Pope at Mass in Mozambique: Hold
onto hope and stay united
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| Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass in Maputo's Zimpeto Stadium (Vatican Media) |
Pope Francis celebrates a Votive Mass for the Progress of
Peoples in Maputo’s Zimpeto Stadium and encourages the people of Mozambique to
keep working for peace and reconciliation, loving their enemies, and loving one
another.
By Vatican News
The Mass was Pope Francis’ last public event in Mozambique.
It was also the culmination of two days of encounters, emotions, and
excitement. The stadium erupted in sound and song when the Pope entered, while
music and movement enlivened the whole celebration.
Love your enemies
The Pope took the inspiration for his homily from the Gospel
of Saint Luke where, after choosing His disciples and proclaiming the
Beatitudes, Jesus adds: “But I say to you that listen, love your
enemies”. These words are also addressed to us today, said the Pope.
Jesus is no idealist”, continued Pope Francis. “He is
talking about specific enemies… those who hate, exclude, revile and defame us”.
The Pope was referencing the civil war that raged in
Mozambique between 1977 and 1992. “Many of you can still tell your own stories
of violence, hatred and conflict”, he said, acknowledging that some still fear
“past wounds will reopen and reverse the progress already made towards peace”.
Reconciliation and forgiveness
“It is not easy to speak of reconciliation while wounds are
still open from the years of conflict”, continued Pope Francis, “or to take a
step towards forgiveness, which is not the same as ignoring pain or giving up
our memories or ideals.” Nonetheless, he said, “Jesus Christ is calling us to
love and to do good… He commands us to show an active, impartial and
extraordinary benevolence towards those who have hurt us”, even asking us to
bless and pray for them.
The Pope admitted this is “a high standard the Master sets
before us”, but insisted, “we cannot look to the future, or build a nation, an
equitable society, on the basis of violence”.
Love one another
Jesus tells us to “love one another”, said the Pope, in a
world that “disregards and continues to ignore the virtue of mercy, of
compassion”. Overcoming times of division and violence, he added, “calls for
daily commitment on the part of everyone to an attentive and active concern
that makes us treat others with the same mercy and goodness with which we
ourselves want to be treated”.
Peace and mercy
“We want a future of peace”, said Pope Francis,
borrowing a sports image from Saint Paul when he says: “May the peace of Christ
act as the umpire in your hearts”. Whenever we feel torn between two contrary
feelings “we should play Christ’s game”, said the Pope, “and let His decision
keep us on the path of love and mercy, in the option for the most poor and the
protection of nature. The path of peace”.
Hold onto hope
At the conclusion of the Mass, Pope Francis expressed his
gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices people had made to participate in
the encounters in Maputo. Many people, in fact, spent days on the road
travelling from the far north of the country.
“Please, hold onto hope”, the Pope told the people of
Mozambique, “do not let yourselves be robbed of it”. There is no better way to
do so, he concluded, “than to remain united… so that all the reasons sustaining
it will constantly consolidate for a future of reconciliation and peace in
Mozambique”.
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