Year: 2017

Bogotá, Colombia, Sep 7, 2017 / 01:29 pm (CNA).- During his flight to Colombia Pope Francis received a white rose from a Colombian journalist, recalling his deep devotion to Saint Therese of Lisieux.

On various occasions, Pope Francis has spoken of his custom of asking favors from the saint, and her responses in his view are little “miracles.”

During the papal trip to Colombia Sept. 6, it was the journalist from Caracol Radio, Cesar Moreno, who gave the white rose to the Holy Father.

“When I gave it to him he said ‘Ah, we begin with dear Saint Therese! We’re getting off to a great start.’ So he liked it a lot and looked very happy. I felt very happy and joyful that I had pleased him,” the journalist told CNA.

Moreno said he had consulted “a couple of Argentine friends who knew Francis” about the devotion to Saint Therese of Lisieux, and they told him of “the significance the white rose has for him in moments of difficulty.”

“When they (difficulties) come up, it is said that the Pope thinks and feels that he can face them,” he added.

Moreno told how his mother is also devoted to Saint Therese of Lisieux and so she helped him prepare the gift: “the white rose, the figurine of Saint Therese of  Jesus with her holy card.”

In 2015, when Pope Francis traveled to the Philippines, he revealed that before every trip or a concern of his, he usually asks for “a rose” from Saint Therese of Lisieux, for whom he has a special devotion.

“When I don’t know how things are going to go, I have the custom of asking Saint Therese of the Child Jesus to take the problem into her hands and that she send me a rose,” the Pope told journalists at the time.

Pope Francis’ Sept. 6-11 trip to Colombia follows apostolic visits by two of his predecessors, Bl. Paul VI and St. John Paul II. During his trip, he plans to meet with bishops from the neighboring country of Venezuela, which is facing widespread chaos over government corruption.

[…]

Bogotá, Colombia, Sep 7, 2017 / 11:22 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a lengthy speech on Thursday, Pope Francis urged the bishops of Colombia to uphold their pastoral responsibilities, proclaiming and teaching the truth even in the face of challenges.

“From your lips as legitimate shepherds of Christ, Colombia has a right to be challenged by the truth of God, who never ceases to ask: ‘Where is your brother?’ That question may not be silenced…” the Pope said Sept. 7.

“Even if those who hear it can do no more than lower their gaze in embarrassment and stammer in shame that they sold him, perhaps for the price of a fix of narcotics or for some misguided notion of reasons of state, or even for the false belief that the end justifies the means.”

Though many people can help, the mission of the bishops is unique, Pope Francis continued. “You are not mechanics or politicians, but pastors.”

“Christ is the word of reconciliation written on your hearts. You have the power to preach that word not only in pulpits, in ecclesial documents or newspaper articles, but also in the hearts of individual men and women,” he said.

“You have the power to proclaim it in the inner sanctum of their consciences, where they hope to hear the heavenly voice that proclaims: ‘Peace to those whom God loves’ (Lk 2:14). You must speak that word with the frail, lowly yet invincible resource of God’s mercy, which is capable of averting the pride and cynicism of selfish hearts.”

Pope Francis addressed the Colombian bishops in Bogota on the first full day of his Sept. 6-11 apostolic visit to the country.

Keep your gaze fixed not on some vague or generalized “man,” he told the bishops, but on concrete men and women, who are “loved by God and composed of flesh and bones, history, faith, feelings, disappointments, frustrations, sorrows and hurts.”

This approach is what will help to “unmask cold statistics, twisted calculations, blind strategies and falsified data,” he said.

Acknowledging the generous pastoral work already carried out by the bishops, Francis then laid out his concerns for what he sees as challenges to the Church living out its mission.

First among these are challenges to Colombia’s families. The defense of life from the womb to natural death, the “scourge of violence,” alcoholism, the weakening of the marriage bond and the absence of fathers are all attacks on the life of the family today, he said.

Young people are facing the threat of “spiritual emptiness,” which they seek to escape through drug use, frivolous lifestyles and a rebellious spirit. Lay faithful in general, even those who attend Mass and practice their faith, face “the new dogma of selfishness and the death of solidarity,” he noted.

There are also challenges for generous priests, he said, who require support in their daily commitment to Christ and the Church, while others “continue to propose the easy way out, avoiding genuine commitment and remaining isolated and self-centered.”

“I offer you no recipes, much less do I intend to leave you a list of things to do. Still, I would ask you, as you carry out in communion your demanding mission as the bishops of Colombia, to maintain your serenity,” he encouraged.

Though the devil continues to sow weeds, “imitate the patience of the Lord of the harvest and trust in the good quality of his grain. Learn from his patience and generosity. He takes his time, because his loving gaze sees far into the distance.”

When love grows weak we become impatient and anxious, making ourselves busy with many things as we are “hounded by the fear of failure,” he said.

Instead, “believe above all in the smallness of God’s seeds. Trust in the power hidden in his yeast. Let your hearts be drawn to the great beauty that leads us to sell everything we have, in order to possess that divine treasure,” he urged.

Speaking more about priests, who he said are on “the front lines” of the Church, the Pope said that the first gift a bishop can give his priests is to be a father to them – the physical and affective closeness of their bishop is a vital and urgent need.

And although in this digital age it is easy to reach each other instantly, the paternal heart of a bishop should not be content with this impersonal and formal means of communication, but be truly concerned with where and how his priests are living.

“Are they truly living as Jesus’ disciples? Or have they found other forms of security, like financial stability, moral ambiguity, a double life, or the myopic illusion of careerism?”

Pope Francis also appealed to bishops to show concern for the lives of consecrated men and women, who represent “an evangelical rebuke to worldliness.”

“They are called to purify every residue of worldly values in the fire of the Beatitudes lived sine glossa and in total self-abnegation for the service of others.” They should not be looked at as merely “‘useful resources’ for the works of the apostolate,” he said, instead hearing in them the “Bride’s cry of consecrated love: ‘Come, Lord Jesus.’”

The formation of the laity should not be forgotten either, Francis said, noting that they are the ones responsible not only for the strength of their faith communities, “but in great part for the Church’s presence in the area of cultural, political and economic life.”

When it comes to the history of the Church in Colombia, he asked the bishops “not to be afraid to touch the wounded flesh of your own history and that of your people.”

This path isn’t easy, but it’s necessary, he explained. Colombia needs that attention in order “to sustain its courage in taking the first step towards definitive peace and reconciliation, towards abdicating the method of violence and overcoming the inequalities at the root of so much suffering.”

Speaking of the “first step” that must be taken on the path to peace and reconciliation, he said, “God goes before us. We are only branches, not the vine.”

He warned them about silencing the voice of God or falling under the delusion that the success of the mission depends on their own “meagre virtues,” saying that prayer should be fundamental in the life of a bishop.

Instead of relying on themselves or others, he urged praying “fervently when you have so little to give, so that you will be granted something to offer to those who are close to your hearts as pastors.”

In his lengthy speech, the Pope also spoke about the Church in Amazonia, the southernmost region of Colombia, encouraging the bishops not to abandon it and the “profound wisdom of the indigenous peoples.”

He said they should also show particular sensitivity to the Afro-Colombian roots of the country, which have had a great influence on Colombia.

“I am convinced that Colombia has one remarkable feature: it has never been a goal fully attained, a destiny completely achieved, or a treasure totally possessed,” he said.

This treasure includes the nation’s human riches, vast natural resources, culture, heritage of the faith, and irrepressible joy and fidelity to the Gospel of Christ and his Church, he noted.

“And, above all, its indomitable courage in resisting threats of death not merely proclaimed but often experienced at first hand,” he said. “All this recedes, hides itself, from those who come here as foreigners bent on domination, while offering itself freely to those who touch its heart with the meekness of a wayfarer.”

“Such is Colombia.”

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Bogotá, Colombia, Sep 7, 2017 / 10:57 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Speaking to youth in Colombia Thursday, Pope Francis urged them to move away from the violence of the past and to work toward healing and building a culture of encounter, which he said often begins simply with a drink or a cup of coffee.

“For you, young people, it is so easy to encounter one another. All you need is a good coffee, a good drink or any other excuse to meet,” the Pope said Sept. 7, his first full day in Colombia.

Topics such as art and music can often bring people together, he said.

“Even a final between Atlético Nacional and América de Cali is an opportunity to be together,” he exclaimed, referring to the rival association football teams from Medellin and Cali who compete in Colombia’s premier tournament league.

Youth are able to teach their elders that “the culture of meeting is not in thinking, living or reacting to everyone in the same way; it is rather in knowing that beyond our differences we are all part of something greater that unites and transcends us; we are part of this wonderful country.”

“Help us, your elders, to enter into this culture of encounter that you practice so well,” he implored them.

Pope Francis spoke to the youth gathered below the balcony of the Cardinal’s Palace in Bogota. He greeted the crowd and offered his blessing after meeting the country’s authorities earlier that morning, marking the first day of official appointments during his Sept. 6-11 visit to Colombia.

Immediately before his greeting to the faithful, Francis had visited Bogota’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, leading a Marian litany for peace in the country.

In his address, Pope Francis said he had come to Colombia “as a pilgrim of peace and hope” and “to understand you”, and “to learn from your faith, your strength in the face of adversity. You have endured difficult and dark moments, but the Lord is near you, in the heart of every son and daughter of this country. He is not selective, he does not exclude anyone but embraces all; and we are all important and essential to him.”

“During these days I would like to share with you the most important truth: that God loves you with the love of a Father who encourages you to continue looking for and desiring peace, that peace which is authentic and abiding.”

He reiterated that “God loves us with the love of a father,” and then had the youths repeat his words – something he did several times in his address when he wanted to emphasize a point.

the Pope said he’s always happy when he meets young people, and told them to “keep joy alive,” because it is “a sign of a young heart, of a heart that has encountered the Lord.”

“Do not let anyone rob you of joy,” he said, and asked them to preserve the joy that “unites everyone in the knowledge of being loved by the Lord,” because “the flame of the Lord Jesus’ love makes this joy burst forth, and is sufficient to set the whole world ablaze.”

“How could you not be capable of changing this society and accomplishing all you decide to do!” he said, and told them to “dare to dream big … please, don’t think small. Dream high, and dream big!”

Youth have a special knack for recognizing pain and suffering in others, he said, noting that this is made obvious by the sheer number of youth who serve as volunteers in programs to help the poor and needy.

But this quality can also emerge “in contexts where death, pain and division have impacted you so deeply that they have left you half-dazed, as if numb,” he said, alluding to the effects of the country’s longstanding civil war, which has largely de-escalated, thanks in part to the encouragement of Pope Francis and the Holy See.

With as many as 260,000 killed and millions displaced in the five-decade conflict, Francis told the youth to “allow the suffering of your Colombian brothers and sisters to strike you and mobilize you! Help us, your elders, not to grow accustomed to pain and neglect.”

Those who come from complex backgrounds and different family situations “have grown used to seeing that not everything is black and white; you have seen that daily life is made up of a broad scale of grey tones, and that this can expose you to the risk of falling into a climate of relativism, thus discarding that potentiality which young people have, of perceiving the pain of those who suffered.”

Youth not only have the ability to recognize and point out mistakes, but they are also capable of something more “beautiful (and) constructive.” This, he said, is the ability of “understanding. An understanding that even behind a wrong – for wrong is (always) wrong and cannot be just smoothed over – lies an endless number of causes, of mitigating factors.” He reiterated that “wrong is always wrong: you can’t put lipstick on it.”

“Colombia needs you so much to put yourselves in the shoes of those who, many generations earlier, could not or did not know how to do so, or did not come up with the right way to reach understanding,” he said.

Another unique ability which, while generally difficult, comes a bit easier to youth is the ability to forgive, especially those who have hurt us, Francis said.

“It is remarkable to see how you do not get entangled in old stories, how you watch with surprise when we adults repeat events that divide us simply by being tied to resentments,” he said, telling youth they are able to help their elders “in the desire to leave behind what has hurt us, to look to the future without the burden of hatred.”

“You make us see the wider world which stands before us, the whole of Colombia that wishes to grow and continue its development; that Colombia which needs all of us, and which we older people owe to you,” he said.

Because of this, youth now face the challenging task of “helping us to heal,” he said.

“An atmosphere of anxiety sickens the soul; it sees no way out of problems, and ostracizes those who try,” he said, and voiced hope that the dreams of the youth would “give fresh life to Colombia, and fill the country with wholesome goals.”

“Only in this way will people be motivated to discover the country hidden behind the mountains, the one that goes beyond newspaper headlines and which does not seem to be a daily concern since it is so far away,” he said.

The Pope noted that young people are often “spurred into action” when faced with great challenges, and told them he believes they have what it takes “to build the nation we have always dreamed of.”

Pope Francis closed his address by offering a word to all those present “as someone bringing you hope.”

“Do not let difficulties weigh you down; may violence not break you; may evil not overwhelm you,” he said, noting that as Christians, we believe Christ has already conquered evil, sin, and death, and “all we need to do is go out to meet him.”

“I invite you not to be just dutiful but to be committed to renewing society, so that it will be just, stable and fruitful,” he said, and urged them to place their trust in the Lord, “who is the only one who sustains us and inspires us to contribute to reconciliation and peace.”

Concluding, the Pope led those gathered in praying the Hail Mary, and gave them his blessing.

[…]

Bogotá, Colombia, Sep 7, 2017 / 08:46 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In the first formal speech of his visit to Colombia, Pope Francis on Thursday told government authorities that the key to eliminating conflict is to recognize the dignity of all people, especially the poor and marginalized.

“I ask you, please, to listen to the poor, to those who suffer. Look them in the eye and let yourselves be continually questioned by their faces racked with pain and by their pleading hands. From them we learn true lessons about life, humanity and dignity,” the Pope said Sept. 7.

He explained that the Church, “faithful to her mission” and “committed to peace, justice and the good of all,” knows that the principles of the Gospel “are a significant dimension of the social fabric of Colombia, and thus can contribute greatly to the growth of the country.”

“Particularly, sacrosanct respect for human life, above all for the weakest and most defenseless, is a cornerstone in the formation of a society free from violence.”

Pope Francis met with political and religious authorities, the diplomatic corps, entrepreneurs, and representatives of civil society and culture at the Plaza de Armas of the “Casa de Nariño” in Bogota on the first full day of his Sept. 6-11 trip to Colombia.

His trip follows apostolic visits by two of his predecessors, Bl. Paul VI and St. John Paul II. “Like them,” he said, “I am moved by the desire to share with my Colombian brothers and sisters the gift of faith, which put down its roots so strongly in these lands, and the hope which beats in the hearts of everyone.”

“Only in this way, by means of faith and hope, can we overcome the numerous difficulties encountered along the way, to build a country that is a motherland and a home to all Colombians.”

He said the work of creating and shaping society must include all people, encouraging authorities to look in particular to those who are excluded and marginalized by society, because “Colombia needs the participation of all so as to face the future with hope.”

Francis noted the significant progress towards peace that had been achieved over the past year with the signing of the peace accord between authorities and the guerilla group FARC. These steps give rise to hope, he said.

“Seeking peace is an open-ended endeavor, a task which does not relent, which demands the commitment of everyone.”

“It is an endeavor challenging us not to weaken our efforts to build the unity of the nation. Despite obstacles, differences and varying perspectives on the way to achieve peaceful coexistence, this task summons us to persevere in the struggle to promote a ‘culture of encounter.’”

A culture of encounter requires us to place the human person at the center of everything – all political, social and economic activity – and in doing so, may we have the determination and strength to resist the temptation to vengeance and partisan interests, he continued.

“The motto of this country is: ‘Freedom and Order.’ These two words contain a complete lesson. Citizens must be valued according to their freedom and be protected by a stable order. It is not the law of the most powerful, but rather the power of the law, approved by all, that regulates a peaceful coexistence.”

Francis urged them to institute just laws in order to promote peace and overcome the country’s decades-long conflict.

Referencing Evangelii Gaudium, he said that we need laws “which are not born from the pragmatic need to order society,” but from the “desire to resolve the structural causes of poverty that lead to exclusion and violence.”

“Only in this way can there be healing of the sickness that brings fragility and lack of dignity to society, leaving it always vulnerable to new crises. Let us not forget that inequality is the root of social ills,” he said.

In the speech, Pope Francis also pointed out Colombia’s great biodiversity, considered second in the world, and which he said requires careful respect.

The nation is blessed in many ways, he said, including in the beauty of its nature: “traveling through this land one can taste and see how good the Lord has been in bestowing such immense variety of flora and fauna…”

He also noted the vibrancy of the country’s culture and people. Just as St. Peter Claver, the Spanish missionary, first saw Colombia with amazement, we too are amazed at its landscape and its inhabitants, the Pope said.

Let us stop to recognize, in particular, all those who have no voice: the weakest, the oppressed and maltreated, as well as the contribution of women, he said. “Ladies and Gentlemen, you have before you a fine and noble mission, which is also a difficult task,” he emphasized.

Concluding, the Pope quoted from the acceptance speech of Colombian author and Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez, who said in spite of the difficulty of the task, “Before oppression, plundering and abandonment, we respond with life.”

“Neither floods nor plagues, famines nor cataclysms, nor even the unending wars down the centuries, have been able to subdue the tenacious advantage of life over death. An advantage which is both increasing and accelerating.”

“We do not want any type of violence whatsoever to restrict or destroy one more life. I have wanted to come here to tell you that you are not alone, that there are many of us who accompany you in taking this step; this visit intends to offer you an incentive, a contribution that in some way paves the path to reconciliation and peace,” he said.

“You are in my prayers. I pray for you, for Columbia’s present and future.”

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Cartagena, Colombia, Sep 7, 2017 / 06:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During his trip to Colombia, Pope Francis will visit Sept. 10 the home and shrine of St. Peter Claver, a Spanish missionary priest and fellow Jesuit who is the patron saint of Colombia.

Whi… […]