Vatican City, 5 April 2014 (VIS) –
Following today's Angelus, the Pope prayed a Hail Mary for the Tutsi
victims of the genocide that devastated Rwanda twenty years ago. He
encouraged the Rwandan people to “continue with determination and
hope the process of reconciliation that has already borne fruit, and
in your commitment to the human and spiritual rebuilding of the
country”, and added, “Do not be afraid! Build your society on the
rock of the Gospel, in love and harmony, as only in this way can
lasting peace be created”.
The Pope mentioned the people of
L'Aquila who, five years after the earthquake that destroyed the city
claiming many lives, are working for its reconstruction, and also
prayed for the victims of the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea
and neighbouring countries.
“During the last few Sundays I have
suggested to all of you to obtain a small copy of the Gospel, to
carry with you during the day, so you can read it frequently. Then I
thought of an ancient tradition of the Church during Lent, of giving
the Gospel to catechumens, and to those who are preparing for
Baptism. So, today I wish to offer you, here in the square – but as
a sign to all – a pocket-sized Gospel. It will be distributed free.
… And like Him, I say to you, freely you have received, freely give
– give the message of the Gospel! … Let us do something: in
exchange for this give, carry out an act of charity, a gesture of
love, freely given; a prayer for enemies, reconciliation, something.
Today we can also read the Gospel using many technological
instruments. You can carry the entire Bible around with you in a
smartphone, in a tablet. The important thing is to read the Word of
God, by any means – read the Word of God, is it Jesus who is
speaking to you!”
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