Pope says he cannot visit Argentina this year or in
2017
(Vatican Radio) In a video
message to the people of Argentina, Pope Francis spoke of his regret at not
being able to visit his homeland this year or in 2017, saying he already has
planned trips to Asia and Africa next year.
The Pope assured his
compatriots that he continues to be an Argentinian who feels close to his
people and revealed that he "still travels with an Argentine
passport." In the message which he described as a monologue but wished it
were a chat, Pope Francis urged the people of Argentina to help promote "a
culture of encounter" in which people can live “with dignity and express
themselves peacefully without being insulted, condemned, attacked or cast to
one side.”
Noting that this year there
were two important events for the Church in Argentina, the beatification in
August of Mama Antula (an 18th century Catholic laywoman) and the
canonization in October of Cura Brochero (the 19th century Gaucho priest), the
Pope said he very much wished he could have attended these two events but it
was not possible. He said it was his love for his native Argentina that
was prompting him to ask his fellow countrymen to place their nation on their
shoulders – a nation that needs each of us to give of our best “to improve,
grow and mature.” Only in this way, he went on, can we achieve “a culture of
encounter” that is able to overcome “the throw-away culture” which is so
prevalent in today’s world.
In additional to Argentina’s
many natural riches, Pope Francis reminded his listeners that the nation’s
greatest treasure was its people and urged them to walk alongside those who
need assistance and help those who fall sick to recover.
The Pope concluded his
message by saying like a school teacher of old he was giving his compatriots
some homework during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. He then went on to list
7 works each of corporal and spiritual mercy and encouraged his listeners to
try to perform these good deeds every day or every other day.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét