Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday
afternoon in the Synod Hall, Pope Francis brought to a close the
third world congress of “Scholas Occurrentes”, an international
network of interreligious and multicultural educational institutions,
whose aim is social inclusion through education, and which is heir to
the “Escuela de Vecinos”, School of Neighbours and “Escuelas
Hermanas”, School of Sisters, two associations formed in Buenos
Aires during the Holy Father's period of office as archbishop of the
city. The Pontiff answered by live connection to questions from
students in Istanbul, Israel, South Africa, San Salvador and
Australia and concluded with an off-the-cuff greeting to the
thousands of young people who followed the event from around the
world.
The first question was from an
Australian student who asked how the Scholas programme will help
bridge gaps between the youths of various countries.
“Walls separate and divide”, the
Pope replied. “Bridges bring people closer. In response to your
question, 'what can be done?', we can keep communicating, communicate
experiences … and through communication no-one commands but
everything works. It is the spontaneity of life, a 'yes' to life.
Communication is giving, communication is generosity, communication
is respect, communication means avoiding all types of
discrimination”.
Francis went on to speak with a member
of Scholas from Israel who asked if he would be willing to visit
them. “I would like to visit”, he replied. “I was there a few
months ago and was very happy to be there, very happy”:
The third question was from a young
person from Istanbul who wanted to know if the Pope thought that the
world in the future would be better or worse than it is now.
“I do not have a crystal ball to look
into the future”, he joked. “However, I would like to say one
thing: where does the future lie? The future lies with the young. But
be careful: young people with two qualities: with wings and roots.
Young people who have wings so they can fly, to dream, to create, and
roots to receive the wisdom of their elders”.
A student from South Africa posed a
question regarding the origins of the idea of a “school platform”.
“Scholas came about from the
formation of a school of neighbours, in the diocese of Buenos Aires.
As well as schools, a network of schools of neighbours, to build
bridges between the schools of Buenos Aires. And it built many
bridges, even trans-oceanic bridges. Why? Because we are convinced
that the young need to communicate, to demonstrate and share their
values. The young of today needs three key pillars: education, sport
and culture. Therefore, Scholas combines all three … so that states
can provide solid job opportunities for these young people who are
accompanied in life by education, sport and culture. Sport is
important as it teaches how to play as a team. Sport saves us from
selfishness, it helps us not to be selfish. Therefore, it is
important to work in a team, to study in a team, and to walk the path
of life as a team”.
Ernesto, a student from San Salvador,
worried about future employment, asked the Pope to make an appeal to
all universities and private enterprises, and Francis, after
emphasising the advances of his country in education, warned against
“maras”, or gangs, since “just as bridges exist to unite you,
there are also forms of communication that exist to destroy. Be alert
when there are groups that seek destruction, that seek war, and who
do not know how to work as a team. Defend yourselves together, as a
team, as a group, and work hard at this. I know that you are working
well, and are very well supported. And the Ministry of Education also
supports you. Keep going along this path of teamwork and defend
yourselves against those who wish to atomise and take away the
strength of the group”.
Finally, the presenter of the programme
asked the Holy Father what message he would like to transmit to
viewers.
“Something that is not mine”,
concluded Francis. “Jesus said it many times: do not be afraid. In
my country, we have an expression that I am not sure I can translate
into English: 'do not crumple'. Do not be afraid, go ahead and build
bridges of peace, play as a team, and dream of a better future,
because the future is in your hands. Dream of the future, flying, but
do not forget the cultural, intellectual and religious heritage your
elders have handed down to you. Go ahead courageously, and create the
future”.
In his brief address at the end of
these three Days of the World Network of Schools for Encounter, the
Pope emphasised that the “culture of encounter” is the great
challenge. “Nowadays there is no doubt that the world is at war.
And there is no doubt, of course, that the world is in a state of
discord. It is necessary to propose somehow a culture of encounter. A
culture of integration, encounter, of bridges. … But remember this
African saying: 'it takes a village to raise a child'. To educate a
person, all of this is necessary”.
“Please, we cannot leave children
alone!” he exclaimed. “Already we have incorporated the phrase
'street children' into our languages, as if a child is able to stay
alone, isolated from his cultural and family environment … and it
is necessary to rebuild an educational pact, to rebuild this village
to educate a child. We cannot leave them alone, we cannot leave them
on the street, unprotected and at the mercy of a world in which the
worship of money, violence and waste prevail. Children are discarded,
as are the elderly and now also a whole generation of young
unemployed in developed countries, aged twenty-five and younger, and
without work. This means we have to get up and make sure we do not
leave the young by themselves, at least for this reason. And this is
our task”.
“In this respect, it is very
important to strengthen bonds: social, family and personal bonds.
All of us, but especially children and the youngest among us, need
the right surroundings, a truly human habitat offering the conditions
for harmonious personal development and integration in the broader
context of society. Commitment to creating a strong and extensive
“network” of truly human ties, that supports children, calmly and
confidently opening them up to reality, is therefore important. … I
encourage you to work towards creating this human, increasingly human
village, that offers children a present of peace and a future of
hope”.
