Read President Obama's
tribute to Pope Francis and American Catholics
2015-09-23
FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPEECH BEFORE
POPE FRANCIS
Good morning! What a beautiful day the Lord
has made! Holy Father, on behalf of Michelle and myself, welcome to the White
House. Our backyard is not typically this crowded – but the size and spirit of
today’s gathering is just a small reflection of the deep devotion of some 70
million American Catholics…and the way your message of love and hope has
inspired so many people, across our nation and around the world. On behalf of
the American people, it is my great honor and privilege to welcome you to the
United States of America.
Today, we mark many firsts. Your Holiness, you
have been celebrated as the first Pope from the Americas. This is your first
visit to the United States. And you are also the first pontiff to share an
Encyclical through a Twitter account.
Holy Father, your visit not only allows me, in
some small way, to reciprocate the extraordinary hospitality you extended to me
at the Vatican last year. It also reveals how much all Americans, from every
background and of every faith, value the role that the Catholic Church plays in
strengthening America. From my time working in impoverished neighborhoods with
the Catholic Church in Chicago, to my travels as President, I’ve seen firsthand
how, every day, Catholic communities, priests, nuns, and laity feed the hungry,
heal the sick, shelter the homeless, educate our children, and fortify the
faith that sustains so many.
What is true in America is true around the
world. From the busy streets of Buenos Aires to remote villages in Kenya,
Catholic organizations serve the poor, minister to prisoners, build schools and
homes, and operate orphanages and hospitals. And just as the Church has stood
with those struggling to break the chains of poverty, it has given voice and
hope to those seeking to break the chains of violence and oppression.
And yet, I believe the excitement around your
visit must be attributed not only to your role as pope, but to your unique
qualities as a person. In your humility, your embrace of simplicity, the
gentleness of your words and the generosity of your spirit, we see a living
example of Jesus’ teachings, a leader whose moral authority comes not just
through words but also through deeds.
You call on all of us, Catholic and
non-Catholic alike, to put the "least of these” at the center of our
concern. You remind us that in the eyes of God our measure as individuals, and
as societies, is not determined by wealth or power or station or celebrity, but
by how well we hew to Scripture’s call to lift up the poor and the
marginalized, to stand up for justice and against inequality, and to ensure
that every human being is able to live in dignity – because we are all made in
the image of God.
You remind us that "the Lord’s most
powerful message” is mercy. That means welcoming the stranger with empathy and
a truly open heart – from the refugee who flees war torn lands, to the
immigrant who leaves home in search of a better life. It means showing
compassion and love for the marginalized and the outcast, those who have
suffered, and those who seek redemption.
You remind us of the costs of war,
particularly on the powerless and defenseless, and urge us toward the
imperative of peace. Holy Father, we are grateful for your invaluable support
of our new beginning with the Cuban people, which holds out the promise of
better relations between our countries, greater cooperation across our
hemisphere, and a better life for the Cuban people. We thank you for your
passionate voice against the deadly conflicts that ravage the lives of so many
men, women, and children; and your call for nations to resist the sirens of war
and resolve disputes through diplomacy.
You remind us that people are only truly free
when they can practice their faith freely. Here in the United States, we
cherish religious liberty. Yet around the world at this very moment, children
of God, including Christians, are targeted and even killed because of their
faith. Believers are prevented from gathering at their places of worship. The
faithful are imprisoned. Churches are destroyed. So we stand with you in
defense of religious freedom and interfaith dialogue, knowing that people
everywhere must be able to live out their faith free from fear and
intimidation.
And, Holy Father, you remind us that we have a
sacred obligation to protect our planet – God’s magnificent gift to us. We
support your call to all world leaders to support the communities most vulnerable
to a changing climate and to come together to preserve our precious world for
future generations.
Your Holiness, in your words and deeds, you
set a profound moral example. And in these gentle but firm reminders of our
obligations to God and to one another, you are shaking us out of complacency.
All of us may, at times, experience discomfort when we contemplate the distance
between how we lead our daily lives and what we know to be true and right. But
I believe such discomfort is a blessing, for it points to something better. You
shake our conscience from slumber; you call on us to rejoice in Good News, and
give us confidence that we can come together, in humility and service, and
pursue a world that is more loving, more just, and more free. Here at home and
around the world, may our generation heed your call to "never remain on
the sidelines of this march of living hope!”
For that great gift of hope, Holy Father, we
thank you, and welcome you, with joy and gratitude, to the United States of
America.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét