Pope Francis reflects on Colombia Visit at General
Audience
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis dedicated
his General Audience remarks to his recent Apostolic Visit
to Colombia, which concluded on Sunday.
After thanking the many people who helped make his Visit
possible, Pope Francis said one of the most striking things on his visit was
the many fathers and mothers who brought their children to see the Pope, and to
be blessed by him. He said a people capable of having children, and of lifting
them up with such pride, has a future – and this, he said, “pleased me very
much.”
CONTINUITY WITH EARLIER PAPAL VISITS
The Holy Father noted that his Visit was in continuity with
those of the two previous Popes who had travelled to Colombia, Bd Paul
VI and St John Paul II. This continuity, he said, was
“animated by the Spirit, who guides the steps of the people of God along the
paths of history.”
"LET US TAKE THE FIRST STEP"
Referring to the motto of the Visit, “Let us take the
first step,” Pope Francis said the process of reconciliation in
Colombia, after a half century of internal conflict, has now begun. “With my
visit,” he said, “I wanted to bless the effort of that people, to confirm them
in faith and in hope, and to receive their testimony, which is a richness for
my ministry and for the whole Church.”
Colombia, like most Latin American countries, is a country
with strong Christian roots. Pope Francis said it was clear “that the
Evil One wanted to divide the people to destroy the work of God, but
is equally evident that the love of Christ, His infinite mercy, is stronger
than sin and death.”
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
The Pope then recalled highlights of his trip, including the
meeting with young people in Bogotá, and the meeting with priests
and religious in Medellín, which was dedicated to the idea of the
Christian life as discipleship. In Cartagena, the city of St
Peter Claver, “the ‘focus’ was on the promotion of the human person
and on his fundamental rights.” Saint Peter, the Pope said, gave his life
in service to “the poorest and most marginalized,” and so demonstrated “the way
of the true revelation, evangelical not ideological, that truly frees people
and societies from the slavery of yesterday and, unfortunately, even of today.”
RECONCILIATION
But it was the visit to Villavicencio, the Pope
said, that was “the culminating moment of the whole visit,” with the morning
Mass featuring the beatification of two martyrs; and the special “Liturgy
of Reconciliation” in the evening. “Reconciliation” was the theme of the
day, with the beatification calling into bold relief the idea that “that peace
is founded also, and perhaps above all, on the blood of so many witnesses of
love, of truth, of justice, and also of true and proper martyrs.” The evening
liturgical service, meanwhile, dwelt on the prophetic words of the Psalm:
“Mercy and truth shall meet / Justice and peace shall kiss.” These words, the
Pope said, were “incarnated” in the stories of the many witnesses who spoke
during the service, witnesses who, starting from their own wounds, were
nonetheless able to go beyond themselves and open themselves to encounter,
forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Pope Francis concluded the morning Audience by once more
dedicating Colombia to Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, the Patron of
Colombia. “With the help of Mary,” he said, “each and every Colombian can take
each day the first step toward their brother or sister, and so build
together, day by day, peace in love, in justice, and in truth.”
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