Pope Francis at GA: access to food, water basic human
right
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis
on Wednesday said access to food and water is a basic human right, and called
on believers and people of good will everywhaere to take personal
responsibility for the needs of their neighbors. The appeal came during the
Holy Father's weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope focused
on feeding the hungry – the first of the Corporal Works of Mercy – during the
catechetical portion of the event.
Below, please find the
official English-language summary read out following the main catechesis in
Italian
***************************************************
Dear Brothers and
Sisters: In our catechesis for this Holy Year of Mercy, we have reflected
on God’s mercy and our own responsibility, as followers of Jesus, to be
“merciful like the Father”. Among the corporal works of mercy, the first
is that of feeding the hungry. Access to food and water is a basic human right,
yet so many members of our human family, especially children, continue to
suffer from hunger and thirst. While grateful for the generosity and solidarity
shown in the case of many tragic situations worldwide, we must never forget
that this work of mercy calls us to respond personally to concrete situations
of need in our own lives. Saint James warns against ignoring the practical
needs of our brothers and sisters, for faith without works is dead (Jas2:14-17).
In the miracle of the loaves and fishes, Jesus tells his disciples to provide
food for the crowds, yet he shows them that, in sharing what they have, he will
give it increase. Jesus himself is the bread of life, and he makes it clear
that our relationship with the Father depends on the way we respond to the
hunger and thirst of our brothers and sisters.
Following the
catechetical summary, the Holy Father greeted English-speaking pilgrims
I greet the English-speaking
pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from
England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Malta, Ghana,
Uganda, South Africa, Indonesia, China, Singapore, Japan, the Philippines and
the United States of America. With prayerful good wishes that the present
Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment of grace and spiritual renewal for you and
your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét