Pope
Francis in Paraguay: Church works for common good
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with government authorities and
members of the diplomatic corps in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Friday evening. The
meeting took place shortly after the Holy Father’s arrival in Paraguay, on the
third and final leg of a three-country tour of Latin America that previously
saw him in Bolivia and Ecuador.
In remarks prepared for the occasion, Pope Francis thanked the
people of Paraguay for the display of their characteristic hospitality, and
praised the spirit of resilience and perseverance that informs the Paraguayan
popular ethos. He had words of especial praise for the women of Paraguay. “I
would also like to acknowledge with profound admiration the role played by the
women of Paraguay,” throughout the nation’s history, which has been from the
outset troubled by war and internal strife and instability. “As mothers, wives
and widows, they shouldered the heaviest burdens; they found a way to move
their families and their country forward, instilling in new generations the
hope of a better tomorrow.”
The Holy Father also praised the efforts of the nation and the
people to build a solid and stable democracy, and encouraged everyone to
continue working to strengthen the democratic structures and institutions, so
that they can respond to the legitimate aspirations of the nation’s people. “In
every sector of society,” said Pope Francis, “but above all in public service,
there is a need to reaffirm that dialogue is the best means of promoting the
common good, on the basis of a culture of encounter, respect and acknowledgment
of the legitimate differences and opinions of others.”
The Holy Father also offered assurances of the commitment and
cooperation of the Catholic Church in the common effort to build a just and
inclusive society where each person can live in peace and harmony. “All of us,
including the Church’s pastors, are called to be concerned with building a
better world (cf.Evangelii Gaudium, 183),” he said. “Our sure faith in
God, who willed to become man, to live among us and to share our lot, urges us
to press forward. Christ opens up to us the path of mercy, which, founded
on justice, goes beyond it to inspire works of charity, so that no one will
remain on the fringes of this great family which is Paraguay, a land you love
and which you wish to serve.”
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