Pope encourages Peruvians to
unite in solidarity
 |
| Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass in Trujillo.- AFP |
On the second full day of his apostolic visit to Peru, Pope
Francis celebrated Holy Mass in the Huanchaco Plain just outside the coastal
city of Trujillo, an area severely struck by floods and storms caused by the El
Nino phenomenon.
By Linda Bordoni
Pope Francis has invited Peruvians hard hit
by El Nino storms and devastating floods to
overcome their losses and build a better future by coming together as a
community.
The Pope’s words of closeness and encouragement came
during Holy Mass celebrated in Trujillo, a coastal
town in the north of the country which is still reeling from devastating floods
nearly a year ago that caused many victims, toppled hundreds of thousands of
homes and caused much devastation and displacement.
You had to face the brunt of the "Nino costero"
In his homily, Pope Francis recalled the floods saying that
“Just as the apostles faced the storm on the sea, you had to face the brunt of
the “Niño costero” whose painful consequences are still present in so many
families, especially those who are not yet able to rebuild their homes”.
“This, he said, is also why I wanted to be here and to pray
with you”.
Francis also spoke of other “storms” that he said can hit
these coasts, with devastating effects on the lives of the children of these
lands.
Other "storms" that prevent the young from
building a future
Referring directly to organized violence and contract
killings, a problem which is particularly acute in northern Peru, the Pope
decried the insecurity that they breed.
He also spoke of the “lack of educational and employment
opportunities, especially among young people, which he said, prevents them from
building a future with dignity”, and he pointed to the “lack of secure housing
for so many families forced to live in highly unstable areas without safe
access”.
The value of coming together as a community
To those present, Pope Francis said “you have shown that
life’s greatest problems can be confronted when the community comes together
“to help one another like true brothers and sisters”.
“I know that, in the time of darkness, when you felt the
brunt of the Niño, these lands kept moving forward” the oil of solidarity and
generosity stirred you to action, and you went out to meet the Lord with
countless concrete gestures of support” he said.
"Fill your lives with the Gospel"
We often wonder about how to face these storms, the Pope
continued, or how to help our children pull through in these situations, “I
want to tell you that no better way exists than that of the Gospel: it is
called Jesus Christ. Fill your lives always with the Gospel”.
Francis concluded his homily invoking the blessing of the
Peruvians’ beloved “Lady of the Gate” whose Sanctuary is some seventy
kilometres north-east of Trujillo.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét