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Friday, December 11, 2015
UDIENZA GENERALE PAPA FRANCESCO
Piazza San Pietro
Mercoledì, 9 dicembre 2015



Perché un Giubileo della Misericordia

Cari fratelli e sorelle, buongiorno.
Ieri ho aperto qui, nella Basilica di San Pietro, la Porta Santa del Giubileo della Misericordia, dopo averla aperta già nella Cattedrale di Bangui, in Centrafrica. Oggi vorrei riflettere insieme a voi sul significato di questo Anno Santo, rispondendo alla domanda: perché un Giubileo della Misericordia? Cosa significa questo?

La Chiesa ha bisogno di questo momento straordinario. Non dico: è buono per la Chiesa questo momento straordinario. Dico: la Chiesa ha bisogno di questo momento straordinario. Nella nostra epoca di profondi cambiamenti, la Chiesa è chiamata ad offrire il suo contributo peculiare, rendendo visibili i segni della presenza e della vicinanza di Dio. E il Giubileo è un tempo favorevole per tutti noi, perché contemplando la Divina Misericordia, che supera ogni limite umano e risplende sull’oscurità del peccato, possiamo diventare testimoni più convinti ed efficaci.

Volgere lo sguardo a Dio, Padre misericordioso, e ai fratelli bisognosi di misericordia, significa puntare l’attenzione sul contenuto essenziale del Vangelo: Gesù, la Misericordia fatta carne, che rende visibile ai nostri occhi il grande mistero dell’Amore trinitario di Dio. Celebrare un Giubileo della Misericordia equivale a mettere di nuovo al centro della nostra vita personale e delle nostre comunità lo specifico della fede cristiana, cioè Gesù Cristo, il Dio misericordioso.

Un Anno Santo, dunque, per vivere la misericordia. Sì, cari fratelli e sorelle, questo Anno Santo ci è offerto per sperimentare nella nostra vita il tocco dolce e soave del perdono di Dio, la sua presenza accanto a noi e la sua vicinanza soprattutto nei momenti di maggiore bisogno.

Questo Giubileo, insomma, è un momento privilegiato perché la Chiesa impari a scegliere unicamente “ciò che a Dio piace di più”. E, che cosa è che “a Dio piace di più”? Perdonare i suoi figli, aver misericordia di loro, affinché anch’essi possano a loro volta perdonare i fratelli, risplendendo come fiaccole della misericordia di Dio nel mondo. Questo è quello che a Dio piace di più. Sant’Ambrogio in un libro di teologia che aveva scritto su Adamo, prende la storia della creazione del mondo e dice che Dio ogni giorno, dopo aver fatto una cosa  - la luna, il sole o gli animali – dice: “E Dio vide che questo era buono”. Ma quando ha fatto l’uomo e la donna, la Bibbia dice: “Vide che questo era molto buono”. Sant’Ambrogio si domanda: “Ma perché dice “molto buono”? Perché Dio è tanto contento dopo la creazione dell’uomo e della donna?”. Perché alla fine aveva qualcuno da perdonare. È bello questo: la gioia di Dio è perdonare, l’essere di Dio è misericordia. Per questo in quest’anno dobbiamo aprire i cuori, perché questo amore, questa gioia di Dio ci riempia tutti di questa misericordia. Il Giubileo sarà un “tempo favorevole” per la Chiesa se impareremo a scegliere “ciò che a Dio piace di più”, senza cedere alla tentazione di pensare che ci sia qualcos’altro che è più importante o prioritario. Niente è più importante di scegliere “ciò che a Dio piace di più”, cioè la sua misericordia, il suo amore, la sua tenerezza, il suo abbraccio, le sue carezze!

Anche la necessaria opera di rinnovamento delle istituzioni e delle strutture della Chiesa è un mezzo che deve condurci a fare l’esperienza viva e vivificante della misericordia di Dio che, sola, può garantire alla Chiesa di essere quella città posta sopra un monte che non può rimanere nascosta (cfr Mt 5,14). Risplende soltanto una Chiesa misericordiosa! Se dovessimo, anche solo per un momento, dimenticare che la misericordia è “quello che a Dio piace di più”, ogni nostro sforzo sarebbe vano, perché diventeremmo schiavi delle nostre istituzioni e delle nostre strutture, per quanto rinnovate possano essere. Ma saremmo sempre schiavi.

«Sentire forte in noi la gioia di essere stati ritrovati da Gesù, che come Buon Pastore è venuto a cercarci perché ci eravamo smarriti» (Omelia nei Primi Vespri della Domenica della Divina Misericordia, 11 aprile 2015): questo è l’obiettivo che la Chiesa si pone in questo Anno Santo. Così rafforzeremo in noi la certezza che la misericordia può contribuire realmente all’edificazione di un mondo più umano. Specialmente in questi nostri tempi, in cui il perdono è un ospite raro negli ambiti della vita umana, il richiamo alla misericordia si fa più urgente, e questo in ogni luogo: nella società, nelle istituzioni, nel lavoro e anche nella famiglia.

Certo, qualcuno potrebbe obiettare: “Ma, Padre, la Chiesa, in questo Anno, non dovrebbe fare qualcosa di più? È giusto contemplare la misericordia di Dio, ma ci sono molti bisogni urgenti!”. È vero, c’è molto da fare, e io per primo non mi stanco di ricordarlo. Però bisogna tenere conto che, alla radice dell’oblio della misericordia, c’è sempre l’amor proprio. Nel mondo, questo prende la forma della ricerca esclusiva dei propri interessi, di piaceri e onori uniti al voler accumulare ricchezze, mentre nella vita dei cristiani si traveste spesso di ipocrisia e di mondanità. Tutte queste cose sono contrarie alla misericordia. I moti dell’amor proprio, che rendono straniera la misericordia nel mondo, sono talmente tanti e numerosi che spesso non siamo più neppure in grado di riconoscerli come limiti e come peccato. Ecco perché è necessario riconoscere di essere peccatori, per rafforzare in noi la certezza della misericordia divina. “Signore, io sono un peccatore; Signore, io sono una peccatrice: vieni con la tua misericordia”. Questa è una preghiera bellissima. È una preghiera facile da dire tutti i giorni: “Signore, io sono un peccatore; Signore, io sono una peccatrice: vieni con la tua misericordia”.

Cari fratelli e sorelle, mi auguro che, in questo Anno Santo, ognuno di noi faccia esperienza della misericordia di Dio, per essere testimoni di “ciò che a Lui piace di più”. È da ingenui credere che questo possa cambiare il mondo? Sì, umanamente parlando è da folli, ma «ciò che è stoltezza di Dio è più sapiente degli uomini, e ciò che è debolezza di Dio è più forte degli uomini» (1 Cor 1,25).

Saluti:
[Sono lieto di accogliere i fedeli di lingua francese, in particolare i pellegrini della Diocesi di Rennes, accompagnati dal loro Arcivescovo, Mons. D’Ornellas, come pure quelli provenienti dalla Francia, dalla Svizzera, dal Libano e dal Gabon. Auguro che in questo Anno Santo ciascuno di voi faccia esperienza della misericordia di Dio per esserne dei testimoni convinti ed efficaci. Che Dio vi benedica!]

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, including those from Scotland, Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, Canada and the United States of America.  My special greeting goes to the international team of the space programme Galileo.  Upon you and your families I invoke the Lord’s blessings of joy and peace.  God bless you all!
[Saluto i pellegrini di lingua inglese presenti all’odierna Udienza, specialmente quelli provenienti da Scozia, Danimarca, Indonesia, Giappone, Canada e Stati Uniti d’America.  Rivolgo un saluto particolare ai rappresentanti del programma spaziale Galileo.  Su tutti voi e sulle vostre famiglie, invoco la gioia e la pace del Signore.  Dio vi benedica!]

[Rivolgo un cordiale saluto a tutti i pellegrini di lingua tedesca, in particolare ai membri ed agli amici del movimento Schönstatt. In quest’Anno Santo straordinario guardiamo anche a Maria, la Madre della Misericordia. La Beata Vergine ci ha donato Gesù, fonte di misericordia. Maria ci guidi all’incontro con Gesù misericordioso. Dio vi benedica tutti.]

[Saluto i pellegrini di lingua spagnola, in particolare i gruppi provenienti da Spagna e America latina. Maria, Madre del Salvatore e Madre nostra, ci aiuti affinché in questo Anno Santo sperimentiamo la misericordia di Dio e possiamo manifestarla agli altri. Grazie mille.]

 [Carissimi pellegrini di lingua portoghese, vi saluto cordialmente tutti, in particolare i membri dell’«Obra dos Filhos da Ressurreição», e vi auguro che, in quest’Anno Santo, possiate fare esperienza della misericordia di Dio per essere testimoni di ciò che a Lui piace di più. Pregate anche per me! Dio vi benedica!]

[Rivolgo un cordiale benvenuto ai pellegrini di lingua araba, in particolare a quelli provenienti dal Medio Oriente! Cari fratelli e sorelle, il Giubileo è un tempo favorevole per tutti noi per vivere la misericordia, per sperimentare nella nostra vita il perdono di Dio e perdonare a nostra volta i fratelli, risplendendo come fiaccole della misericordia di Dio nel mondo. Il Signore vi benedica!]

[Saluto cordialmente tutti i Polacchi venuti a quest’udienza. La Solennità dell’Immacolata Concezione della Beata Vergine Maria e l’inizio del Giubileo Straordinario della Misericordia, a cui abbiamo partecipato ieri, ci esortano a diventare sull’esempio di Maria santi e perfetti di fronte al Signore (cfr. Ef 1,4) e a sperimentare il perdono di Dio nella nostra vita attraverso l’impegno nelle opere di misericordia. La Santissima Vergine ci aiuti a vivere la gioia dell’incontro con la Grazia divina che tutto trasforma. Sia lodato Gesù Cristo.]

* * *
Un cordiale benvenuto ai pellegrini di lingua italiana! Sono lieto di accogliere le Missionarie della Carità, l’Associazione Dives in Misericordia della Diocesi di Piazza Armerina; il Gruppo Caffo di Limbadi e gli Artisti della Fondazione Don Bosco nel Mondo.
Ieri, nella Solennità dell’Immacolata Concezione, abbiamo iniziato il Giubileo della Misericordia. La Vergine Maria interceda per noi, perché quest’Anno Santo sia ricco di copiosi frutti e, facendo tutti esperienza della cura di Dio per noi, guidi il nostro agire secondo le opere di misericordia corporali e spirituali, che tutti siamo chiamati a vivere.

Rivolgo un saluto ai giovani, agli ammalati e agli sposi novelli. La Madre di Gesù vi insegni, cari giovani, ad accogliere nel vostro cuore la nascita del Salvatore; aiuti voi, cari ammalati, ad affidarvi sempre alle braccia della Divina Provvidenza; e conceda a voi, cari sposi novelli, di fare della misericordia il criterio della vostra vita sponsale.

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Thursday, December 10, 2015
ANGELUS POPE FRANCIS
Saint Peter's Square
Sunday, 6 December 2015



Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
On this second Sunday of Advent, the Liturgy places us in the school of John the Baptist, who preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”. Perhaps we ask ourselves, “Why do we have to convert? Conversion is about an atheist who becomes a believer or a sinner who becomes just. But we don’t need it. We are already Christians. So we are okay”. But this isn’t true. In thinking like this, we don’t realize that it is precisely because of this presumption — that we are Christians, that everyone is good, that we’re okay — that we must convert: from the supposition that, all things considered, things are fine as they are and we don’t need any kind of conversion. But let us ask ourselves: is it true that in the various situations and circumstances of life, we have within us the same feelings that Jesus has? Is it true that we feel as Christ feels? For example, when we suffer some wrongdoing or some insult, do we manage to react without animosity and to forgive from the heart those who apologize to us? How difficult it is to forgive! How difficult! “You’re going to pay for this” — that phrase comes from inside! When we are called to share joys or sorrows, do we know how to sincerely weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice? When we should express our faith, do we know how to do it with courage and simplicity, without being ashamed of the Gospel? Thus we can ask ourselves so many questions. We’re not all right. We must always convert and have the sentiments that Jesus had.

The voice of the Baptist still cries in the deserts of humanity today, which are — what are today’s deserts? — closed minds and hardened hearts. And [his voice] causes us to ask ourselves if we are actually following the right path, living a life according to the Gospel. Today, as then, he admonishes us with the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “Prepare the way of the Lord!” (v. 4). It is a pressing invitation to open one’s heart and receive the salvation that God offers ceaselessly, almost obstinately, because he wants us all to be free from the slavery of sin. But the text of the prophet amplifies this voice, portending that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (v. 6). And salvation is offered to every man, and every people, without exclusion, to each one of us. None of us can say, “I’m a saint; I’m perfect; I’m already saved”. No. We must always accept this offer of salvation. This is the reason for the Year of Mercy: to go farther on this journey of salvation, this path that Jesus taught us. God wants all of mankind to be saved through Jesus, the one mediator (cf. 1 Tim 2:4-6).

Therefore, each one of us is called to make Jesus known to those who do not yet know him. But this is not to proselytize. No, it is to open a door. “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16), St Paul declared. If Our Lord Jesus has changed our lives, and he changes it every time we go to him, how can we not feel the passion to make him known to those we encounter at work, at school, in our apartment building, in the hospital, in meeting places? If we look around us, we find people who would be willing to begin — or begin again — a journey of faith were they to encounter Christians in love with Jesus. Shouldn’t we and couldn’t we be these Christians? I leave you this question: “Am I truly in love with Jesus? Am I convinced that Jesus offers me and gives me salvation?” And, if I am in love, I have to make him known! But we must be courageous: lay low the mountains of pride and rivalry; fill in the ravines dug by indifference and apathy; make straight the paths of our laziness and our compromises.
May the Virgin Mary, who is Mother and knows how to do so, help us to tear down the walls and the obstacles that impede our conversion, that is, our journey toward the encounter with the Lord. He alone, Jesus alone can fulfil all the hopes of man!

After the Angelus:
Dear brothers and sisters, I am closely following the work of the climate conference underway in Paris, and a question I asked in Laudato Si’ comes again to my mind: “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” (n. 160). For the good of our common home, of all of us and of the future generations, in Paris every effort should be directed toward mitigating the impacts of climate change and, at the same time, opposing poverty and leading human dignity to flourish. The two choices go together. Stopping climate change and curbing poverty so that human dignity may flourish. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit enlighten those who are called to make such important decisions and give them the courage to always have as the prime criterion the greater good of the human family.

Tomorrow, we mark the 50th anniversary of a memorable event between Catholics and Orthodox. On 7 December 1965, the vigil of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, a joint declaration of Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras eliminated the sentences of excommunication exchanged between the Churches of Rome and Constantinople in 1054. It is truly providential that this historic gesture of reconciliation, which created the conditions for a new dialogue between Orthodox and Catholics in love and truth, would be commemorated precisely at the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy. There is no authentic path toward unity without a petition for forgiveness, to God and among ourselves, for the sin of division. Let us recall in our prayer the dear Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the other leaders of the Orthodox Churches and let us ask the Lord that relations between Catholics and Orthodox be always inspired by fraternal love.

Yesterday in Chimbote, Peru, Michał Tomaszek and Zbigniew Strzałkowski, Conventual Franciscans, and Alessandro Dordi, a fidei donum priest, who were assassinated in hatred of the faith in 1991, were beatified. May these martyrs’ fidelity in following Jesus give all of us, especially Christians persecuted in different parts of the world, the strength to bear witness to the Gospel with courage.

I wish you all a happy Sunday and a good preparation for the beginning of the Year of Mercy. Please don’t forget to pray for me. Have a good lunch. Arrivederci!



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Monday, December 07, 2015
GENERAL AUDIENCE POPE FRANCIS
Wednesday, 2 December 2015

Apostolic Journey to Africa



Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
A few days ago I made my first Apostolic Journey to Africa. Africa is beautiful! I thank the Lord for this great gift of his, which allowed me to visit three countries: first Kenya, then Uganda and finally the Central African Republic. Once again I express my gratitude to the civil authorities and to the bishops of these nations for welcoming me, and I thank all of those who collaborated in so many ways. My heartfelt thanks!

Kenya is a country that characterizes the global challenge of our time: to protect creation by reshaping the model of development to be equitable, inclusive and sustainable. All this can be seen in Nairobi, the largest city in East Africa, where wealth and poverty coexist: this is a scandal! Not only in Africa but here too, everywhere. The coexistence of wealth and poverty is a scandal, it is a disgrace for humanity. Nairobi is where the Office of the United Nations Environmental Programme, which I visited, is located. In Kenya I met the authorities and diplomats, and also the residents of a poor neighbourhood; I met the leaders of various Christian confessions and of other religions, priests and consecrated people. I met young people, so many young people! On each occasion I encouraged them to treasure the great wealth of that country: the natural and spiritual wealth, made up of the earth’s resources, of the younger generations and of the values that shape the wisdom of the people. In today’s tragic context I had the joy of bringing Jesus’ word of hope: “Stand strong in faith, do not be afraid”. This was the motto of the visit, words that are lived each day by many humble and simple people, with noble dignity. They are words witnessed to in a tragic and heroic way by the young people of Garissa University who were killed this past 2 April for being Christians. Their blood is the seed of peace and fraternity for Kenya, for Africa and for the entire world.

Then, in Uganda my visit unfolded under the auspice of the country’s martyrs, 50 years after their historic canonization by Bl. Paul VI. This is why the motto was: “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). The motto connotes the words that immediately precede: “You will receive power from the Holy Spirit”, because it is the Spirit that enlivens the heart and hands of missionary disciples. The entire visit in Uganda took place with the fervour of witness enlivened by the Holy Spirit. Witness in the explicit sense is the service of the catechists, whom I thanked and encouraged for their dedication, which often also involves their families. Witness is that of charity, which I saw firsthand at the House of Nalukolongo, and which sees so many communities and associations committed in service to the poor, the disabled, the sick. Witness is that of the young people who, despite the challenges, go against the tide, safeguard the gift of hope, and seek to live according to the Gospel and not according to the world. Witnesses are the priests, the consecrated men and women who day by day renew their total “yes” to Christ and dedicate themselves with joy to the service of the holy People of God. And there is another group of witnesses, but I will speak of them later. All of this manifold testimony, enlivened by the very same Holy Spirit, is leaven for the entire society, as shown by the effective work performed in Uganda in the fight against AIDS and in the welcoming of refugees.

The third leg of the journey was in the Central African Republic, in the geographical heart of the continent: really, it’s the heart of Africa. This visit was really the first in my intentions, because this country is seeking to escape a very difficult period of violent conflicts and so much suffering in the population. This is why I wanted, there in Bangui, a week in advance, to open the first Holy Door of the Jubilee of Mercy, as a sign of faith and hope for that people, and symbolically for all the African peoples most in need of redemption and comfort. Jesus’ invitation to the disciples: “Let us cross over to another shore” (cf. Lk 8:22), was the motto for Central Africa. “Cross over to another shore”, in the civil sense, means to leave behind war, division, poverty, and choose peace, reconciliation, development. But this presumes a “passing” that takes place in the conscience, in the attitudes and intentions of the people. On this level the contribution of religious communities is crucial. For this reason I met the Evangelical and Muslim communities, sharing prayer and the commitment for peace. With the priests and consecrated people, but also with young people, we shared the joy of feeling that the Risen Lord is with us in the boat, and he guides us to the other shore. Last, in the final Mass at the stadium of Bangui, on the Feast of the Apostle Andrew, we renewed the commitment to follow Jesus, our hope, our peace, Face of Divine Mercy. This last Mass was marvellous: it was full of young people, a stadium of youth! More than half the population of the Central African Republic are minors, they are under 18 years old: a promise for moving forward!

I would like to say a word about the missionaries: men and women who have left their homelands, everything.... When they were young they went there, living a life of so very much work, sometimes sleeping on the ground. At one point in Bangui I found a nun, she was Italian. You could see she was elderly: “How old are you?”. I asked. “81” — “Not very, two years older than me”. — This Sister has been there since she was 23 or 24 years old: all her life! And so many like her. She was with a little girl. And the girl, in Italian, called her “Grandma”. And the nun said to me: “I am not really from here, but from a neighbouring country, from Congo; I came here in a canoe, with this little girl”. This is how the missionaries are: courageous. “What do you do, Sister?” — “I’m a nurse and I also studied here to become an obstetrician and I’ve delivered 3,280 babies”. This is what she told me. An entire life for the life, for the lives of others. And there are so very many like this nun: so many Sisters, so many priests, so many men and women religious who burn up their lives to proclaim Jesus Christ. It is beautiful to see this. It’s beautiful.

I would like to say a word to the young people. There aren’t many of them, because the birth rate is a luxury, it seems, in Europe: zero % birthrate, 1% birthrate. I am addressing the young people: think about what you are doing with your life. Think about this nun and about the many like her, who have given their life and so many have died there. The missionary spirit is not proselytizing: this nun told me that the Muslim women go to them because they know that the Sisters are good nurses who take good care of them, and they don’t catechize in order to convert them! They bear witness; then they do catechesis to those who want it. Witness is the great heroic missionary spirit of the Church. Proclaim Jesus Christ with your life! I am addressing the young: think about what you are doing with your life. It is time to think and ask the Lord to make you feel his will. Please, do not rule out this possibility of becoming a missionary, to bring love, humanity, faith to other countries. Not to proselytize, no. That is done by those who are seeking something else. Faith is preached first by witness and then through words. Slowly.

Together let us praise the Lord for this pilgrimage on African soil, and let ourselves be guided by his key words: “Stand strong in faith, do not be afraid”; “You will be my witnesses”; “Let us cross over to another shore”.

Last Sunday we began the Season of Advent. I urge everyone to live this time of preparation for the birth of Jesus, Face of the Merciful Father, in the extraordinary context of the Jubilee, with the spirit of charity, more attention to those who are in need, and with moments of personal and community prayer.
Special greetings:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, including those from England, Australia, Korea and the United States of America. My special greeting goes to the group “Up with People” for sharing their music with us. Upon you and your families I invoke the Lord’s blessings of joy and peace. God bless you all.

I address a greeting to young people, to the sick and to newlyweds. May the God of peace stimulate you, dear young people, to be promoters of dialogue and understanding; may he help you, dear sick people, to look to the Cross of Christ to learn to face suffering with serenity; and may he favour in you, dear newlyweds, the growth of peace and love in your new family.

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Sunday, December 06, 2015
ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION AND BEGINNING OF THE VIGIL OF PRAYER WITH YOUNG PEOPLE ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
Cathedral Square, Bangui (Central African Republic)
Sunday, 29 November 2015

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
TO KENYA, UGANDA AND THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
(25-30 NOVEMBER 2015)

Dear Young Friends,
I greet all of you with affection. Your friend who spoke in your name said that your symbol is the banana tree, because it is a symbol of life: banana trees keep growing, they spread, they bear fruit which always gives nourishment and strength. Banana trees are also resilient. I think that this tells us clearly the road before you at this difficult time of war, hatred and division: it is the road of resilience.

Your friend said that some of you want to leave home. Fleeing from life’s challenges is never a solution! It is necessary to be resilient, to have the courage to resist, to fight for what is right! Those who flee do not have the courage to give life. Banana trees give life, they spread and keep giving new life because they are resilient, they remain, they stay put. Some of you will say: “But Father, what can we do? How can we be resilient?” Let me tell you two or three things that may be helpful for you, in order to be resilient.
First of all, prayer. Prayer is powerful! Prayer conquers evil! Prayer makes you draw near to God who is all-powerful. Let me ask you a question: Do you pray? I can’t hear you! [the young people respond: Yes!]. Don’t forget this!

Second, work for peace. Peace is not a document which gets signed and then filed away. Peace is built day by day! And peace is crafted; it is the work of our hands; it is built up by the way we live our lives. But someone may say: “Tell me, Father, how can I build peace? How can I be a peacemaker?” First: never hate anyone. If someone wrongs you, seek to forgive. No hatred! Much forgiveness! Let us all say this together: “No hatred! Much forgiveness!” [all repeat in Sango]. And if hatred does not dwell in your heart, if you forgive, then you will be a winner. Because you will win the hardest battle in life; you will win in love. And from love comes peace.

Do you want to be winners or losers in life? What do you want? [We want to be winners!] But we only win if we take the road of love. The road of love. Can we love our enemies? Yes! Can we forgive those who do us wrong? Yes! So, through love and forgiveness, you will be winners. With love you will win in life and you will always give life. Love will never make you losers.

Now I wish you all the best. Think of the banana tree. Think of resilience in the face of problems. Fleeing, going away is not a solution. You must be courageous. Have you understood what it means to be courageous? Courageous in forgiving, courageous in loving, courageous in building peace. Is that right? [Yes!] Let’s say it together! “Courageous in love, in forgiveness, in building peace”.

Dear young people of Central Africa, I’m very happy that I met you. Today we opened this Door. It is a sign of the Door of God's Mercy. Trust in God! Because he is merciful; he is love; he is capable of giving you peace. That is why I told you at the beginning to pray: we need to pray in order to be resilient, to love and not to hate, to be peacemakers.

Thank you for coming. Now I’m going to go in and hear some of your confessions.
Are your hearts ready to be resilient? Yes or no? [Yes!] Are your hearts ready to work for peace? [Yes!] Are your hearts ready to forgive? [Yes!] Are your hearts open to reconciliation? [Yes!] Are your hearts ready to love this beautiful country of yours? [Yes!] And now let me go back to the very first thing. Are your hearts ready to pray? [Yes!]
I ask you also to pray for me, so that I can be a good bishop, a good Pope. Will you promise to pray for me? [Yes!]

And now I will give my blessing to you and your families. A blessing and a prayer, that the Lord will give you his love and his peace.
Have a good evening and pray for me!


Prepared address by the Holy Father:
Dear Young Friends,
Good evening! It is a great joy for me to be here with you this evening, as we enter upon a new liturgical year with the beginning of Advent. Is this not, for each one of us, an occasion to begin anew, a chance to “go across to the other side?” (cf. Lk 8:22).
During this, our meeting I will be able to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with some of you. I encourage each of you to reflect on the grandeur of this sacrament, in which God comes to meet us personally. Whenever we ask, he comes to us and helps us to “go across to the other side”, to that side of our life where God forgives us and bathes us in his love which heals, soothes and raises up! The Jubilee of Mercy, which I just opened particularly for you, dear Central African and African friends, rightly reminds us that God is waiting for us, with arms wide open, as we see in the beautiful image of the Father who welcomes the prodigal son.

The forgiveness which we receive comforts us and enables us to make a new start, with trusting and serene hearts, better able to live in harmony with ourselves, with God and with others. The forgiveness which we receive enables us in turn to forgive others. There is always a need for this, especially in times of conflict and violence, as you know all too well. I renew my closeness to all those among you who are have experienced sorrow, separation and the wounds inflicted by hatred and war. In such situations, forgiving those who have done us harm is, humanly speaking, extremely difficult. But God offers us the strength and the courage to become those artisans of reconciliation and peace which your country greatly needs. The Christian, as a disciple of Christ, walks in the footsteps of his Master, who on the Cross asked his Father to forgive those who were crucifying him (cf. Lk 23:34). How far is this sentiment from those which too often reign in our hearts! Meditating on the attitude and the words of Jesus, “Father, forgive them”, can help to turn our gaze and convert our heart.

For many people, it is a scandal that God came to be one of us. It is a scandal that he died on a cross. Yes, it is scandalous: the scandal of the cross. The cross continues to scandalize. Yet it remains the one sure way: the way of the cross, the way of Jesus who came to share our life and to save us from sin (cf. Meeting with Young Argentineans, 25 July 2013). Dear friends, this cross speaks to us of the closeness of God: he is with us, he is with each one of you, in your joys and in your trials.
Dear young people, the most precious good which we can have in this life is our relationship with God. Are you convinced of this? Are you aware of the inestimable value that you have in God’s eyes? Do you know that you are loved and accepted by him, unconditionally, as you are? (cf. Message for the World Youth Day 2015, 2). Devoting time to prayer and the reading of Scripture, especially the Gospels, you will come to know him, and yourselves, ever better. Today too, Jesus’ counsels can illumine your feelings and your decisions. You are enthusiastic and generous, pursuing high ideals, searching for truth and beauty. I encourage you to maintain an alert and critical spirit in the face of every compromise which runs contrary to the Gospel message.

Thank you for your creative dynamism, which the Church greatly needs. Cultivate this! Be witnesses to the joy of meeting Jesus. May he transform you, strengthen your faith and help you to overcome every fear, so that you may embrace ever more fully God’s loving plan for you! God wills the happiness of every one of his children. Those who open themselves to his gaze are freed from sin, from sorrow, from inner emptiness and from isolation (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 1). Instead, they can see others as brothers or sisters, accepting their differences and recognizing that they are a gift for all of us.
It is in this way that peace is built, day by day. It calls for setting out on the path of service and humility, and being attentive to the needs of others. To embrace this mindset, we need to have a heart capable of bending low and sharing life with those most in need. That is where true charity is found. In this way solidarity grows, beginning with small gestures, and the seeds of division disappear. In this way dialogue among believers bears fruit, fraternity is lived day by day and it enlarges the heart by opening up a future. In this way, you will be able to do so much good for your country. I encourage you do so.

Dear young friends, the Lord is alive and he is walking at your side. When difficulties seem to abound, when pain and sadness seem to prevail all around you, he does not abandon you. He has left us the memorial of his love: the Eucharist and the sacraments, to aid our progress along the way and furnish the strength we need to daily move forward. This must be the source of your hope and your courage as you “go across to the other side” (cf. Lk 8:22), with Jesus, opening new paths for yourselves and your generation, for your families, for your country. I pray that you will be filled with this hope. May you be ever anchored in it, so that you can give it to others, to this world of ours so wounded by war and conflicts, by evil and sin. Never forget: the Lord is with you. He trusts you. He wants you to be missionary disciples, sustained in times of difficulty and trial by the prayers of the Virgin Mary and those of the entire Church. Dear young people of Central Africa, go forth! I am sending you out!
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Friday, November 27, 2015
Paus Fransiskus, Pembawa Harapan ke Benua Afrika
 
Foto Paus Fransiskus di Nairobi bersama
Presiden Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta dan Margarte, Ibu negara.
FOTO: republica dan AFP


Benua Afrika kali ini mendapat perhatian khusus dari Paus Fransiskus. Hari ini, Rabu 25 November, Paus memulai kunjungannya ke tiga negara yakni Kenya, Uganda, dan Republik Afrika Tengah. Perjalanan internasional ke-11 ini menjadi bersejarah bukan saja karena pertama kali ke Afrika tetapi melihat situasi dunia saat ini. Di Eropa, situasi belum aman setelah beberapa peristiwa mengenaskan di Paris dan juga peristiwa lain di berbagai kota di jantung Eropa. Di Timur Tengah masih terjadi persaingan hangat antara Turki dan Rusia. Tak heran jika kunjungan Paus ini mendapat banyak komentar.

Dalam wawancara dan berita di media Italia, ada yang mengusulkan kepada Paus supaya batalkan saja kunjungan ini, jangan tinggalkan Eropa sebelum situasi benar-benar aman. Yang lain mengatakan, mengapa Paus meninggalkan Vatikan pada pembukaan tahun Yubilium Kerahiman Ilahi ini (L’apertura dell’anno della misericordia)? Bukankah lebih baik jika Paus membuka Pintu Suci (La Porta Santa) di Vatikan dan Roma?

Komentar seperti ini wajar. Bukti bahwa masyarakat Italia dan Eropa menaruh perhatian besar pada Paus Fransiskus. Mereka tidak ingin agar kunjungan ini membawa risiko besar pada keamanan Paus Fransiskus. Paus Fransiskus—seperti pendahulunya Paus Benediktus dan Paus Yohanes Paulus II—tentu tidak langsung mengiyakan komentar seperti ini. Dia tahu, mana yang penting dan mendesak saat ini. Paus kiranya meniru sikap Yesus, mencari domba yang hilang yang belum dijamah oleh sang gembala. Maka, kunjungan Paus ini bertujuan untuk berada lebih dekat dengan rakyat Afrika.

Pelayan Injil
Kunjungan selama 6 hari ini memang bertujuan untuk membawa Injil kepada masyarakat Afrika. Paus Fransiskus mengatakan saya datang sebagai pelayan Injil. Injil mesti diwartakan kepada mereka yang belum menerimanya, belum mengenalnya, bahkan pada mereka yang belum mendengarnya.

Kiranya tepat sekali kunjungan Paus kali ini mengingat situasi Afrika saat ini. Peperangan, kemiskinan, penyakit AIDS, perdagangan manusia, perbudakan, dan berbagai masalah sosial lainnya. Masyarakat Afrika membutuhkan seseorang yang bisa membuat mereka nyaman tinggal di negeri mereka. Kalau tidak, mereka akan mencari tempat aman. Jangan heran jika Eropa menjadi tujuan akhir petualangan mereka dari Afrika. Untuk mereka yang bersikukuh menetap di negerinya, situasi seperti ini kadang menyulitkan. Dan, dalam keadaan sulit ini hanya satu yang mereka butuhkan yakni harapan. Dan Paus Fransiskus adalah pembawa harapan itu sendiri. Beberapa kali dia menyebut frase Pembawa Harapan dalam beberapa hari terakhir dalam homili atau audiensi di Roma dan Vatikan.

Saksi perdamaian
Selain tema harapan, Paus Fransiskus juga ingin mengajak rakyat Afrika untuk menjadi saksi perdamaian. Banyak martir di Afrika terutama para misionaris asing dan juga dari warga lokal. Akhir-akhir ini misalnya di Burundi, Kongo, dan beberapa negara lainnya. Rencananya, Paus akan berbicara tentang tema perdamaian ini saat membuka Pintu Suci di Gereja Katedral Bangui, Republik Afrika Tengah pada Minggu 29 November mendatang.

Tema ini kiranya penting di tengah situasi perang di Afrika. Perdamaian tercapai jika ada damai di antara mereka warga senegara, sedaerah, dan juga warga dari berbagai agama. Itulah sebabnya pada hari terakhir, Senin 30 November, Paus akan masuk Masjid utama di kota Bangui. Di sini, Paus menegaskan dirinya sebagai peziarah damai (pellegrino di pace).

Jadwal Kunjungan
Kunjungan ke 3 negara selama 6 hari. Rencananya Paus akan menetap di setiap negara selama lebih kurang 2 hari.

Kenya: Kamis dan Jumat
Tiba sore hari (Rabu) di Kenya. Menetap di sana dari Kamis sampai Jumat. Hari Kamis Paus akan berbicara di kantor perwakilan PBB di Nairobi tentang tema pemeliharaan ciptaan. Hari Jumat Paus mengunjungi kaum miskin di barak pengunsi di kota Bangui.

Uganda: Sabtu
Di Uganda Paus menetap hanya 1 hari dengan jadwal kunjungan yang padat. Pertama, Paus mempersembahkan misa di Basilika (Santuario) di wilayah Namugongo. Basilika ini didedikasikan untuk para martir Uganda.
Kedua, Paus akan mengunjungi penghuni di Rumah Caritas di Nalukongo.

Republik Afrika Tengah: Minggu dan Senin
Di sini, Paus akan membuka Pintu Suci secara simbolis di Gereja Katedral di kota Bangui pada hari Minggu.
Hari berikutnya, Senin, Paus akan bertemu para pemimpin agama Islam dan akan masuk di Masjid utama di kota Bangui.

Demikianlah jadwal kunjungan Paus ini. Informasi jadwal kunjungan disunting dari harian Avvenire, Italia.

**File tulisan ini pernah dikirim ke situs sesawi Jakarta tetapi tidak ditindaklanjuti. Penulis berhak memublikasikannya di blog ini.






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Wednesday, November 25, 2015
ANGELUS POPE FRANCIS
Saint Peter's Square
Sunday, 22 November 2015



Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
On this last Sunday of the liturgical year, we celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King. And today’s Gospel leads us to contemplate Jesus as he introduces himself to Pilate as king of a kingdom that “is not of this world” (Jn 18:36). This doesn’t mean that Christ is the king of another world, but that he is king in another manner, but he is king in this world. It is a contrast between two types of logic. Worldly logic is based on ambition, competition, it fights using the weapons of fear, extortion, and the manipulation of consciences. On the other hand, the logic of the Gospel, that is, the logic of Jesus, is expressed in humility and gratuitousness. It is silently but effectively affirmed with the strength of truth. The kingdoms of this world at times are sustained by arrogance, rivalries and oppression; the reign of Christ is a “kingdom of justice, love and peace” (Preface).

When did Jesus reveal himself as king? In the event of the Cross! Those who look at the Cross cannot but see the astonishing gratuitousness of love. One of you could say, “Father, that was a failure!”. It is precisely in the failure of sin — sin is a failure — in the failure of human ambitions: the triumph of the Cross is there, the gratuitousness of love is there. In the failure of the Cross, love is seen, a love that is gratuitous, which Jesus gives us. For a Christian, speaking of power and strength means referring to the power of the Cross, and the strength of Jesus’ love: a love which remains steadfast and complete, even when faced with rejection, and it is shown as the fulfillment of a life expended in the total surrender of oneself for the benefit of humanity. On Calvary, the passers-by and the leaders derided Jesus, nailed to the Cross, and they challenged him: “Save yourself, and come down from the cross!” (Mk 15:30). “Save yourself!”. But paradoxically the truth of Jesus is precisely what is hurled at him in a mocking tone by his adversaries: “he cannot save himself!” (v. 31). Had Jesus come down from the Cross, he would have given in to the temptations of the prince of this world. Instead, he cannot save himself precisely so as to be able to save others, precisely because he has given his life for us, for each one of us. To say: “Jesus gave his life for the world” is true. But it is more beautiful to say: “Jesus gave his life for me”. And today, in this Square, let each one of us say in his or her heart: “He gave his life for me, in order to save each one of us from our sins”.

Who understood this? One of the criminals who was crucified with him understood it well, the so-called “good thief”, who implored him, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingly power” (Lk 23:42). But this was a criminal, a corrupt person, and he was there in fact because he had been condemned to death for all of the brutalities that he had committed in his life. But he saw love in Jesus’ manner, in Jesus’ meekness. The kingship of Jesus doesn’t oppress us, but rather frees us from our weaknesses and miseries, encouraging us to walk the path of the good, of reconciliation and of forgiveness. Let us look at the Cross of Jesus, let us look at the “good thief”, and let us all say together what the good thief said: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”. All together: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”. Ask Jesus, when we feel that we are weak, that we are sinners, defeated, to look at us, and say to him: “You are there. Don’t forget me”.

Faced with so many lacerations in the world and too many wounds in the flesh of mankind, let us ask the Virgin Mary to sustain us in our commitment to emulate Jesus, our king, by making his kingdom present with gestures of tenderness, understanding and mercy.

After the Angelus:
Yesterday, in Barcelona, Federico de Berga and 25 companion martyrs were beatified. They were killed in Spain during the violent persecution against the Church in the last century. They were priests, professed youth awaiting ordination and lay brothers of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. Let us entrust to their intercession our many brothers and sisters who sadly, still today, in various parts of the world, are persecuted because of their faith in Christ.

I greet all of you pilgrims, from Italy and from various countries: families, parish groups, associations. In particular, I greet those from Mexico, Australia and Paderborn, Germany. I greet the faithful of Avola, Mestre, Foggia, Pozzallo, Campagna and Val di Non, Italy, as well as the musical groups, whom I heard! — and who celebrate St Cecilia, patroness of song and music. After the Angelus, let yourselves be heard, because you play very well.

On Wednesday, I begin my trip to Africa, to visit Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic. I ask all of you to pray for this journey, that it may be for all of these beloved brothers and sisters, and also for me, a sign of closeness and love. Together let us ask the Virgin to bless these beloved lands, so that there may be peace and prosperity in them.
[Hail Mary…]

I wish you all a good Sunday. Please don’t forget to pray for me. Have a good lunch. Arrivederci!
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Monday, November 23, 2015
Jika Anda Kantuk, Segeralah Tidur


Tidur adalah salah satu kewajiban alami yang mesti dipenuhi. Seperti makan, tidur tidak bisa ditunda. Kalau pun Anda menundanya, Anda sendiri yang rugi. Dan, bahkan lebih dari rugi, Anda akan sakit jika menundanya.

Tubuh butuh makan agar muncul energi baru. Seperti makanan, tidur juga memberi energi baru pada tubuh. Energi baru muncul setelah Anda melepaskan kepenatan, menanggalkan kelelahan, dan tidur sebentar. Seperti tidak ada manusia yang tidak butuh makan, setiap manusia juga butuh waktu untuk tidur.

Saya ingat kejadian mengerikan itu. Beberapa teman kelas kami tiba terlambat di kelas. Kami kira mereka telat seperti biasanya sebab sering kali mereka tiba telat. Entah karena hujan, tol macet, atau ada kecelakaan. Kali ini rupanya lain. Ada sesuatu yang membuat mereka kurang nyaman. Penyebabnya memang bukan mereka. Tetapi apa boleh buat, seperti dalam masyarakat, seorang bertindak salah yang lain kena getah dari kesalahannya. Demikianlah teman-teman kami ini. Mereka bukan pelaku tetapi korban. Untung saja mereka tetap bisa datang dan mengikuti kuliah pagi itu.

Sang profesor bergegas menghampiri satu dari mereka begitu lonceng berbunyi. Jam istirahat sudah tiba. “Kalian baik-baik saja, state bene?”
Pertanyaan seperti ini sudah biasa bagi orang Italia. Ada dua fungsi di sini. Satunya hanya sebatas sapaan. Seperti saya menayakan sahabat saya, bagaimana kabar Anda sementara saya tahu dia baik-baik saja. Tetapi, pertanyaan yang sama bisa juga berarti pertanyaan serius. Menayakan keadaan yang sebenarnya.

Kata teman saya, “Kami mengalami kecelakaan sedikit. Hampir saja ditabrak mobil besar (truk pengangkut kontainer).”

Kami yang turut mendengarnya ikut kaget. Lalu, kami beramai-ramai mendengar penjelasannya. Rupanya memang mereka hampir ditabrak mobil besar ini yang berlawanan arah dengan mereka. Mobil besar ini sudah melampaui jalurnya dan masuk ke jalur sebelah yang nota bene dari arah berlawanan. Teman kami yang jadi sopir tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa. Dia tidak tahu atau tidak sadar bagaimana menghindari mobil dari arah berlawanan arah ini. Untung saja, satu teman lagi yang duduk di belakang berdiri dari kursinya dan menekan tombol klakson. Bunyi klakson inilah yang membangunkan sopir mobil besar tadi. Lalu, dengan sigap dan tangkas, mobil besar itu berputar haluan. Dia menabrak pagar jalan tol. Dengan itu, dia tidak jadi menabrak mobil teman kami.

Kejadian ini mungkin sepele karena sering terjadi apalagi di Indonesia khususnya di Pulau Jawa. Di jalan tol, jalur puncak, atau jalur pantura misalnya banyak sekali sopir truk yang ngantuk karena kecapaian. Tetapi, kejadian ini betul-betul merugikan. Tak jarang bagi beberapa sopir, mereka bukan saja rugi tetapi malah merugikan orang lain. Menabrak rumah orang, menabrak motor, menabrak mobil dari arah berlawanan dan sebagainya.

Masalah mendasarnya adalah kurang tidur yang menyebabkan sopir jadi ngantuk. Ngantuk tetapi masih mau bekerja, masih mau nyetir. Bukannya tidur. Maklum, tidak tidur, tidak dapat gaji. Tidak dapat gaji, tidak dapat makan, tidak bisa menyekolahkan anak, dan tidak bisa bertahan hidup. Singkatnya, gara-gara ngantuk, akibat-akibat lainnya muncul berentetan. Tentu kita tidak ingin seperti ini. Tidak ingin kejadian serupa berulang kali terjadi. Untuk menghindarinya, lebih baik mulai dari diri sendiri. Mulailah tidur jika Anda merasa ngantuk. Jika tidak mau ngantuk pada saat bekerja, Anda mesti mengatur jadwal tidur Anda dengan baik.

Kecelakaan bisa datang kapan saja tetapi usahakan agar bukan kita yang menciptakannya. Kalau orang lain yang menyebabkannya itu urusannya lain. Saya kira jika kita masing-masing menjaga agar tidak menjadi penyebab kecelakaan, kecelakaan itu semestinya tidak ada.

Rasa kantuk bukan saja untuk sopir truk. Kita yang biasa menyetir sendiri mengalami hal yang sama. Tetapi, kita bisa mengatasinya. Biarlah kita turut menjaga keteraturan lau lintas bersama. Kita akan menikmatinya jika lalu lintas lancar. Sebab, jika macet atau kecelakaan, bukan saja kita tetapi banyak orang akan rugi.

Selamat berkendara dengan aman, nyaman, lancar, dan selamat sampai tujuan.

PRM, 23/11/15
Gordi

Foto di sini

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