Pope Francis in-flight presser after Egypt visit
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday evening, during his
return from Egypt, held his traditionalinflight “press conference” with
journalists onboard the Papal plane touching on a wide range of issues.
Amongst the topics elaborated upon, he spoke of his concern
for the North Korea crisis for which he urged diplomatic
mediation, of the phenomenon of populism in Europe and across
the world and of the dramatic situation of forced migrants and refugees in
many refugee camps.
Please find below CNA and EWTN’s full transcript of the
Pope's inflight press conference:
Greg Burke (Vatican press director): Here among
the journalists are those who are making a trip for the first time and those
who have made almost 100.. No, more than 100, I think… And you, I don’t know if
you know how many international trips you’ve made…
Pope Francis: 18!
Greg Burke: Ah, 18, alright great. I didn’t know.
Nineteen is around the corner, so also you have a good number of Papal trips now.
Thanks for this moment which is always a strong moment for us and let’s start
with the Italian group, Paolo Rodari. I don’t know if you want to say something
first.
Pope Francis: Yes, good evening and thanks for
your work because these were 27 hours, I think, of much work. Thanks so much
for what you did, thank you. And I’m at your disposal.
Greg Burke: Thank you, Holy Father.
Paolo Rodari (Repubblica): Hello. Holy Father,
thank you. I wanted to ask you about your meeting yesterday with al Sisi. What
did you speak about? Topics of human rights were mentioned and, in particular,
that you were able to speak about the case of Giulio Regeni, and do you think
the truth will be reached in that regard?
Pope Francis: On this I will give a general response,
to then reach the particular. Generally when I am with a head of state in
private dialogue, that remains private, unless, by agreement, we say ‘let’s say
on this point, we’ll make it public.’ I had four private dialogues here with
the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, with al Sisi, with Patriarch Tawadros and with
Patriarch Ibrahim and I believe that if it is private, for respect one must
maintain privacy… it is confidential… but later there is the question on
Regeni. I am concerned, from the Holy See I have moved on that topic because
the parents also asked me to. The Holy See has moved. I will not say how or
where, but we have moved.
Greg Burke: Dario Menor Torres, from El Correo
Espanol.
Dario Menor (El Correo Espanol): Thank you, Holiness! You said yesterday that peace, prosperity and development deserve every sacrifice and later you underscored the importance of the inalienable rights of man. Does this mean a support for the Egyptian government, a recognition of its role in the Middle East, and how it tries to defend Christians despite insufficient democratic guarantees from this government?
Dario Menor (El Correo Espanol): Thank you, Holiness! You said yesterday that peace, prosperity and development deserve every sacrifice and later you underscored the importance of the inalienable rights of man. Does this mean a support for the Egyptian government, a recognition of its role in the Middle East, and how it tries to defend Christians despite insufficient democratic guarantees from this government?
Pope Francis: Could you repeat… what does what mean?
I didn’t hear…
Dario Menor: If these words that you said on the
importance of peace, of prosperity and development, saying that they deserve
every sacrifice, if we should interpret them as a support of the Egyptian
government and how it tries to defend Christians despite insufficient
democratic guarantees.
Pope Francis: No, No… one must interpret (it)
literally as values in themselves… I said that defending peace, defending the
harmony of peoples, defending the equality of citizens, whichever the religion
they profess may be, are values. I spoke of values! If a person who governs
defends one value or defends another, it is another issue. I have made 18
[international] visits. In many of those nations, I’ve heard, ‘But the Pope,
going there, gives support to that government,’ because a government always has
its weaknesses or it has its political adversaries, and some say one thing or
another… I don’t get mixed up (in that)... I speak about values, and every
person sees, is a judge if this government, this state, that from here, that
from there, carries those values forward…
Dario Menor: Were you left with the urge to visit the Pyramids?
Dario Menor: Were you left with the urge to visit the Pyramids?
Pope Francis: But, do you know that today at 6:00 in the
morning, two of my assistants went to visit the pyramids?
Dario Menor: Would you have liked to go with them?
Dario Menor: Would you have liked to go with them?
Pope Francis: Truly, yes.
Dario Menor: Thanks a million.
Virginie Riva (Europe 1): Holy Father, a
question possibly starting from the trip and extending it to France, if you
accept. You spoke at al-Azhar, at the university, about demagogic populism.
French Catholics in this moment are tempted by the populist or extreme vote,
they are divided and disoriented. What elements of discernment could you give
these Catholic electors?
Pope Francis: Great… there is a dimension of
“populisms” - in quotes, because you know that this word for me, I’ve had to
relearn it in Europe, because in Latin America it has another meaning - there
is an issue in Europe and there is an issue of the European Union behind it…
that which I said about Europe I will not repeat it here… I’ve spoken about it
four times, I believe, twice in Strasbourg, once at the Charlemagne Prize and
at the beginning of the commemoration of the 60th. There is everything I’ve
said about Europe. Every nation is free to make choices that it believes
convenient before this. I cannot judge if this choice is made for this reason,
or for another, because I don’t know the internal politics. It is true that
Europe is in danger of dissolving. This is true! I said it softly in
Strasbourg. I said it more strongly at the Charlemagne [Prize ceremony] and
lately without nuance. We must meditate on only that - the Europe that goes
from the Atlantic to the Urals - there is an issue that scares Europe and
perhaps feeds … the issue is emigration. This is true. But let’s not forget
that Europe was made by migrants, centuries and centuries of migrants. We are
them! But it is an issue that must be studied well, also respecting opinions,
but the honest opinions of a political discussion - with the capital letter,
big, with the big ‘Politics’ and not with the little ‘politics’ of the nation
that in the end winds up falling. About France, I’ll tell the truth. I don’t
understand the internal French politics. I don’t understand it. I’ve sought to
have good relations, also with the current president, with which there was a
conflict once, but after I was able to speak clearly about things, respecting
his opinion. On the two political candidates, I don’t know the history. I don’t
know where they come from, nor - yes, I know that one represents the strong
right, but the other I truly don’t know where they come from - for this (reason)
I cannot give a clear opinion on France. But, speaking with Catholics, here in
one of the gatherings, while I was greeting people, one said to me, ‘But why
don’t you think big about politics ?’ What does that mean? Well, he said it to
me as if asking for help… eh, to make a party for Catholics. This is a good man
but he’s living in the last century. For this, the populisms have relationships
with migrants, but this is not from the trip. If I still have time later I can
return to this. If I have time, I will return.
Vera Shcherbakova (ITAR-TASS): Holy Father,
thank you first of all for the blessings… you blessed me. I knelt down some
minutes ago. I am Orthodox and I don’t see any contradiction with my baptism,
anyway, I see it as a great pleasure. I wanted to ask: what are the prospects
for the relations between the Orthodox, obviously Russian, but also yesterday
in the common declaration with the Coptic Patriarch, the common date of Easter
(came up) and that they speak of a recognition of baptism… where are we on this
point? How do you evaluate the relations between the Vatican and Russia as a
State, also in light of the defense of the values of Christians in the Middle
East and especially in Syria? Thanks.
Greg Burke: This is Vera Shcherbakova, of the TASS
Agency.
Pope Francis: Christos Anesti! I, with the Orthodox,
have always had a great friendship, since Buenos Aires, no? For example, every
January 6th I would go to vespers, to the complete readings, at your Cathedral
of Patriarch Plato, who is in an archbishop in the area of Ukraine, no? And he…
two hours and forty (minutes) of prayer in a language that I didn’t understand,
but you could pray well, and then the dinner with the community. Three hundred
people, a Christmas Eve dinner, not a Christmas dinner. They still couldn’t eat
dairy or meat, but it was a beautiful dinner and then bingo, the lottery…
friendship… also with the other Orthodox, also sometimes they needed legal
help. They would come to the Catholic Curia because they are small communities
and they would go to the lawyers. They’d come in and out. But, I’ve always had
a filial, fraternal relationship. We are sister Churches! With Tawadros, there
is a special friendship. For me, he’s a great man of God! And Tawadros is a
patriarch, a pope that carries the Church forward, the name of Jesus before
(him). He has a great apostolic zeal… He is one of the most - permit me the
word, but in quotes - ‘fanatics’ of finding a fixed date for Easter. I am too.
We are seeking the way. But he says, ‘Let’s fight!’ He is a man of God. He is a
man who, when he was bishop, far from Egypt, went out to feed the disabled, a
man who was sent to a diocese with five churches and he left behind 25, I don’t
know how many Christian families with the apostolic zeal. The you know how they
make the election among them. They look for three, then they put the names in a
bag, they call a child, they close their eyes and the child chooses the name.
The Lord is there. He is clearly a great patriarch. The unity of baptism is
moving ahead. The guilt of baptism is an historical thing (Editor’s note: Pope
Francis seems to be referring to the historical ‘breach’ between the
recognition of baptism between the Coptic Orthodox and Catholic traditions.
Neither currently recognizes baptism carried out in the other Church), because
in the first Councils it was the same, then as the Coptic Christians baptized
children in the shrines, when they wanted to get married, they came to us, they
were married with a Catholic, they asked for the faith… but they didn’t have it
and they asked for baptism under a condition. It started with us, not with
them… but now the door has been opened and we are on a good path of overcoming
this issue, the door…. In the common declaration, the penultimate paragraph
speaks of this. The Russian Orthodox recognize our baptism and we recognize
their baptism. I was a very close friend as the bishop of Buenos Aires
with the Russians, also with the Georgians, for example… but the patriarch of
the Georgians is a man of God, Ilia II. He is a mystic! We Catholics must learn
also from this mystical tradition of the Orthodox Churches. During this trip,
we had this ecumenical encounter. Patriarch Bartholomew was there too. The
Greek Orthodox Archbishop was there and then there were other Christians - Anglicans,
also the secretary of the Union of Churches of Geneva (Editor’s note: Pope
Francis is referring to the Conference of European Churches) but all that makes
ecumenism is on the path. Ecumenism is made on the path, with the works of
charity, with the works of helping, doing things together when they can be done
together. Static ecumenism doesn’t exist! It is true that theologians must
study and come to an agreement, but it will not be possible for this to finish
well if we’re not walking. What can we do together? Pray together, work
together, do works of charity together… but, together, eh! And move ahead. The
relations with Patriarch Kirill are good. They are good. Also, Metropolitan
Archbishop Hilarion has come many times to speak with me and we have a good
relationship.
Greg Burke: She’s asking about with the State…
Pope Francis: Ah, with the State! I know that the
State speaks of this, of the defense of Christians in the Middle East. This I
know and believe that it is a good thing to fight against persecution… today
there are more martyrs than in the first centuries, most of all in the Middle
East.
Greg Burke: Phil Pulella...this question will address
the trip, but then let's see where it ends...
Phil Pulella (Reuters): If I can I would like to speak about another topic, but I'll start with the trip. You spoke yesterday in your first speech about the danger of unilateral action, and that everyone must be builders of peace. Now you have spoken very clearly about the "third world war in pieces," but it seems that today this fear and anxiety is concentrated on what is happening in North Korea...
Pope Francis: Yes, it's the focal point!
Pulella: Exactly, it's the point of concentration. President Trump sent a team of military ships to the coast of North Korea, the leader of North Korea threatened to bomb South Korea, Japan and even the United States if they succeed in building long-range missiles. People are afraid and speak of the possibility of a nuclear war as if it were nothing. You, if you see President Trump, but also other people, what will you say to these leaders who are responsible for the future of humanity? Because we are in a very critical moment...
Phil Pulella (Reuters): If I can I would like to speak about another topic, but I'll start with the trip. You spoke yesterday in your first speech about the danger of unilateral action, and that everyone must be builders of peace. Now you have spoken very clearly about the "third world war in pieces," but it seems that today this fear and anxiety is concentrated on what is happening in North Korea...
Pope Francis: Yes, it's the focal point!
Pulella: Exactly, it's the point of concentration. President Trump sent a team of military ships to the coast of North Korea, the leader of North Korea threatened to bomb South Korea, Japan and even the United States if they succeed in building long-range missiles. People are afraid and speak of the possibility of a nuclear war as if it were nothing. You, if you see President Trump, but also other people, what will you say to these leaders who are responsible for the future of humanity? Because we are in a very critical moment...
Pope Francis: I would call them, I call them and I
will call them like I called on leaders in different positions to work on
resolving problems along the path of diplomacy, and there are facilitators,
many of them, in the world. There are mediators who offer...there are countries
like Norway, for example, no one can accuse Norway of being a dictatorial
country, and it's always ready to help, to name an example, but there are many.
The path is the path of negotiation, the path of diplomatic solutions. This
world war in pieces of which I've been talking about for two years more or
less, it's in pieces, but the pieces have gotten bigger, they are concentrated,
they are focused on points that are already hot. Things are already hot, as the
issue of missiles in North Korea has been there for more than a year, now it
seems that the thing has gotten too hot. I always say to resolve problems on
the path of diplomacy, negotiation, because the future of humanity...today a
widespread war destroys I don't say half of humanity, but a good part of
humanity, and it's the culture, everything. It's terrible. I think that today
humanity is not able to support it. Let's look to these countries that are
suffering an internal war, inside, where there are the fires of war, in the
Middle East for example, but also in Africa, in Yemen. Let's stop! Let's look
for a diplomatic solution! And there I believe that the United Nations has the
duty to resume their leadership, because it's been watered down a bit.
Pulella: Do you want to meet President Trump when he
comes to Europe? Has there been a request for a meeting?
Pope Francis: I still have not been informed by the Secretariat of State if there has been a request, but I receive every head of state who asks for an audience.
Greg Burke: I think the questions on the trip have finished. We can take one more still, then we have to go to dinner at six-thirty. There is Antonio Pelayo from Antena 3, who you know…
Pope Francis: I still have not been informed by the Secretariat of State if there has been a request, but I receive every head of state who asks for an audience.
Greg Burke: I think the questions on the trip have finished. We can take one more still, then we have to go to dinner at six-thirty. There is Antonio Pelayo from Antena 3, who you know…
Antonio Pelayo (Antena 3): Thank you. Holy
Father, the situation in Venezuela has deteriorated recently in a very serious
way, and there have been many deaths. I want to ask you if the Holy See intends
to carry out this action, this peacemaking intervention, and what forms could
this action take?
Pope Francis: There was an intervention from the Holy
See at the strong request of the four presidents that were working as facilitators.
And the thing didn’t turn out. And it remained there. It didn’t turn out
because the proposals weren’t accepted or they were diluted. It was a
‘yes-yes,’ but ‘no-no.’ We all know the difficult situation of Venezuela. It is
a nation that I really love. And I know that now they are insisting, I don’t
know well from where, I believe that it’s from the four presidents, on
relaunching this facilitation and they are looking for the place. I think that
this has to be with conditions already, very clear conditions. Part of the
opposition doesn’t want this. Because it’s curious, the very opposition is
divided and on the other hand it appears that the conflicts are always worse.
But, there is something in movement. I was informed of that, but it is very
up in the air still. But all that can be done for Venezuela has to be done,
with the necessary guarantees, if not we’re playing ‘tin tin pirulero’
(Editor’s note: this is a Spanish term for trying one thing, then another and
another without knowing what one is doing). It’s not working...
Greg Burke: Thank you Holy Father. And now we go
to...
Jörg Heinz Norbert Bremer (Frankfurter
Allgemeine Zeitung): Some days ago you spoke about the theme of refugees in
Greece, in Lesbos, and you used this word "concentration camp"
because there were too many people. For us Germans this was obviously a very,
very serious word, and very close to "extermination camp." There are
people who say that this was a linguistic lapse. What did you intend to say?
Pope Francis: First, you must read well everything
that I said. I said that the most generous in Europe were Italy and Greece.
It's true, they are closer to Libya, to Syria. From Germany, I have always
admired the ability of integration. When I studied there, there were many integrated
Turks in Frankfurt. They integrated and had a normal life. There was no
linguistic lapse: there are concentration camps, sorry: refugee camps that are
true camps of concentration. Perhaps there are some in Italy, or in another
area...in Germany, I'm not sure, but you think of what people do who are closed
in a camp and can't leave. Think about what happened in Northern Europe when
they wanted to cross the sea and go to England. They are closed inside. But it
made me laugh a bit, and this is a bit of Italian culture, but it made me laugh
that in a refugee camp in Sicily, a delegate of Catholic Action told me, one of
the delegates from the dioceses in Argentina - there is one or two in the area
there, I don't know which diocese - the heads of that city where the camp was
spoke to the people in the refugee camp, and they said: you, here inside, it
will hurt you and your mental health too...you have to go out, but please don't
do anything bad. We can't open the door, but we can make a little hole behind.
Go out, have a nice walk, and this is how relationships were made with the
people who lived in that city, good relationships, and these (refugees) aren't
delinquents, they don't commit crimes. The sole fact of being closed without
anything (to do), this is a lager! (Editor’s note: he is referring to the
German name for concentration camp. For example, Auschwitz was a “lager”). But
it doesn't have anything to do with Germany, no.
Greg Burke: Thank you Holy Father.
Pope Francis: Thanks to you for this work you do which helps a lot of people. You don't know the good that you can do with your news pieces, with your articles, with your thoughts. We must help people and also help communication, because communication...may the press lead us to good things, may it not lead us to disorientations that don't help us. Thank you very much! Have a good dinner, and pray for me!
Pope Francis: Thanks to you for this work you do which helps a lot of people. You don't know the good that you can do with your news pieces, with your articles, with your thoughts. We must help people and also help communication, because communication...may the press lead us to good things, may it not lead us to disorientations that don't help us. Thank you very much! Have a good dinner, and pray for me!
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét