Vatican City, 22 September 2015 (VIS) –
Yesterday the Pope left Havana and transferred to Holguin, the third
largest city on the island in terms of number of inhabitants (1.5
million), and the recognised capital of Cuban music. It is the home
of the National Ballet of Cuba, hosts an internationally renowned
centre for the rehabilitation of drug users, and is a university
town.
Upon arrival at Frank Pais Airport,
Francis was received by the bishop of the diocese, Msgr. Emilio
Aranguren Etcheverria, and greeted without a formal address the local
authorities and around a hundred faithful who welcomed him,
accompanied by a choir of children. He then travelled the twenty
kilometres between the airport and the city centre by car, and the
last three kilometres by popemobile, applauded by crowds. He arrived
in Plaza de la Revolucion Calixto Garcia Iniguez de Holguin
(1839-1898), dedicated to the Cuban patriot, where he celebrated Mass
on the feast day of St. Matthew the apostle and evangelist.
“We are celebrating the story of a
conversion”, said the Pope in his homily. “Matthew himself, in
his Gospel, tells us what it was like, this encounter which changed
his life. He shows us an 'exchange of glances' capable of changing
history. On a day like any other, as Matthew, the tax collector, was
seated at his table, Jesus passed by, saw him, came up to him and
said: 'Follow me'. Matthew got up and followed him”.
“How strong was the love in that look
of Jesus, which moved Matthew to do what he did! What power must have
been in his eyes to make Matthew get up from his table! We know that
Matthew was a publican: he collected taxes from the Jews to give to
the Romans. Publicans were looked down upon and considered sinners;
as such, they lived apart and were despised by others. One could
hardly eat, speak or pray with the likes of these. For the people,
they were traitors: they extorted from their own to give to others.
Publicans belonged to this social class”.
Jesus, on the other hand, stopped: “He
did not quickly take his distance. He looked at Matthew calmly,
peacefully. He looked at him with eyes of mercy; he looked at him as
no one had ever looked at him before. And this look unlocked
Matthew’s heart; it set him free, it healed him, it gave him hope,
a new life, as it did to Zacchaeus, to Bartimaeus, to Mary Magdalen,
to Peter, and to each of us. Even if we do not dare raise our eyes to
the Lord, he looks at us first. This is our story, and it is like
that of so many others. Each of us can say: 'I, too, am a sinner,
whom Jesus has looked upon”.
Jesus’ love “goes before us, his
look anticipates our needs. He can see beyond appearances, beyond
sin, beyond failures and unworthiness. He sees beyond our rank in
society. He sees beyond this, to our dignity as sons and daughters, a
dignity at times sullied by sin, but one which endures in the depth
of our soul. He came precisely to seek out all those who feel
unworthy of God, unworthy of others. Let us allow Jesus to look at
us. Let us allow his gaze to run over our streets. Let us allow that
look to become our joy, our hope”.
“After the Lord looked upon him with
mercy, he said to Matthew: 'Follow me'. Matthew got up and followed
him. After the look, a word. After love, the mission. Matthew is no
longer the same; he is changed inside. The encounter with Jesus and
his loving mercy has transformed him. He leaves behind his table, his
money, his exclusion. Before, he had sat waiting to collect his
taxes, to take from others; now, with Jesus he must get up and give,
give himself to others. Jesus looks at him and Matthew encounters the
joy of service. For Matthew and for all who have felt the gaze of
Jesus, other people are no longer to be 'lived off', used and abused.
The gaze of Jesus gives rise to missionary activity, service,
self-giving. Jesus’ love heals our short-sightedness and pushes us
to look beyond, not to be satisfied with appearances or with what is
politically correct”.
Jesus goes before us, he precedes us:
“He opens the way and invites us to follow him. He invites us
slowly to overcome our preconceptions and our reluctance to think
that others, much less ourselves, can change. He challenges us daily
with the question: 'Do you believe? Do you believe it is possible
that a tax collector can become a servant? Do you believe it is
possible that a traitor can become a friend? Do you believe is
possible that the son of a carpenter can be the Son of God?' His gaze
transforms our way of seeing things, his heart transforms our hearts.
God is a Father who seeks the salvation of each of his sons and
daughters”.
The Pope invited everyone to gaze upon
the Lord in prayer, in the Eucharist, in Confession, and in our
brothers and sisters, “especially those who feel excluded or
abandoned. May we learn to see them as Jesus sees us. Let us share
his tenderness and mercy with the sick, prisoners, the elderly and
families in difficulty. Again and again we are called to learn from
Jesus, who always sees what is most authentic in every person, which
is the image of his Father”.
“I know the efforts and the
sacrifices being made by the Church in Cuba to bring Christ’s word
and presence to all, even in the most remote areas. Here I would
mention especially the 'mission houses' which, given the shortage of
churches and priests, provide for many people a place for prayer, for
listening to the word of God, for catechesis and community life. They
are small signs of God’s presence in our neighbourhoods and a daily
aid in our effort to respond to the plea of the apostle Paul: 'I beg
you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been
called, with all lowliness and meekness, forbearing one another in
love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace'”.
Francis concluded by invoking the
Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, “whom Cuba embraced
and to whom it opened its doors forever”, asking her “to look
with maternal love on all her children in this noble country. May her
'eyes of mercy' ever keep watch over each of you, your homes, your
families, and all those who feel that they have no place. In her
love, may she protect us all as she once cared for Jesus”.
In the late afternoon, before leaving
Holguin, the Pope climbed the “Loma de la Cruz”, the Hill of the
Cross, a place of pilgrimage for the Cuban people. The cross that
dominates the hill, which offers a panoramic view of the entire
island, was erected in 1790 by Friar Antonio de Alegria and is
reached by scaling 458 steps.
From the summit the Pope blessed the
city with the following prayer: “Looking upon the Holy Cross,
raised on the summit of this mountain, that illuminates the life of
families, children and the young, the sick and all those who suffer,
may they receive Your consolation and your nearness, and may they
feel invited to follow Your Son, the only way to reach You”.
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