Vatican City, 29 October 2015 (VIS) –
This morning the Pope received in the Sala Clementina the
participants in the Radio Maria 6th World Congress, taking place in
the shrine of Collevallenza, Italy from 25 to 30 October and attended
by the presidents and priests who direct the 75 Radio Maria
broadcasters throughout the world and the further six who will
shortly become active. Thousands of volunteers contribute to the
running of Radio Maria, which has around 30 million listeners
worldwide.
Pope Francis began his address by
commenting that ever since its creation the aim of Radio Maria has
been to help the Church in her task of evangelising, and to do so in
its own special way, “with closeness to the concerns and problems
of the people, with words of consolation and hope, the fruit of faith
and commitment to solidarity. … The spread of Radio Maria in many
environments, very diverse in terms of culture, language and
tradition, is good news for all as it shows that, when we have the
courage to propose high profile content from a clearly Christian
position, the initiative is well-received, beyond our best
predictions, and at times by those who thereby perhaps come into
contact with the message of the Gospel for the first time”.
The Pope invited the members of Radio
Maria to continue their work, trusting in Providence that has always
enabled them to find the means to respond to their daily needs
regarding the modernisation of technologies and the development of
the radio station, which has spread rapidly and organically. “In
this respect, the challenge is to maintain your style of sobriety,
while continuing to seek suitable tools”.
The work of Radio Maria has become “a
true mission”, which must be carried out “with fidelity to the
Gospel and to the Magisterium of the Church, and listening to society
and to the people, especially the poorest and most marginalised, so
as to be a point of reference and a support to all your listeners. …
All those who listen to your radio programmes recognise you as a
broadcaster that offers ample space to prayer, demonstrating that
when one opens up to prayer, one opens the door … to the Lord. Your
model in this is Our Lady. It is therefore necessary to love Mary
with your heart to live and feel in harmony with the Church”.
The Pope concluded by urging the
directors “always to cultivate the inner garden of prayer, of
listening to the Word of God”, and to seek out “good readings, so
as to deepen your faith. In other words, always be aware that you
give something great and unique: Christian hope, which is far more
than a mere spiritual consolation, since it is based on the power of
the Resurrection, witnessed with faith and works of charity”.
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