Pope to authorities: your
heritage is precious, your morals high
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| Pope Francis meets with authorities and members of the diplomatic corps, Tokyo (Vatican Media) |
Pope Francis addresses members of civil society and the
diplomatic corps, in Japan, and urges them to cherish their precious cultural
heritage, maintaining solidarity with all members of our human family.
By Francesca Merlo
Pope Francis began his address to authorities, civil society
and the diplomatic corps by recalling “the friendly relations existing between
the Holy See and Japan are long-standing”. He described these relations as
being “rooted in the appreciation and admiration felt by the first missionaries
for these lands”.
A sensitive nation
The Pope referred to one missionary in particular, the
Jesuit Alessandro Valignano, “who in 1579 wrote: ‘Whoever wishes to see what
our Lord has bestowed upon man need only come to Japan to see it’”.
“As a nation”, the Pope continued, “Japan is particularly
sensitive to the suffering of those less fortunate”. On this note, he recalled
the theme of his visit: Protect all life, “in the recognition of its inviolable
dignity and the importance of showing solidarity and support to our brothers
and sisters in any kind of need”.
“We know that, in the end, the civility of every nation or
people is measured by the attention it devotes to those in need and its
capacity to be fruitful and promote life”.
Never again such tragedies
The Pope then explained that he is not only in Japan to
confirm Japanese Christians in their faith, but also “to implore God and invite
all persons of good will to encourage and promote every necessary means of
dissuasion so that the destruction generated by atomic bombs in Hiroshima and
Nagasaki will never take place again in human history”.
He added that history has proven that dialogue is enough to
solve conflicts, describing it as “the only weapon worthy of man and capable of
ensuring lasting peace”.
Referring to the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic games,
being held this coming year in Japan, the Pope used the example of the “Olympic
spirit” as one that “can contribute the harmony, justice, solidarity and
reconciliation that are the mortar of the edifice of peace”.
Centuries of heritage
Speaking of Japan’s “precious cultural heritage”, Pope
Francis pointed out that “throughout many centuries of its history”, Japan has
been able to develop and preserve “the profound religious and moral values that
characterize this ancient culture”.
Good relations between the different religions are not only
essential for a future of peace, he said, but for training present and future
generations to cherish the ethical principles that serve as the foundation for
a truly just and humane society.
Finally, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude for having
been invited to visit Japan and encouraged all those present in their “efforts
to shape a social order ever more protective of life, ever more respectful of
the dignity and rights of each member of our human family”.
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