GENERAL AUDIENCE POPE FRANCIS
Wednesday,
3 May 2017
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Good morning!
Good morning!
Today, I would like to talk
to you about my Apostolic Journey to Egypt which, with God’s help, I
undertook in recent days. I went to that country, taking up a four–fold
invitation: from the President of the Republic, from His Holiness, the Coptic
Orthodox Patriarch, from the Grand Imam of Al–Azhar and from the Coptic Catholic
Patriarch. I thank each of them for their truly warm welcome. And I thank all
the people of Egypt for the participation and affection with which they
experienced this visit by the Successor of Saint Peter.
The President and civil
authorities took exceptional pains to ensure that this event could take place
in the best possible way; so that it might be a sign of peace, a sign of peace
for Egypt and for all that region, which, unfortunately, is afflicted by
hostilities and terrorism. In fact, the trip’s theme was: “Pope of Peace in
Egypt of Peace”.
My visit to Al–Azhar University,
the oldest Islamic university and the highest academic institution of Sunni
Islam had a twofold aim: that of dialogue between Christians
and Muslims and, at the same time, that of promoting peace in
the world. At Al–Azhar, there was a meeting with the Grand Imam, a meeting that
later extended to the International Peace Conference. In this context, I
offered a reflection which recognized the history of the land of Egypt as land
of civilization and land of covenants. For all of
humanity, Egypt is synonymous with ancient civilization, art treasures and
knowledge; and this reminds us that peace is built through education, the
formation of knowledge, of a humanism which includes as integral parts the
religious dimension, the relationship with God, as the Grand Imam recalled in
his address. Peace is also built by beginning once again from the covenant
between God and man, the foundation of the covenant between all peoples based
on the Ten Commandments written on the stone tablets at Sinai, but much more
deeply in the heart of each man of every time and place, the law that is
summarized in the two commandments of love of God and neighbour.
This same foundation is
also at the basis of the building of social and civil order, in which all
citizens, from every origin, culture and religion, are called to cooperate.
Such a vision of healthy secularism emerged in the conversation with the
President of the Republic of Egypt, in the presence of the country’s
authorities and Diplomatic Corps. Egypt’s great historic and religious heritage
and its role in the Middle Eastern region give it an unusual task in the
journey toward stable and long-lasting peace that rests not on the law of
force, but rather on the force of law.
Christians, in Egypt like
in every nation on earth, are called to be the “leaven” of fraternity. This is
possible if they live, within themselves, the Communion in Christ. Thanks to
God, we were able to show a strong sign of communion with my dear Brother
Pope Tawadros ii, Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox. We renewed our commitment,
also by signing a Common Declaration to journey together, and not to
duplicate baptisms already received in the respective Churches. Together we
prayed for the martyrs of the recent attacks that tragically struck that
venerable Church; and their blood rendered fruitful that ecumenical encounter,
in which Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the Ecumenical Patriarch, my
dear Brother, also participated.
The second day of the trip
was dedicated to the Catholic faithful. The Holy Mass celebrated in
the stadium provided by Egyptian authorities was a celebration of faith and
fraternity in which we felt the living presence of the Risen Christ. Commenting
on the Gospel, I called on the small Catholic community in Egypt to relive the
experience of the disciples of Emmaus: to always find in Christ, Word and Bread
of Life, the joy of faith, the ardour of hope and the strength to bear loving
witness that “we have encountered the Lord!”.
I spent the last phase with
priests, men and women religious and seminarians at the Major Seminary.
There are many seminarians. This is a consolation! It was a Liturgy of the Word
in which the vows of consecrated life were renewed. In this community of men
and women who have chosen to offer their life to Christ for the Kingdom of God,
I saw the beauty of the Church in Egypt and I prayed for all Christians in the
Middle East, that, led by their pastors and accompanied by the consecrated,
they might become salt and light in those lands, in the midst of those peoples.
For us, Egypt was a sign of hope, of refuge, of help. When that part of the
world was starving, Jacob went there with his sons. Then, when Jesus was
persecuted, he went there. For this reason, telling you about this trip means
taking the path of hope. For us, Egypt is that sign of hope both for history
and for the present time, of this fraternity which I wanted to tell you about.
I once again thank those
who made this journey possible and all those who, in different ways, made their
contribution, especially so many people who offered their prayers and their
suffering. May the Holy Family of Nazareth, who migrated to the banks of the
River Nile to flee from Herod’s violence, bless and always protect the people
of Egypt and guide them to the path of prosperity, fraternity and peace.
Thank
you!
Special greetings:
I greet the
English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience,
particularly the groups from Ireland, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Singapore,
India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Canada and the United States of
America. In the joy of the Risen Christ, I invoke upon you and your families
the loving mercy of God our Father. May the Lord bless you all!
On the Feast of Saints
Philip and James, I hope that the memory of the Apostles, joyous proclaimers of
the Risen Christ, may increase each one’s faith and strengthen each one’s
witness to the Gospel.
I extend my greetings to young
people, to the sick and to newlyweds. At the
start of May, we call on the heavenly intercession of Mary, Mother of Jesus.
Dear young people, learn to pray to her with the simple and
effective prayer of the Rosary; dear sick people, may Our Lady be
your support in the trial of pain; dear newlyweds, imitate her love
for God and for brothers and sisters.
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