Pope speaks to
Journalists aboard his papal plane
2015-07-13
Pope Francis concluded his trip to Latin America with
this intense press conference aboard the papal plane.
He explained what he was thinking when
Bolivian President Evo Morales handed him a
crucifix tied to the universal symbol for communism.
POPE FRANCIS
"We have to look at the context of this
time. Fr. Espinal (the designer of the crucifix) was enthusiastic about
Marxism, theology, and combining the two. And so that piece was
made. Also, the poems Espinal composed were of this genre, poems of protest. It
was his life, his thought. He was a special man, with creative thoughts.
He fought with good intentions. Looking at it through this context, I
understand the design. For me, it wasn't offensive, once it's seen in
context. I want to make this clear, so there's no confusion.”
But he discussed much more than just that. He
explained why he spoke in front of thousands of people who are involved in Catholic movements and why he didn't mind being
used as a spokesperson.
POPE FRANCIS
"What have I done? I gave them the social
doctrine of the Church, which is the same I do when I address the business
world.”
Question: Do you believe that the Church
will follow you in your outreach to popular movements?
POPE FRANCIS
"I follow the Church. I simply preach the
Social Doctrine of the Church to the movements. It is not a helping hand to an
enemy, not a political event. It's based on the Catechism.”
The Pope also said he was praying for the
success of the peace process betweenColombia and
FARC rebels and for the bishops in Venezuela who
face serious tension in their country.
Question: What are your thoughts about
the delicate situations in Latin America, in Venezuela and in Colombia?
POPE FRANCIS
"At this moment, I am worried that the
peace process in Colombia will stop. I must say this: I hope that it continues.
In that sense, we always are available to help. It would be something
terrible if it didn't go forward.”
"In Venezuela, the Episcopal Conference
is focused on bringing peace there. But as far as your question, there is no
direct mediation. The case with the U.S and Cuba, was the
work of the Lord. It was a coincidence, and then it moved forward by itself. As
far as Venezuela, I don't know anything.”
He also answered some more light-hearted
questions, like this one about how he finds energy to keep up a long trip.
Question: We've seen your energy these
past few days and in the last two years and a half. What's your secret?
POPE FRANCIS
"Do you mean, what's my drug? That's what
you really want to know. The drug! Mate tea helps me, but I didn't try any coca
leaf tea. I want to make that very clear!”
It was an hour-long conversations, thousands
of miles in the air, in what has become a kind of tradition, where Pope Francis
takes questions from journalists at the end of his papal trips.
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