at the feet of the Mother of God, to thank her for her
concern for all her Cuban children, and to ask her to guide the future of this
beloved nation in the ways of justice, peace, freedom and reconciliation".
The Pope then went on to refer to the difficult world economic situation,
noting that many people see it "as part of a profound spiritual and moral
crisis which has left humanity devoid of values and defenceless before the
ambition and selfishness of
certain powers which take little account of the true good of individuals and
families. We can no longer continue in the same cultural and moral direction
which has caused the painful situation that many suffer. On the other hand,
real progress calls for
an ethics which focuses on the human person and takes account of the most
profound human needs, especially man’s spiritual and religious
dimension. In the hearts and minds of many, the way is thus opening to an ever
greater certainty that the
rebirth of society demands upright men and women of firm moral convictions,
with deep values who will not be manipulated by dubious interests and who are
respectful of the unchanging and transcendent nature of the human person".
"I am convinced", he concluded, "that Cuba, at this moment of particular
importance in its history, is already looking to the future, and thus is
striving to renew and broaden its horizons. Of great help in this enterprise
will be the great patrimony of
spiritual and moral values which created the nation’s true identity, and
which are to be found concretely in the work and the life of many
distinguished fathers of the country, like Blessed Jose Olallo y Valdes, the
Servant of God Felix Varela,
and the worthy Jose Marti. For her part, the Church too has diligently
contributed to the cultivation of those values through her generous and
selfless pastoral mission, and renews her commitment to work tirelessly the
better to serve all Cubans".
___________________________________________________________
THE TRUE FACE OF THE CHURCH IS A PLACE WHERE GOD DRAWS NEAR AND ENCOUNTERS
HUMANITY
Vatican City, 26 March 2012 (VIS) - Two hundred thousand people today
participated in a Mass presided by Benedict XVI at Plaza Antonio Maceo in
Santiago de Cuba, to mark the four hundredth anniversary of discovery of the
image of "Nuestra Senora de la
Caridad del Cobre", patron of the Island. Among those attending the ceremony
was Raul Castro, president of Cuba.
Before the celebration, which took place under driving rain, the original
image of "Nuestra Senora del Cobre" was displayed in the square, before which,
to mark the Solemnity of the Annunciation, the Holy Father placed a golden
rose.
In his homily, the Pope expressed his appreciation for "the sacrifices and the
dedication" with which the Cubans have prepared their Marian Jubilee Year. "I
was deeply touched to hear of the fervour with which Mary has been invoked by
so many Cubans
during her journey to every corner of the island", he said.
"These important events in the Church in Cuba take on a special lustre because
of the feast celebrated today throughout the universal Church: the
Annunciation of the Lord to the Virgin Mary. The Incarnation of the Son of God
is the central mystery of
the Christian faith, and in it Mary occupies a central place".
"In Mary", the Holy Father explained, "the Son of God is made man. ... The
Apostle St. John expresses it in the following way: “And the Word became
flesh and dwelt among us”. The expression, “became flesh”
points to our human
reality in a most concrete and tangible way. In Christ, God has truly come
into the world, He has entered into our history, He has set His dwelling among
us, thus fulfilling the deepest desire of human beings such that the world may
truly become a home
worthy of humanity. On the other hand, when God is put aside, the world
becomes an inhospitable place for man, and frustrates creation’s true
vocation to be a space for the covenant, for the “Yes” to the love
between God and humanity
who responds to Him. And so Mary became the first fruit of believers with her
unreserved “Yes” to the Lord.
"For this reason, contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation, we cannot fail
to turn our eyes to her, ... seeing how our God, coming into the world, wished
to depend upon the free consent of one of His creatures. Only from the moment
when the Virgin
responded to the angel ... did the eternal Word of the Father began His human
existence in time. It is touching to see how God not only respects human
freedom: He almost seems to require it. And we see also how the beginning of
the earthly life of the
Son of God was marked by a double “Yes” to the saving plan of the
Father - that of Christ and that of Mary. This obedience to God is what opens
the doors of the world to the truth, to salvation. God has created us as the
fruit of His
infinite love, and so to live in accordance with His will is the way to
encounter our genuine identity, the truth of our being, while apart from God
we are alienated from ourselves and are hurled into the void. The obedience of
faith is tru
e
liberty, authentic redemption, which allows us to unite ourselves to the love
of Jesus in His determination to conform Himself to the will of the Father.
Redemption is always this process of the lifting up of the human will to full
communion with the
divine will".
"The Virgin Mary, by her unique role in the mystery of Christ, represents the
exemplar and model of the Church. The Church, like the Mother of Christ, is
also called to embrace in herself the mystery of God Who comes to live in her.
Dear brothers and
sisters, I know with what effort, daring and self-sacrifice you work every day
so that, in the concrete circumstances of your country, and at this moment in
history, the Church will better present her true face as a place in which God
draws near and
encounters humanity. The Church, the living body of Christ, has the mission of
prolonging on earth the salvific presence of God, of opening the world to
something greater than itself, to the love and the light of God. ... I
encourage you in this task of
sowing the word of God in the world and offering to everyone the true
nourishment of the body of Christ. Easter is already approaching; let us
determine to follow Jesus without fear or doubts on His journey to the Cross.
May we accept
with
patience and faith whatever opposition or affliction may come, with the
conviction that, in His Resurrection, He has crushed the power of evil which
darkens everything, and has brought the dawn of a new world, the world of God,
of light, of truth and
happiness. The Lord will not hesitate to bless with abundant fruits the
generosity of your commitment.
"The mystery of the Incarnation, in which God draws near to us, also shows us
the incomparable dignity of every human life. In His loving plan, from the
beginning of creation, God has entrusted to the family founded on matrimony
the most lofty mission
of being the fundamental cell of society and an authentic domestic church.
With this certainty, you, dear husbands and wives, are called to be,
especially for your children, a real and visible sign of the love of Christ
for the Church. Cuba needs the
witness of your fidelity, your unity, your capacity to welcome human life,
especially that of the weakest and most needy".
The Pope concluded his homily: "Before the gaze of Our Lady of Charity of El
Cobre, I appeal to you to reinvigorate your faith, that you may live in Christ
and for Christ, and armed with peace, forgiveness and understanding, that you
may strive to build
a renewed and open society, a better society, one more worthy of humanity, and
which better reflects the goodness of God".
___________________________________________________________
MESSAGE FOR TWENTY-SEVENTH WORLD YOUTH DAY: "REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS"
Vatican City, 27 March 2012 (VIS) - "Rejoice in the Lord always", a verse from
St. Paul's Letter the Philippians, is the theme chosen by the Holy Father for
twenty-seventh World Youth Day, which is to be celebrated in dioceses
throughout the world on
Palm Sunday. Extracts from the English-language version of the message are
given below.
"This year’s World Youth Day theme comes from St. Paul’s
exhortation in his Letter to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord
always”. Joy is at the heart of Christian experience. At each World
Youth Day we experience immense joy,
the joy of communion, the joy of being Christian, the joy of faith. This is
one of the marks of these gatherings. We can see the great attraction that joy
exercises. In a world of sorrow and anxiety, joy is an important witness to
the beauty and
reliability of the Christian faith. The Church’s vocation is to bring
joy to the world. ... In these difficult times, so many young people all
around you need to hear that the Christian message is a message of joy and
hope!"
1. Our hearts are made for joy
"A yearning for joy lurks within the heart of every man and woman. ... This is
particularly true for you, because youth is ... a time of openness to the
future and of great longing for happiness, friendship, sharing and truth, a
time when we are moved
by high ideals and make great plans. ... Yet each day we also face any number
of difficulties. Deep down we also worry about the future; we begin to wonder
if the full and lasting joy for which we long might be an illusion and an
escape from reality.
... How can we distinguish things that give real and lasting joy from
immediate and illusory pleasures? How can we find true joy in life, a joy that
endures and does not forsake us at moments of difficulty?"
2. God is the source of true joy
"Whatever brings us true joy, whether the small joys of each day or the
greatest joys in life, has its source in God, even if this does not seem
immediately obvious. This is because God is a communion of eternal love, He is
infinite joy that does not
remain closed in on itself, but expands to embrace all whom God loves and who
love Him. ... God wants us to share in His own divine and eternal joy, and He
helps us to see that the deepest meaning and value of our lives lie in being
accepted, welcomed
and loved by Him. Whereas we sometimes find it hard to accept others, God
offers us an unconditional acceptance which enables us to say: “I am
loved; I have a place in the world and in history; I am personally loved by
God".
"God’s infinite love for each of us is fully seen in Jesus Christ. The
joy we are searching for is to be found in Him. ... The cause of all this joy
is the closeness of God Who became one of us. ... Christ is the One Who lives
and Who overcame
evil, sin and death. He is present among us as the Risen One and He will
remain with us until the end of the world. Evil does not have the last word in
our lives; rather, faith in Christ the Saviour tells us that God’s love
is victorious".
3. Preserving Christian joy in our hearts
"The discovery and preservation of spiritual joy is the fruit of an encounter
with the Lord. Jesus asks us to follow Him and to stake our whole life on Him.
... Joy is the fruit of faith. ... Learn to see how God is working in your
lives. ... Turn your
eyes to Him often. He gave His life for you on the cross because He loves you.
Contemplation of this great love brings a hope and joy to our hearts that
nothing can destroy".
"To seek the Lord and find Him in our lives also means accepting His word. ...
God’s word reveals the wonders that He has accomplished throughout human
history. ... The liturgy is a special place where the Church expresses the joy
which she
receives from the Lord and transmits it to the world. Each Sunday at Mass the
Christian community celebrates the central mystery of salvation, which is the
death and resurrection of Christ".
4. The joy of love
"Joy is intimately linked to love. They are inseparable gifts of the Holy
Spirit. Love gives rise to joy, and joy is a form of love. ... To love means
to be steadfast, reliable and faithful to commitments. ... If we are to
experience the joy of love, we
must also be generous. We cannot be content to give the minimum. We need to be
fully committed in life and to pay particular attention to those in need. The
world needs men and women who are competent and generous, willing to be at the
service of the
common good. ... Find ways to help make society more just and humane wherever
you happen to be. ... I would like to mention one particular joy. It is the
joy we feel when we respond to the vocation to give our whole life to the
Lord. ... Do not be
afraid if Christ is calling you to the religious, monastic or missionary life
or to the priesthood. Be assured that He fills with joy all those who respond
to His invitation. ... In the same way, God gives great joy to men and women
who
give
themselves totally to one another in marriage in order to build a family. ...
A third element that will lead you to the joy of love ... is allowing
fraternal love to grow in your lives and in those of your communities".
5. The joy of conversion
"Experiencing real joy also means recognising the temptations that lead us
away from it. Our present-day culture often pressures us to seek immediate
goals, achievements and pleasures. It fosters fickleness more than
perseverance, hard work and fidelity
to commitments. ... Experience teaches us that possessions do not ensure
happiness".
"God wants us to be happy. That is why He gave us specific directions for the
journey of life: the Commandments. If we observe them, we will find the path
to life and happiness. At first glance, they might seem to be a list of
prohibitions and an
obstacle to our freedom. But if we study them more closely, we see in the
light of Christ’s message that the Commandments are a set of essential
and valuable rules leading to a happy life in accordance with God’s
plan. ... At times the path
of the Christian life is not easy, and being faithful to the Lord’s love
presents obstacles; occasionally we fall. Yet God in His mercy never abandons
us; He always offers us the possibility of returning to him. ... Have frequent
recourse to the
Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation! It is the Sacrament of joy
rediscovered".
6. Joy at times of trial
"In the end, though, we might still wonder in our hearts whether it is really
possible to live joyfully amid all life’s trials, especially those which
are most tragic and mysterious. ... We can find an answer in some of the
experiences of young
people like yourselves who have found in Christ the light that can give
strength and hope even in difficult situations.
"Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati experienced many trials during his short life.
... When Blessed John Paul II presented Blessed Pier Giorgio as a model for
young people, he described him as “a young person with infectious joy,
the joy that overcame
many difficulties in his life”. Closer to us in time is Chiara Badano,
who was recently beatified. She experienced how pain could be transfigured by
love and mysteriously steeped in joy. ... Authentic Christians are never
despairing or sad, not
even when faced with difficult trials. They show that Christian joy is not a
flight from reality, but a supernatural power that helps us to deal with the
challenges of daily life".
7. Witnesses of joy
"To conclude I would encourage you to be missionaries of joy. We cannot be
happy if others are not. ... Go and tell other young people about your joy at
finding the precious treasure which is Jesus Himself. We cannot keep the joy
of faith to ourselves.
If we are to keep it, we must give it away".
"Christianity is sometimes depicted as a way of life that stifles our freedom
and goes against our desires for happiness and joy. But this is far from the
truth. Christians are men and women who are truly happy because they know that
they are not alone.
They know that God is always holding them in His hands. It is up to you, young
followers of Christ, to show the world that faith brings happiness and a joy
which is true, full and enduring. If the way Christians live at times appears
dull and boring,
you should be the first to show the joyful and happy side of faith. The Gospel
is the “good news” that God loves us and that each of us is
important to Him. Show the world that this is true!"
___________________________________________________________
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