Pope: Azerbaijan Catholics have “accomplished wonders”
despite persecution
(Vatican Radio) The joyful
witness of Azerbaijan’s small Catholic community, which has “accomplished
wonders” even after years of persecution, was at the centre of Pope Francis’
address at Baku’s Salesian centre, where he celebrated Sunday Mass as part of
his day-long pastoral
visit to the nation.
“In this Eucharistic
celebration I have given thanks to God with you, and also for you,” Pope
Francis said during his Angelus
address at the conclusion of Sunday’s Mass in the Church of the
Immaculate Conception.
“Here,” he said, “the faith,
after the years of persecution, has accomplished wonders.”
The Pope recalled “the many
courageous Christians who trusted in the Lord and were faithful in the face of
adversity.”
The Holy Father encouraged
the Azerbaijan Catholics in their joyful witness “to faith, hope and love,
united among (themselves) and with (their) Pastors.”
He made particular mention of
the Salesians, as well as the Missionary Sisters of Charity, for their
respective ministries, before entrusting all of these intentions to Mary.
In a few off-the-cuff
remarks, Pope Francis acknowledged how Catholics in Azerbaijan – who number in
the hundreds nationwide – are truly a “community of the periphery,” and
encouraged them to move forward without fear.
The Holy Father likened his
visit to the small Catholic community to that of the Holy Spirit, who descended
on the small “community” gathered in the Upper Room.
Earlier that morning, during
his homily
for the Mass, Pope Francis spoke on “two essential aspects of the Christian
life: faith and service.”
The Lord “invites patient
waiting, without ever losing hope; above all, he emphasizes the importance of
faith, since it is by faith that man will live.”
“When faith is interwoven
with service, the heart remains open and youthful, and it expands in the process
of doing good,” the Holy Father continued.
“Thus faith, as Jesus tells
us in the Gospel, becomes powerful and accomplishes marvellous deeds.”
In following the call to
service, Pope Francis warned Christians against two key temptations: that of
becoming lukewarm, and that of seeing service only as a way of gaining prestige
and power.
Finally, the Pope recalled
the words of the recently canonized St Teresa of Calcutta, saying: “The fruit
of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service
is peace.”
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