Pope to Cesena’s citizens, clergy
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| Pope Francis addressing the people of Cesena, in northern Italy, Sunday, October 1, 2017.- RV |
CESENA CITIZENS
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday delivered a
lesson on good governance of a city saying it essentially
consists in all working together for the common good with the
help of good politics.
He was speaking to the people of the northern Italian city
of Cesena where he arrived in the morning for a two-stop pastoral visit to the
Emilia-Romagna region. He later visited the regional capital, Bologna,
from where he flew back to the Vatican in the evening.
Good politics
Addressing Cesena’s citizens in the heart of the city,
Piazza del Popolo, the Pope explained that good politics is neither a servant
nor a mistress, but a friend and collaborator. Responsible,
brave and prudent at the same time, healthy politics calls for greater involvement
and inclusion of all leaving no one in the margins. Such
politics, he said, does not plunder and pollute natural resources,
that are not a bottomless pit but a treasure given us by God to be used with
respect and intelligence.
Good politics, the Pope further explained, harmonizes the
legitimate aspirations of individuals and groups by holding the rudder firm in
the interest of all citizens. This, the Pope said, is
the true face of politics, and this is why the social doctrine of the Church
considers it a noble form of charity.
Corruption
The Holy Father urged all, especially the young, to prepare
themselves by assuming right from the start, the perspective of the common
good, rejecting any form of corruption, even the least. According
to him, “corruption is the woodworm of the political vocation”
that prevents the growth of civilization.
He also invited all to demand from “the protagonists of
public life, coherence of commitment, preparation, moral uprightness, capacity
for initiative, forbearance, patience and determination to address the
challenges of today.” However, in this they must be realistic, without
expecting impossible perfection.
Youth and elderly
Pope Francis urged that everyone’s voice be heard,
especially the young who can carry things forward, and the elderly, who with
the wisdom of their age can advise young people and young politicians when they
mistake.
Noting that in recent years politics seemed to have
retreated in the face of aggression and pervasiveness of other forms of power,
such as financial and media, Pope Francis called for relaunching good politics
and its specific ability to serve the public good by reducing inequalities,
promoting the welfare of families with concrete measures, providing a solid
framework of rights and duties and making them effective for everyone.
The Pope greeted the sick people present at Piazza del
Popolo, before proceeding to Cesena cathedral where he addressed
representatives of the local Church. There, in the chapel he greeted a
group of sick people.
CESENA CATHEDRAL
The principal mission of Christ’s disciples is
proclaiming and witnessing the Gospel with joy said Pope Francis speaking to
the clergy, consecrated persons, laypeople and pastoral counsellors,
members of the Curia and parish representatives in the Cesena cathedral.
Focusing on evangelization, Pope Francis called on the
clergy to rediscover the joy of being priests during the different stages of
their personal and ministerial journey, to be called by the Lord to follow him
to bring his word, his pardon, his love, his grace. It is a call
that never ceases to amaze us, he said. To make evangelization effective
Pope Francis gives them practical guidelines:
A call to walk in fraternity and unity
Evangelization, the Pope said, is effective to the extent
there is sincere collaboration between different ecclesial movements and
institutions. A Church walking in fraternity and unity is itself an
effective witness to faith. When love of Christ is above all, all
legitimate needs will be set aside to meet the needs of the brothers and
always in Christ.
A call to be sensitive to the needs of the poor
The scars of Jesus' remain visible even today in
so many men and women who live on the margins of society: marked by suffering,
discomfort, abandonment and poverty. Caring for their bodily and
spiritual needs we are purified and transformed by the mercy of God.
Referring to the revolution of charity begun by St Vincent de
Paul 400 years ago, the Holy Father said, “now we too are called to carry
on this revolution with apostolic zeal knowing that we cannot do anything on
our own” without the Lord.
A call to pray and meditate on the Word of God
The Pope said, it is necessary to set aside adequate time
for prayer and meditation of the Word of God for prayer gives strength to
our mission - as is proved by St. Teresa of Calcutta. He
explained that the constant encounter with the Lord in prayer becomes
indispensable both for priests and for consecrated persons and for pastoral
workers who are called to go out to the peripheries. “Our deep encounter with
the Lord will help us see Jesus who met the people on the streets of Galilee
and to look into the eyes of the other with respect and love and create a revolution
of tenderness.”
A call to be with the young
Pope Francis said it is the young people who most need to
experience this love of Jesus. The young who are a great resource need to
be helped to discover the gifts of the Lord and not to fear the challenges of
the present times. He encouraged the clergy to meet them, to
listen to them, to walk with them, so that they may meet Christ and be
receptive to his free message of love.
A call to show proximity to families
Stressing that a Church attentive to young people is a
church of the family, the Holy Father encouraged the clergy in their pastoral
work towards families. He assured them God’s grace, his closeness and
prophetic power will help them even when they lack adequate
support. “We are called to be witnesses, mediators of this
proximity to families.”
In conclusion the Holy Father called them to be
renewed each day through the Eucharistic celebration and with their
encounter with the people of God to whom “we are sent”. He exhorted
priests, consecrated, deacons, and lay faithful to walk together without being
discouraged in the face of difficulties but to be persistent in bearing
witness to the Gospel. In their journey he encouraged them to
always feel compelled and supported by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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