Vatican City, 13 July 2015 (VIS) – At
the end of the Holy Mass, Archbishop Edmundo Ponziano Valenzuela
Mellid and the Orthodox archbishop of South America, Tarasios,
greeted the Holy Father, who expressed his gratitude and, before
praying the Angelus, invited all those present to look upon the
Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother.
“She is the gift that Jesus gives to
his people. He gave her to us as our Mother at the hour of the cross
and of His suffering. She is the fruit of Christ’s sacrifice for
us. And from that moment, Mary has always been, and will always be,
with her children, especially the poor and those most in need. She
has become part of the tapestry of human history, of ours lands and
peoples. As in so many other countries of Latin America, the faith of
the Paraguayan people is imbued with love for Our Lady. They approach
their Mother with confidence, they open their hearts and entrust to
her their joys and sorrows, their aspirations and sufferings. Our
Lady consoles them and, with tender love, fills them with hope. They
never cease to turn with trust to Mary, Mother of mercy for each and
every one of her children, without exception”.
“I ask Our Lady, who persevered in
prayer with the Apostles as they awaited the Holy Spirit, to watch
over the Church and strengthen her members in fraternal love. With
Mary's help, may the Church be a home for all, a welcoming home, a
mother for all peoples”.
Dear brothers: I ask you, please, do
not forget to pray for me. I know how beloved the Pope is in
Paraguay. I keep you in my heart and I pray for you and for your
country”, concluded the Holy Father who, following the Marian
prayer, blessed the one and a half million people who had attended
the celebration.
He then travelled by car to the
apostolic nunciature where he lunched with the 22 bishops of the
Episcopal Conference of Paraguay. He then left the nunciature for the
waterfront promenade of Costanera where he met with the young people
of the nation.
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