POPEFRANCIS
“When the Church looks for Jesus, it always knocks at His Mother’s door and asks: 'Show us Jesus'. It is from Mary that the Church learns true discipleship. That is why the Church always goes out on its mission in the footsteps of Mary.”
“When the Church looks for Jesus, it always knocks at His Mother’s door and asks: 'Show us Jesus'. It is from Mary that the Church learns true discipleship. That is why the Church always goes out on its mission in the footsteps of Mary.”
During his homily, the Pope also addressed parents and
educators, encouraging them to welcome the responsibility of passing on the
faith. When addressing the youth, the Pope said, false worldly idols need
to be replaced by the one true God.
POPEFRANCIS
“It is true that nowadays, to some extent, everyone, including our young people, feels attracted by the many idols which take the place of God and appear to offer hope: money, success, power, pleasure. Often a growing sense of loneliness and emptiness in the hearts of many people leads them to seek satisfaction in these ephemeral idols. Dear brothers and sisters, let us be lights of hope! Let us maintain a positive outlook on reality.”
When it comes to leading a positive way of life, the
Pope said one should embrace three simple attitudes: hopefulness, openness to God
and joy.
POPEFRANCIS
“Christians cannot be pessimists! They cannot look like someone in constant mourning. If we are truly in love with Christ and if we sense how much he loves us, our heart will 'light up' with a joy that spreads to everyone around us. As Benedict XVI said: 'the disciple knows that without Christ, there is no light, no hope, no love, no future.”
“Christians cannot be pessimists! They cannot look like someone in constant mourning. If we are truly in love with Christ and if we sense how much he loves us, our heart will 'light up' with a joy that spreads to everyone around us. As Benedict XVI said: 'the disciple knows that without Christ, there is no light, no hope, no love, no future.”
POPE'S TRANSLATED SPEECH
Dear Archbishop Tempesta,
brother Bishops,
Distinguished Authorities,
Members of the Venerable Third Order of Saint Francis of Penance,
Doctors, Nurses, and Health Care Workers,
brother Bishops,
Distinguished Authorities,
Members of the Venerable Third Order of Saint Francis of Penance,
Doctors, Nurses, and Health Care Workers,
Dear
Young People and Family Members,
God has willed that my journey, after the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, should take me to a particular shrine of human suffering – the Saint Francis of Assisi Hospital. The conversion of your patron saint is well known: the young Francis abandoned the riches and comfort of the world in order to become a poor man among the poor. He understood that true joy and riches do not come from the idols of this world – material things and the possession of them – but are to be found only in following Christ and serving others. Less well known, perhaps, is the moment when this understanding took concrete form in his own life. It was when Francis embraced a leper. This brother, suffering and an outcast, was the "mediator of light ... for Saint Francis of Assisi" (Lumen Fidei, 57), because in every suffering brother and sister that we embrace, we embrace the suffering Body of Christ. Today, in this place where people struggle with drug addiction, I wish to embrace each and every one of you, who are the flesh of Christ, and to ask God to renew your journey, and also mine, with purpose and steadfast hope.
God has willed that my journey, after the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, should take me to a particular shrine of human suffering – the Saint Francis of Assisi Hospital. The conversion of your patron saint is well known: the young Francis abandoned the riches and comfort of the world in order to become a poor man among the poor. He understood that true joy and riches do not come from the idols of this world – material things and the possession of them – but are to be found only in following Christ and serving others. Less well known, perhaps, is the moment when this understanding took concrete form in his own life. It was when Francis embraced a leper. This brother, suffering and an outcast, was the "mediator of light ... for Saint Francis of Assisi" (Lumen Fidei, 57), because in every suffering brother and sister that we embrace, we embrace the suffering Body of Christ. Today, in this place where people struggle with drug addiction, I wish to embrace each and every one of you, who are the flesh of Christ, and to ask God to renew your journey, and also mine, with purpose and steadfast hope.
To
embrace – we all have to learn to embrace the one in need, as Saint Francis
did. There are so many situations in Brazil, and throughout the world, that
require attention, care and love, like the fight against chemical dependency.
Often, instead, it is selfishness that prevails in our society. How many
"dealers of death" there are that follow the logic of power and money
at any cost! The scourge of drug-trafficking, that favours violence and sows
the seeds of suffering and death, requires of society as a whole an act of
courage. A reduction in the spread and influence of drug addiction will not be
achieved by a liberalization of drug use, as is currently being proposed in
various parts of Latin America. Rather, it is necessary to confront the
problems underlying the use of these drugs, by promoting greater justice,
educating young people in the values that build up life in society,
accompanying those in difficulty and giving them hope for the future. We all
need to look upon one another with the loving eyes of Christ, and to learn to
embrace those in need, in order to show our closeness, affection and love.
To
embrace someone is not enough, however. We must hold the hand of the one in
need, of the one who has fallen into the darkness of dependency perhaps without
even knowing how, and we must say to him or her: You can get up, you can stand
up. It is difficult, but it is possible if you want to. Dear friends, I wish to
say to each of you, but especially to all those others who have not had the
courage to embark on our journey: You have to want to stand up; this is the
indispensible condition! You will find an outstretched hand ready to help you,
but no one is able to stand up in your place. But you are never alone! The
Church and so many people are close to you. Look ahead with confidence. Yours
is a long and difficult journey, but look ahead, there is "a sure future,
set against a different horizon with regard to the illusory enticements of the
idols of this world, yet granting new momentum and strength to our daily
lives" (Lumen Fidei, 57). To all of you, I repeat: Do not let yourselves
be robbed of hope! And not only that, but I say to us all: let us not rob
others of hope, let us become bearers of hope!
In the
Gospel, we read the parable of the Good Samaritan, that speaks of a man
assaulted by robbers and left half dead at the side of the road. People pass by
him and look at him. But they do not stop, they just continue on their journey,
indifferent to him: it is none of their business! Only a Samaritan, a stranger,
sees him, stops, lifts him up, takes him by the hand, and cares for him (cf. Lk
10:29-35). Dear friends, I believe that here, in this hospital, the parable of
the Good Samaritan is made tangible. Here there is no indifference, but
concern. There is no apathy, but love. The Saint Francis Association and the
Network for the Treatment of Drug Addiction show how to reach out to those in
difficulty because in them we see the face of Christ, because in these persons,
the flesh of Christ suffers. Thanks are due to all the medical professionals
and their associates who work here. Your service is precious; undertake it
always with love. It is a service given to Christ present in our brothers and
sisters. As Jesus says to us: "As you did it to one of the least of these
my brethren, you did it to me" (Mt 25:40).
And I
wish to repeat to all of you who struggle against drug addiction, and to those
family members who share in your difficulties: the Church is not distant from
your troubles, but accompanies you with affection. The Lord is near you and he
takes you by the hand. Look to him in your most difficult moments and he will
give you consolation and hope. And trust in the maternal love of his Mother
Mary. This morning, in the Shrine of Aparecida, I entrusted each of you to her
heart. Where there is a cross to carry, she, our Mother, is always there with
us. I leave you in her hands, while with great affection I bless all of you.
“I
felt loved again and in turn, I was able to love others. I left that life
behind and I became a better person. Every day, I learn more, thanks to God and
thanks to this institution.”
The Pope denounced those who see human lives as a means of business or drug deals and he called on society to not be indifferent.
POPE FRANCIS
“How many 'dealers of death' there are that follow the logic of power and money at any cost! The scourge of drug-trafficking, that favors violence and sows the seeds of suffering and death, requires of society as a whole an act of courage.”
He also added that the solution to the drug problem is not based on legalizing their use. Rather, he said, the solution is found in instilling values and education.
POPE FRANCIS
“A reduction in the spread and influence of drug addiction will not be achieved by a liberalization of drug use, as is currently being proposed in various parts of Latin America. Rather, it is necessary to confront the problems underlying the use of these drugs, by promoting greater justice, educating young people in the values that build up life in society, accompanying those in difficulty and giving them hope for the future.”
The Pope also thanked the Franciscan friars who day in and day out, help those who need it most. Despite the challenges, he urged the young addicts, to continue their recovery and to have hope.
PAPA FRANCISCO
“You have to want to stand up; this is the indispensible condition! You will find an outstretched hand ready to help you, but no one is able to stand up in your place. You are never alone! The Church and so many people are with you. Look ahead with confidence. You have a long and difficult journey, but you must look ahead.”
The Pope then added that during his visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, he prayed for each and every one of them, asking Our Lady to protect them. He also asked them to never forget, that God walks along with them, even in the hardest moments.
The Pope denounced those who see human lives as a means of business or drug deals and he called on society to not be indifferent.
POPE FRANCIS
“How many 'dealers of death' there are that follow the logic of power and money at any cost! The scourge of drug-trafficking, that favors violence and sows the seeds of suffering and death, requires of society as a whole an act of courage.”
He also added that the solution to the drug problem is not based on legalizing their use. Rather, he said, the solution is found in instilling values and education.
POPE FRANCIS
“A reduction in the spread and influence of drug addiction will not be achieved by a liberalization of drug use, as is currently being proposed in various parts of Latin America. Rather, it is necessary to confront the problems underlying the use of these drugs, by promoting greater justice, educating young people in the values that build up life in society, accompanying those in difficulty and giving them hope for the future.”
The Pope also thanked the Franciscan friars who day in and day out, help those who need it most. Despite the challenges, he urged the young addicts, to continue their recovery and to have hope.
PAPA FRANCISCO
“You have to want to stand up; this is the indispensible condition! You will find an outstretched hand ready to help you, but no one is able to stand up in your place. You are never alone! The Church and so many people are with you. Look ahead with confidence. You have a long and difficult journey, but you must look ahead.”
The Pope then added that during his visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, he prayed for each and every one of them, asking Our Lady to protect them. He also asked them to never forget, that God walks along with them, even in the hardest moments.
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