Pope
Audience: God builds bridges when we build walls
(Vatican Radio) In his first General Audience since his return
from an Apostolic Journey to Cuba and the United States, Pope Francis recalled
that visit in an overcast St Peter’s Square on Wednesday.
He told the thousands of pilgrims and tourists gathered, that in
Cuba, he wished to embrace all Cubans without exception, to proclaim the
transforming power of God’s mercy, and to renew the hope expressed by Saint
John Paul II that Cuba will open itself to the world and the world to
Cuba. He also underlined how travelling from Cuba to the United States of
America was a symbolic step, likening it to a bridge God is rebuilding.
The Pope said, God always wants to build bridges when we build
walls, and he stressed, “walls always collapse.”
Speaking about the next leg of his journey to the United States,
the Pope called to mind his visit to Washington, noting America’s tradition of
religious freedom and its’ contribution to the life of the nation.
The Holy Father also recalled his address to the United Nations
in New York, saying he, renewed the Church’s encouragement for its efforts to
promote peace, justice, integral human development and care for creation and
reaffirmed his call to stop and prevent violence against ethnic and religious
minorities and against civilian populations.
Turning his attention to the final part of his U.S trip, the
World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, Pope Francis said, it was an
opportunity to celebrate “the beauty of God’s plan for the family, which, as
the fruitful covenant between a man and a woman, is the key to a future of
authentic prosperity and solidarity for our world.”
Then, the Holy Family, greeting English speaking pilgrims, asked
for prayers for the Synod on the Family which opens on the 4th October, and
invited them to to be witnesses of God’s presence in the world and through
family life.
(Lydia O'Kane)
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