|
|
|
|
|
Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People People on the MoveN° 110, August 2009
PAROLA DEL SANTO PADREFROM THE HOLY FATHER
GENERAL AUDIENCE, ADDRESS, WEDNESDAY, 6 MAY 2009 My dear friends, this Friday I leave Rome for my Apostolic Visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. I wish this morning to take the opportunity through this radio and television broadcast to greet all the peoples of those lands. I am eagerly looking forward to being with you and to sharing with you your aspirations and hopes as well as your pains and struggles. I will be coming among you as a pilgrim of peace. My primary intention is to visit the places made holy by the life of Jesus, and, to pray at them for the gift of peace and unity for your families, and all those for whom the Holy Land and the Middle East is home. Among the many religious and civic gatherings which will take place over the course of the week, will be meetings with representatives from the Muslim and Jewish communities with whom great strides have been made in dialogue and cultural exchange. In a special way I warmly greet the Catholics of the region and ask you to join me in praying that the visit will bear much fruit for the spiritual and civic life of all who dwell in the Holy Land. May we all praise God for his goodness. May we all be people of hope. May we all be steadfast in our desire and efforts for peace. LOsservatore Romano, N. 104 (45.147), 7 Maggio 2009, p. 8. ******************************************************************* MEETING WITH MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADERS, And we are reminded that because it is our common human dignity which gives rise to universal human rights, they hold equally for every man and woman, irrespective of his or her religious, social or ethnic group. In this regard, we must note that the right of religious freedom extends beyond the question of worship and includes the right especially of minorities to fair access to the employment market and other spheres of civic life. Before I leave you this morning I would like to acknowledge in a special way the presence among us of His Beatitude Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Baghdad, whom I greet most warmly. His presence brings to mind the people of neighboring Iraq many of whom have found welcome refuge here in Jordan. The international communitys efforts to promote peace and reconciliation, together with those of the local leaders, must continue in order to bear fruit in the lives of Iraqis. I wish to express my appreciation for all those who are assisting in the endeavors to deepen trust and to rebuild the institutions and infrastructure essential to the well-being of that society. And once again, I urge diplomats and the international community they represent together with local political and religious leaders to do everything possible to ensure the ancient Christian community of that noble land its fundamental right to peaceful coexistence with their fellow citizens. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 19 (2094), 13 May 2009, p. 7. ********************************************************************* VISIT TO THE "REGINA PACIS CENTER", ADDRESS AT Amman, As you know, my visit to the Our Lady of Peace Centre here in Amman is the first stop along my journey of pilgrimage. Like countless pilgrims before me it is now my turn to satisfy that profound wish to touch, to draw solace from and to venerate the places where Jesus lived, the places which were made holy by his presence. Since apostolic times, Jerusalem has been the primary place of pilgrimage for Christians, but earlier still, in the ancient Near East, Semitic peoples built sacred shrines in order to mark and commemorate a divine presence or action. And ordinary people would travel to these centres carrying a portion of the fruits of their land and livestock to offer in homage and thanksgiving. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 19 (2094), 13 May 2009, p. 4. ************************************************************************** VISIT TO THE ANCIENT BASILICA OF THE MEMORIAL OF MOSES ADDRESS AT Mount Nebo Saturday, 9 May 2009 It is appropriate that my pilgrimage should begin on this mountain, where Moses contemplated the Promised Land from afar. The magnificent prospect which opens up from the esplanade of this shrine invites us to ponder how that prophetic vision mysteriously embraced the great plan of salvation which God had prepared for his People. For it was in the valley of the Jordan which stretches out below us that, in the fullness of time, John the Baptist would come to prepare the way of the Lord. It was in the waters of the River Jordan that Jesus, after his baptism by John, would be revealed as the beloved Son of the Father and, anointed by the Holy Spirit, would inaugurate his public ministry. And it was from the Jordan that the Gospel would first go forth in Christs own preaching and miracles, and then, after his resurrection and the descent of the Spirit at Pentecost, be brought by his disciples to the very ends of the earth. From the earliest times, Christians have come on pilgrimage to the sites linked to the history of the Chosen People, the events of Christs life and the nascent Church. This great tradition, which my present pilgrimage is meant to continue and confirm, is grounded in the desire to see, to touch, and to savor in prayer and contemplation the places blessed by the physical presence of our Savior, his Blessed Mother, the apostles and the first disciples who saw him risen from the dead. Here, in the footsteps of the countless pilgrims who have preceded us in every century, we are challenged to appreciate more fully the gift of our faith and to grow in that communion which transcends every limit of language, race and culture. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 19 (2094), 13 May 2009, p. 5. ************************************************************************** CELEBRATION OF VESPERS WITH BISHOPS, PRIESTS, MEN AND WOMEN RELIGIOUS, ECCLESIAL AND PASTORAL MOVEMENTS OF GALILEE, HOMILY AT THE Upper Basilica of the Annunciation Nazareth Thursday, 14 May 2009 In the State of Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Christians form a minority of the population. Perhaps at times you feel that your voice counts for little. Many of your fellow Christians have emigrated, in the hope of finding greater security and better prospects elsewhere. Your situation calls to mind that of the young virgin Mary, who led a hidden life in Nazareth, with little by way of worldly wealth or influence. Have the confidence to be faithful to Christ and to remain here in the land that he sanctified with his own presence! Like Mary, you have a part to play in Gods plan for salvation, by bringing Christ forth into the world, by bearing witness to him and spreading his message of peace and unity. For this, it is essential that you should be united among yourselves, so that the Church in the Holy Land can be clearly recognized as a sign and instrument of communion with God and of the unity of the entire human race (Lumen Gentium, 1). LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 20 (2095), 20 May 2009, p. 17. ************************************************************************ WELCOMING CEREMONY, ADDRESS AT THE "Ben Gurion" International Airport - Tel Aviv, Monday, 11 May 2009 Thank you for your warm welcome to the State of Israel, a land which is held holy by millions of believers around the world. I am grateful to the President, Mr Shimon Peres, for his kind words, and I appreciate the opportunity that has been offered to me to come on pilgrimage to a land that is hallowed by the footsteps of patriarchs and prophets, a land that Christians hold in particular veneration as the setting for the events of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I take my place in a long line of Christian pilgrims to these shores, a line that stretches back to the earliest centuries of the Churchs history and which, I am sure, will continue long into the future. I come, like so many others before me, to pray at the holy places, to pray especially for peace peace here in the Holy Land, and peace throughout the world. During my stay in Jerusalem, I will have the pleasure of meeting many of this countrys distinguished religious leaders. One thing that the three great monotheistic religions have in common is a special veneration for that holy city. It is my earnest hope that all pilgrims to the holy places will be able to access them freely and without restraint, to take part in religious ceremonies and to promote the worthy upkeep of places of worship on sacred sites. May the words of Isaiahs prophecy be fulfilled, that many nations shall flow to the mountain of the house of the Lord, that he may teach them his ways, that they may walk in his paths paths of peace and justice, paths that lead to reconciliation and harmony (cf. Is 2:2-5). LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 20 (2095), 20 May 2009, p. 3. *********************************************************************** FAREWELL CEREMONY, ADDRESS AT THE "Ben Gurion" International Airport - Tel Aviv, Friday, 15 May 2009 As I prepare to return to Rome, may I share with you some of the powerful impressions that my pilgrimage to the Holy Land has left with me. I had fruitful discussions with the civil authorities both in Israel and in the Palestinian Territories, and I witnessed the great efforts that both governments are making to secure peoples well-being. No friend can fail to weep at the suffering and loss of life that both peoples have endured over the last six decades. Allow me to make this appeal to all the people of these lands: No more bloodshed! No more fighting! No more terrorism! No more war! Instead let us break the vicious circle of violence. Let there be lasting peace based on justice, let there be genuine reconciliation and healing. Let it be universally recognized that the State of Israel has the right to exist, and to enjoy peace and security within internationally agreed borders. Let it be likewise acknowledged that the Palestinian people have a right to a sovereign independent homeland, to live with dignity and to travel freely. Let the two-state solution become a reality, not remain a dream. And let peace spread outwards from these lands, let them serve as a light to the nations (Is 42:6), bringing hope to the many other regions that are affected by conflict. One of the saddest sights for me during my visit to these lands was the wall. As I passed alongside it, I prayed for a future in which the peoples of the Holy Land can live together in peace and harmony without the need for such instruments of security and separation, but rather respecting and trusting one another, and renouncing all forms of violence and aggression. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 20 (2095), 20 May 2009, p. 21. ************************************************************************* ECUMENICAL MEETING, ADDRESS AT THE Throne Hall of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Jerusalem Friday, 15 May 2009 Dear friends, while encouraging you to proclaim joyfully the Risen Lord, I wish also to recognize the work to this end of the Heads of Christian communities, who meet together regularly in this city. It seems to me that the greatest service the Christians of Jerusalem can offer their fellow citizens is the upbringing and education of a further generation of well-formed and committed Christians, earnest in their desire to contribute generously to the religious and civic life of this unique and holy city. The fundamental priority of every Christian leader is the nurturing of the faith of the individuals and families entrusted to his pastoral care. This common pastoral concern will ensure that your regular meetings are marked by the wisdom and fraternal charity necessary to support one another and to engage with both the joys and the particular difficulties which mark the lives of your people. I pray that the aspirations of the Christians of Jerusalem will be understood as being concordant with the aspirations of all its inhabitants, whatever their religion: a life of religious freedom and peaceful coexistence and - for young people in particular - unimpeded access to education and employment, the prospect of suitable housing and family residency, and the chance to benefit from and contribute to economic stability. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 20 (2095), 20 May 2009, p. 18. ************************************************************************* COURTESY VISIT TO THE GRAN MUFTI, ADDRESS AT THE Mount of the Temple Jerusalem, Tuesday, 12 May 2009 In a world sadly torn by divisions, this sacred place serves as a stimulus, and also challenges men and women of goodwill to work to overcome misunderstandings and conflicts of the past and to set out on the path of a sincere dialogue aimed at building a world of justice and peace for coming generations. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 20 (2095), 20 May 2009, p. 7. *************************************************************************REGINA CÆLI PRAYER WITH THE ORDINARIES OF THE HOLY LAND, ADDRESS AT THE Upper Room Jerusalem Tuesday, 12 May 2009 In the measure in which the gift of love is accepted and grows in the Church, the Christian presence in the Holy Land and in the neighboring regions will be vibrant. This presence is of vital importance for the good of society as a whole. The clear words of Jesus on the intimate bond between love of God and love of neighbor, on mercy and compassion, on meekness, peace and forgiveness, are a leaven capable of transforming hearts and shaping actions. Christians in the Middle East, together with other people of good will, are contributing, as loyal and responsible citizens, in spite of difficulties and restrictions, to the promotion and consolidation of a climate of peace in diversity. I wish to repeat to them what I stated in my 2006 Christmas message to Catholics in the Middle East: I express with affection my personal closeness in this situation of human insecurity, daily suffering, fear and hope which you are living. I repeat to your communities the words of the Redeemer: Fear not little flock, for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom (Lk 12:32) (Christmas Message to Catholics living in the Middle East Region, 21 December 2006). Dear Brother Bishops, count on my support and encouragement as you do all that is in your power to assist our Christian brothers and sisters to remain and prosper here in the land of their ancestors and to be messengers and promoters of peace. In this context I wish to express my appreciation for the service offered to the many pilgrims and visitors who come to the Holy Land seeking inspiration and renewal in the footsteps of Jesus. The Gospel story, contemplated in its historical and geographical setting, becomes vivid and colorful, and a clearer grasp of the significance of the Lords words and deeds is obtained. Many memorable experiences of pilgrims to the Holy Land have been possible thanks also to the hospitality and fraternal guidance offered by you, especially by the Franciscan Friars of the Custody. For this service, I wish to assure you of the appreciation and gratitude of the Universal Church and I express the wish that many more pilgrims will visit in the future. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 20 (2095), 20 May 2009, p. 9. ***************************************************************** MESSE SUR LA Place de la Mangeoire, HOMÉLIE - Bethléem Mercredi 13 mai 2009 Ne craignez pas ! » Cest le message que le Successeur de saint Pierre désire vous laisser aujourdhui, se faisant lécho du message des anges et cest la mission que notre bien-aimé Pape Jean-Paul II vous laissa lorsquil vint chez vous en lannée du Grand Jubilé de la naissance du Christ. Appuyez-vous sur la prière et la solidarité de vos frères et surs de l'Église universelle et, par des initiatives concrètes, travaillez à consolider votre présence ici et à offrir de nouvelles opportunités à ceux qui sont tentés de partir. LOsservatore Romano (Edition Hebdomadaire en langue Française), N. 21 (3.084), 26 Mai 2009, p. 3. *********************************************************************** REGINA CÆLI, St Peter's Square, Sunday, 3 May 2009 There is another intention I invite you to pray for today: the journey to the Holy Land that I will undertake, God willing, from next Friday 8th May to Friday the 15th. In the footsteps of my venerable Predecessors Paul VI and John Paul II, I will make a pilgrimage to the main holy places of our faith. With my visit I hope to confirm and encourage the Christians of the Holy Land, who are faced daily with many difficulties. As the Successor of the Apostle Peter, I will make them feel the closeness and the support of the whole Body of the Church. Moreover, I will be a pilgrim of peace, in the name of the one God who is the Father of all. I will bear witness to the commitment of the Catholic Church in favour of those who practice dialogue and reconciliation, to reach a stable and lasting peace in mutual justice and respect. And finally, this journey will have a noteworthy ecumenical and interreligious importance. Jerusalem is, from this point of view, the city-symbol par excellence: there Christ died to reunite all of God's scattered children (cf. Jn 11: 52). LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 18 (2093), 6 May 2009, p. 8. ******************************************************************** GENERAL AUDIENCE, ADDRESS AT Saint Peter's Square, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 I now address a cordial welcome to the Delegation led by the Undersecretary of the United Nations Organization and Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict. In expressing to you and to those who accompany you my deep appreciation of your work in defence of children, the victims of violence and weapons, I am thinking of all the world's children, especially those exposed to fear, neglect, hunger, abuse, illness and death. The Pope is close to all these small victims and always remembers them in his prayers. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 26 (2101), 1 July 2009, p. 12. *********************************************************************** MEETING WITH TO THE MEMBERS OF THE "ASSEMBLY OF ORGANIZATIONS FOR AID TO THE EASTERN CHURCHES" (R.O.A.C.O.), ADDRESS AT THE CLEMENTINE HALL, THURSDAY, 25 JUNE 2009. Dear friends of ROACO, I accompany with special appreciation the work you do in this sensitive global situation which threatens to jeopardize loving ecclesial service in general, the projects already embarked upon and, especially, the future initiatives of your charitable organizations. I would like to take the opportunity to urge you and the agencies you represent to redouble your efforts. With a spirit of faith and with careful analyses and the necessary realism it will be possible to correct certain impractical decisions and to face effectively the current situations of need. I am thinking of the plight of refugees and migrants, which deeply concerns the Eastern Churches, and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, still lacking attention, where it is also necessary to take into account Israel's legitimate concern for its own security. In the face of these totally new challenges, the Church's loving service remains an effective instrument of salvation and the safest investment for the present and for the future. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 26 (2101), 1 July 2009, p. 3. ****************************************************************** ANGELUS DOMINI, Domenica, 21 giugno 2009 Preghiamo quest'oggi anche per la situazione difficile e talora drammatica dei rifugiati. Si è celebrata proprio ieri la Giornata Mondiale del Rifugiato, promossa dalle Nazioni Unite. Molte sono le persone che cercano rifugio in altri Paesi fuggendo da situazioni di guerra, persecuzione e calamità, e la loro accoglienza pone non poche difficoltà, ma è tuttavia doverosa. Voglia Iddio che, con l'impegno di tutti, si riesca il più possibile a rimuovere le cause di un fenomeno tanto triste. LOsservatore Romano, N. 142 (45.185), 22-23 Giugno 2009, p. 4. *********************************************************************** ENCYCLICAL LETTER CARITAS IN VERITATE 21. The technical forces in play, the global interrelations, the damaging effects on the real economy of badly managed and largely speculative financial dealing, large-scale migration of peoples, often provoked by some particular circumstance and then given insufficient attention, the unregulated exploitation of the earth's resources: all this leads us today to reflect on the measures that would be necessary to provide a solution to problems that are not only new in comparison to those addressed by Pope Paul VI, but also, and above all, of decisive impact upon the present and future good of humanity. The different aspects of the crisis, its solutions, and any new development that the future may bring, are increasingly interconnected, they imply one another, they require new efforts of holistic understanding and a new humanistic synthesis. The complexity and gravity of the present economic situation rightly cause us concern, but we must adopt a realistic attitude as we take up with confidence and hope the new responsibilities to which we are called by the prospect of a world in need of profound cultural renewal, a world that needs to rediscover fundamental values on which to build a better future. The current crisis obliges us to re-plan our journey, to set ourselves new rules and to discover new forms of commitment, to build on positive experiences and to reject negative ones. The crisis thus becomes an opportunity for discernment, in which to shape a new vision for the future. In this spirit, with confidence rather than resignation, it is appropriate to address the difficulties of the present time. 61. An illustration of the significance of this problem is offered by the phenomenon of international tourism which can be a major factor in economic development and cultural growth, but can also become an occasion for exploitation and moral degradation. The current situation offers unique opportunities for the economic aspects of development that is to say the flow of money and the emergence of a significant amount of local enterprise to be combined with the cultural aspects, chief among which is education. In many cases this is what happens, but in other cases international tourism has a negative educational impact both for the tourist and the local populace. The latter are often exposed to immoral or even perverted forms of conduct, as in the case of so-called sex tourism, to which many human beings are sacrificed even at a tender age. It is sad to note that this activity often takes place with the support of local governments, with silence from those in the tourists' countries of origin, and with the complicity of many of the tour operators. Even in less extreme cases, international tourism often follows a consumerist and hedonistic pattern, as a form of escapism planned in a manner typical of the countries of origin, and therefore not conducive to authentic encounter between persons and cultures. We need, therefore, to develop a different type of tourism that has the ability to promote genuine mutual understanding, without taking away from the element of rest and healthy recreation. Tourism of this type needs to increase, partly through closer coordination with the experience gained from international cooperation and enterprise for development. 62. Another aspect of integral human development that is worthy of attention is the phenomenon of migration. This is a striking phenomenon because of the sheer numbers of people involved, the social, economic, political, cultural and religious problems it raises, and the dramatic challenges it poses to nations and the international community. We can say that we are facing a social phenomenon of epoch-making proportions that requires bold, forward-looking policies of international cooperation if it is to be handled effectively. Such policies should set out from close collaboration between the migrants' countries of origin and their countries of destination; it should be accompanied by adequate international norms able to coordinate different legislative systems with a view to safeguarding the needs and rights of individual migrants and their families, and at the same time, those of the host countries. No country can be expected to address today's problems of migration by itself. We are all witnesses of the burden of suffering, the dislocation and the aspirations that accompany the flow of migrants. The phenomenon, as everyone knows, is difficult to manage; but there is no doubt that foreign workers, despite any difficulties concerning integration, make a significant contribution to the economic development of the host country through their labour, besides that which they make to their country of origin through the money they send home. Obviously, these labourers cannot be considered as a commodity or a mere workforce. They must not, therefore, be treated like any other factor of production. Every migrant is a human person who, as such, possesses fundamental, inalienable rights that must be respected by everyone and in every circumstance. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 27 (2102), 8 July 2009, p. 5. ******************************************************************** MEETING WITH THE BISHOPS OF THE EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE OF VIETNAM ON THEIR "AD LIMINA" VISIT, ADDRESS, SATUARDAY, 27 JUNE 2009. I would like to entrust to you the young people in particular, especially rural youth who are attracted by the city to continue their advanced studies in it and to find jobs. It would be desirable to develop appropriate pastoral care for these young internal migrants, starting by strengthening, here too, collaboration between the young people's original dioceses and the host dioceses and by being unsparing in ethical advice and practical directives. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 27 (2102), 8 July 2009, p. 21. ******************************************************************** MEETING WITH TO HIS EXCELLENCY MR. CARL-HENRI GUITEAU, NEW AMBASSADOR OF HAITI TO THE HOLY SEE, ADDRESS, MONDAY, 6 JULY 2009. In fact, in this particularly delicate period of national life the international community must give concrete signs of support to people in need. Moreover, as is known, in recent years many Haitians have left their country to seek the means to support their families elsewhere. It is therefore desirable that, despite the sometimes problematic administrative situations, rapid solutions be found to enable these families to live united. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 29 (2104), 22 July 2009, p. 3. ********************************************************************** MEETING WITH THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE FIRST EUROPEAN MEETING OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PROMOTED BY THE UNIVERSITY-SECTION OF THE CATECHESIS-SCHOOL-UNIVERSITY (CSU), COMMISSION OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN BISHOP'S CONFERENCES (CCEE), ADDRESS AT THE HALL OF BLESSING, SATUARDAY, 11 JULY 2009. Therefore it is easy to understand why pastoral ministry within the university must be expressed with its full theological and spiritual value, helping young people to ensure that communion with Christ leads them to perceive the deepest mystery of mankind and of history. And, precisely because of their specific evangelizing action, the ecclesial communities involved in this missionary action such as for example the university chaplaincies can be the place for the formation of mature believers, men and women aware of being loved by God and called, in Christ, to become animators of university ministry. The Christian presence within universities becomes increasingly demanding and at the same time fascinating, because faith, as in past centuries, is called to offer its irreplaceable service to knowledge, which in contemporary society is the true driving force behind development. It is on knowledge, enriched with the contribution of faith, that a people's ability to know how to look to the future with hope overcoming the temptations of a purely materialistic vision of our essence and of history depends. LOsservatore Romano (English Edition), N. 28 (2103), 15 July 2009, p. 5. ******************************************************************** ANGELUS DOMINI, Dimanche, 19 juillet 2009 La Providence aide toujours celui qui travaille pour le bien et s'engage pour la justice; elle aide tous ceux qui ne pensent pas seulement à eux, mais aussi à ceux qui connaissent plus de difficultés qu'eux. Et vous le savez bien, parce que vos grands-parents furent obligés d'émigrer par manque de travail, mais le développement économique a ensuite apporté le bien-être et d'autres ont immigré ici de l'Italie et de l'étranger. Les valeurs fondamentales de la famille et du respect de la vie humaine, la sensibilité pour la justice sociale, la capacité de faire face à la fatigue et au sacrifice, le lien fort avec la foi chrétienne à travers la vie paroissiale et spécialement la participation à la Messe, ont été votre vraie force à travers les siècles. Ce seront ces mêmes valeurs qui permettront aux générations actuelles de construire avec espérance leur avenir, donnant naissance à une société vraiment solidaire et fraternelle, où tous les différents milieux, les institutions et l'économie soient imprégnés de l'esprit évangélique. Je m'adresse de manière particulière aux jeunes, auxquels il faut penser dans une perspective éducative. Ici, comme partout, il faut se demander, chers jeunes, quel type de culture vous est proposée, quels exemples et modèles vous sont recommandés, et évaluer s'ils sont à même de vous encourager à suivre les voies de l'Evangile et de la liberté authentique. La jeunesse est pleine de ressources, mais il faut l'aider à vaincre la tentation de chemins faciles et illusoires pour trouver la voie de la Vie véritable et pleine. LOsservatore Romano (Edition Hebdomadaire en langue Française), N. 29 (3.092), 21 Juillet 2009.
|
 |