Vatican City, 26 June 2014 (VIS) –
The Pope embraces all the Churches of the East and is close to their
faithful, whose tears, fears and hopes are also ours, a sentiment he
manifested this morning, receiving in audience the participants in
the assembly of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental
Churches, also recalling the comfort, encouragement, and at the same
time, the responsibility he encountered during his recent pilgrimage
to the Holy Land.
“The olive tree which I planted in
the Vatican Gardens together with the Patriarch of Constantinople and
the Presidents of Israel and Palestine, is a symbol of that peace
which is secure and enduring only because it is cultivated by many
hands. Those who would cultivate the plant of peace must never forget
that God alone gives the growth. True peace, the peace which the
world cannot give, is a gift to us from Jesus Christ. For all the
grievous attacks it endures today, peace can always flourish again. I
am grateful that you continue to 'make peace grow' through charity,
which is the ultimate aim of all your organizations. With unity and
charity Christ’s disciples strive to be peacemakers everywhere, in
all peoples and communities, and to overcome persistent forms of
discrimination, starting with those based on religion”.
“First among those called to be
peacemakers are our brothers and sisters of the Oriental Churches,
together with their pastors. Hoping at times against all hope,
remaining in the place of their birth where the Gospel of the
incarnate Son of God was first proclaimed, may they experience the
blessedness reserved to those who are peacemakers: 'they will be
called children of God'. And may they always feel the support of the
universal Church and never falter in their conviction that the fire
of Pentecost, the power of Love, can halt the fire of arms, hatred
and vengeance”, he exclaimed. “Their tears and their anguish are
ours, as well as their hope! We can express this through our
solidarity, if it is one which is concrete and effective, capable of
ensuring that the international community upholds the rights of
individuals and peoples”.
Francis expressed the closeness of the
Catholic Church to the brothers and sisters in Syria and Iraq, along
with their bishops and priests. “The Church is likewise close to
our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land and the Middle East, but
also to the beloved people of Ukraine in the critical situation in
which they find themselves, and to the people of Romania. This
closeness and concern is expressed in the works which your agencies
carry out. I urge you to continue your generous efforts to help them.
Your works of relief and assistance in nations most affected by these
crises respond to basic needs, particularly of those who are
powerless and most vulnerable, as well as the many young people
tempted to leave their homeland. And since communities of Eastern
Christians are present worldwide, you are working everywhere to bring
relief to the displaced and to refugees, restoring their dignity and
their security in full respect for their identity and religious
freedom”.
Finally, Pope Francis encouraged the
participants in the assembly to pursue the goals set in their last
Plenary Session, especially those regarding the training of young
people and teachers, and uniting them with their interest for the
family, especially in view of the upcoming Synod on this theme. He
concluded, “the Holy Family of Nazareth, 'which knew anxiety ... as
well as the pain of persecution, emigration and hard daily labour'
teaches us 'to trust the Father, to imitate Christ and to let
ourselves be guided by the Holy Spirit'”.
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