Pope
sends video-message to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay
One
week before his Apostolic Visit to South America, Pope Francis sent a video
message to the people of Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay.
The
Holy Father expressed his closeness to them, saying that he wants to share in
their concerns and joys during his trip.
“I
want to be a witness of this joy of the Gospel and bring to you the tenderness
and caress of God, our Father, especially to your children most in need, to the
elderly, the sick, the imprisoned, the poor, to those who are victims of this
throwaway culture,” he said.
The
common faith shared by the people, he continued, “is a source of
brotherhood and solidarity” that fosters harmony and builds peace.
Concluding
his message, the 78 year old Pontiff called on the people of Ecuador, Bolivia
and Paraguay to remain steadfast in that faith.
“I
urge you to unite your prayers to mine so that the announcement of the Gospel
can reach to the farthest outskirts and continue to make the values of the
Kingdom of God a leaven of the earth in our days as well,” he said.
Below,
please find the full text of the video-message of Pope Francis:
Dear
brothers and sisters of Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay,
There
is little time before my trip. With this preliminary greeting, I would like to
express my closeness, my sympathy and my good will. My wish is to be with you,
to share your concerns, to express my affections and closeness, as well as
rejoice with you too.
I
want to be a witness of this joy of the Gospel and bring to you the tenderness
and caress of God, our Father, especially to your children most in need, to the
elderly, the sick, the imprisoned, the poor, to those who are victims of this
throwaway culture. The love of the merciful Father allows us beyond measure to
discover the face of his Son Jesus in each brother, in each sister of ours, in
the neighbor. One only needs to come close, to be a neighbor. As Jesus said to
that young doctor of the law when he asked: Who is my neighbor? Go and do
what the Good Samaritan did, go and do the same, be close, do not pass by.
In
this trip I will visit three sister nations in the lands of the American
continent. The faith that we all share is a source of brotherhood and
solidarity, it builds villages, it forms family of families, it fosters harmony
and encourages the desire and commitment to peace.
In
these days before our meeting, I give thanks to God for you, and I ask that you
be steadfast in the faith, that you may have the fire of love, of charity and
that you hold fast to the hope that never disappoints. I urge you to unite your
prayers to mine so that the announcement of the Gospel can reach to the
farthest outskirts and continue to make the values of the Kingdom of God a
leaven of the earth in our days as well.
May
the Blessed Virgin take care of you, as Mother of America and may the Lord
bless you. Thank you, see you soon and please, do not forget to pray for me.
(Junno
Arocho Esteves)
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