VATICAN CITY, JUN 19, 2005 (VIS) - Pope Benedict, before praying the noon Angelus with the pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, spoke of tomorrow's celebration of the United Nations-sponsored World Day of the Refugee, noting that this day "is to keep attention focused on the problems of those who are forced to leave their homeland."
The Pope said that "the theme this year - 'The Courage to be a Refugee' - accents the strength of spirit needed by those who must leave everything, sometimes even their family, to escape serious difficulties and dangers. The Christian community feels close to those who live in this painful condition: it tries to support them and, in different ways, demonstrate love and interest, translated into concrete gestures of solidarity so that each person who is far from his homeland feels that the Church is their homeland where no one is a stranger."
"The loving attention of Christians towards those in difficulty and their commitment for a more solidary society are continually nourished by active and aware participation in the Eucharist," said the Holy Father. "Active charity, in fact, is a criterion that gives evidence of the authenticity of our liturgical celebrations. May the Year of the Eucharist that we are living help diocesan and parish communities to revive this capacity to meet the challenge of so much poverty in our world."
Following the Angelus prayer, Benedict XVI greeted the thousands of Polish faithful present, noting that "today in Warsaw, Poland's Eucharistic Congress concluded. During the solemn concelebration, three sons of that noble nation were inscribed in the book of Blesseds: Ladislao Findysz, Bronislao Markiewicz and Ignacy Klopotowski. I hope this significant ecclesial event contributes to strengthening the spirit of fraternal reconciliation, a necessary basis for building the communion of all those who participate in the one table of Christ."
ANG/REFUGEES/... VIS 20050620 (320)
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