Pope to Swiss Bishops: Be the Body of Christ, not just another NGO

Straight off the plane from Turkey, Pope Francis resumed his daily activities at the Vatican Monday morning which included a meeting with Swiss bishops who are on their 5 yearly Ad limina visit.

The Pope handed them a pre-prepared text and then greeted them one by one.  In the text the Pope praises Switzerland’s history of being at the forefront of  working for peace, through its witness to cultural and religious coexistence.

He writes “although many citizens are distant from the Church, the majority recognize the positive role played by Catholics and Protestants in the social field”.

Here Pope Francis urges the bishops to look back on their nations long Christian tradition – and next year’s celebration of 1500 years of continuous religious life in the iconic Abbey of Saint-Maurice – to keep the faith alive in Switzerland. “Without a living faith in the risen Christ the beautiful churches and monasteries gradually become museums, the commendable works and institutions lose their soul, leaving only empty spaces and lost people”.

Pope Francis says the mission entrusted to the bishops is to “feed the flock”. “The people of God cannot be without  a shepherd” , he continued and the role of bishops and priests is to serve the unity of the faith and ensure that it is taught according to Church tradition.   He urges the bishops to have renewed sense of collegiality as a form of mutual support in their mission and calls on them bishops to have a united and clear voice on society’s ills.

This united voice, he writes is important at a time when some people - even within the Church – try to “withhold the realism of the social dimension of the Gospel”.  Pope Francis notes that the Gospel has an inherent, original prepositive power and that it’s the pastors’ job to make the full extent of this accessible to people experiencing difficulties in their everyday life – without tarnishing its beauty or weakening its appeal - particularly for people who are searching for meaning in their lives, or those who have turned away from the Church.

The Pope comments on how the Gospel is a powerful force to counter a thinking that deliberately denies the transcendent dimension of man, of life and of human relations, especially in the face of suffering and death. Here, he continues, the witness of Christians and parishes can really brighten the way and support the pursuit of happiness for people. In this way, Pope Francis states “the Church in Switzerland will clearly be the Body of Christ, the People of God, and not only a beautiful organization, another NGO”.

In the text Pope Francis also observes that the faith we have received from the Lord  invites us to reach out to those with whom we come in contact, even if they differ from us in their culture, religion or belief.

He notes that “if we believe in the free and generous work of the Spirit, we can better understand each other and work together to better serve society and contribute to peace”.  In this ecumenism is a contribution not only to the unity of the Church, but also to the unity of the human family, as it favors a fertile, peaceable and fraternal coexistence.

The Pope adds however, that in prayer and in the joint proclamation of the Lord Jesus, we must be careful to allow the faithful of every Christian denomination, to live their faith clearly and free of confusion at the expense of truth without the differences. He warns against an ecumenism which – on the pretext of  “a certain accommodation” hides our Eucharistic faith, which implies that we take neither our own “greatest treasure” nor our interlocutor seriously enough.

He also encourages the bishops to  continue their efforts for the formation of seminarians. “We are talking about a question for the future of the Church” he writes. “She needs priests who have enjoyed a thorough familiarity with the tradition and teaching of the Church of Christ” so they can be increasingly conformed to Him.  In the text Pope Francis emphasizes the importance that bishops give time to their priests, especially those who have distanced themselves from their bishop. “A simple, true and fraternal dialogue” he notes can often allow for a new relationship to begin.

“The mission of the laity in the Church has an important place, because they contribute to the life of parishes and church institutions, whether as a full-time workers or volunteers”, concludes Pope Francis. He adds that while their commitment and support should be appreciated, clear respect must always be shown for the difference between the common priesthood of the faithful and sacramental priesthood. 

(from Vatican Radio)

On 23:44

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Pope to journalists: I prayed for Turkey, for peace, for Christian unity

Half a century on from the first meeting between a Pope and an Orthodox Patriarch, one of the frequently asked questions at the end of this visit to Turkey is how long will it take before the two Churches are reunited again? A second question that’s been on everyone’s lips in the overwhelmingly Muslim nation is what difference will this trip make to the interreligious tensions that continue to inflame conflicts in countries such as Syria, Iraq and Nigeria, to cite just those places that have been mentioned by name over the past three days. Pope Francis responded to both these questions during a lengthy press conference on the plane back to Rome. (He also walked down between the seats shaking all of our hands with a smile, a joke, a word of thanks for the job that we do).

On the ecumenical front, he noted that not all Catholics and Orthodox are happy with the progress that’s been made, but he said the work of convincing the more conservative factions must continue with patience and humility. While remaining sceptical that theologians will announce a breakthrough in the dialogue any time soon, the Pope also reiterated his firm conviction that Christians must continue with the daily practise of praying, working and teaching together. No-one is putting a timeframe on the reconciliation of East and Western Christianity, but there is hope that a synod of leaders from around the Orthodox world, planned for 2016 (with Catholic observers possibly in attendance) will help to speed up this urgent ecumenical journey.

On the interfaith front, the Pope spoke warmly of his meeting at the Diyanet in Ankara with Muslim leaders, saying we need to take a step forward in the quality of conversations between people of different religious beliefs. He said he told Turkish president Erdogan that leaders must clearly condemn all terrorist violence that has nothing to do with the Koran, which he called “a book of peace”.  He also mentioned his visit to Istanbul’s Blue Mosque where he said he prayed for peace in Turkey and beyond. Both the encounter with the Grand Mufti in his place of prayer and his tour of the ancient Hagia Sophia museum, while not novelties in themselves, will surely encourage trust and open doors to understanding the pain of each other's historical memories.

The Pope also talked about a question that surprisingly hasn’t been under the spotlight - next year’s centenary of the Armenian genocide in which a million and a half people died at the hands of the Ottoman forces. While Turkey has long  denied this historical tragedy, the Pope noted that President Erdogan has recently mentioned the event, saying any such attempts to reach out are positive, however small they may be.

Finally, as we’ve so often seen, Pope Francis’ thoughts at the end of this Turkish trip were with the refugees - those who rarely make news headlines, but with whom he had a last brief encounter before leaving Istanbul. And that’s what this visit was really all about: not grand political gestures or historical religious agreements, but rather about personal encounters and small signs of hope through which we witness to the human values at the heart of our different faiths.

(Philippa Hitchen)

(from Vatican Radio)

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Pope meets young refugees from Mideast and Africa

Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis’s final engagement in Turkey was a meeting with a group of around 50 young people that included many refugees from Syria, Iraq and other countries of the Middle East and Africa.  The youths are being cared for by the local Salesian community in Istanbul. In his address, the pope assured the young people that he shares their sufferings and deplored the degrading conditions in which so many refugees are forced to live, calling it “intolerable.”

Please find below an English translation of his remarks:

Dear Young People,

            I have greatly desired to meet with you, youth from Turkey, Syria, Iraq and other countries of the Middle East and Africa.  You represent hundreds of your peers, many of whom are exiles and refugees who are helped every day by the Salesians.  I wish to assure you that I share your sufferings; I hope my visit, by the grace of God, may offer you some consolation in your difficult situation.  Yours is the sad consequence of brutal conflicts and war, which are always evils and which never solve problems.  Rather, they only create new ones.

            Refugees, such as yourselves, often find themselves deprived, sometimes for long periods, of basic needs such as a dignified home, healthcare, education and work.  They have had to abandon not only their material possessions, but above all their freedom, closeness to family, their homeland and cultural traditions.  The degrading conditions in which so many refugees are forced to live are intolerable!  For this reason, we must do everything possible to eradicate the causes of this situation.  I appeal for greater international cooperation to resolve the conflicts which are causing bloodshed in your homelands, to counter the other causes which are driving people to leave their home countries, and to improve conditions so that people may remain or return home.  I encourage all who are working generously and steadfastly for justice and peace not to lose heart.  I ask political leaders to always remember that the great majority of their people long for peace, even if at times they lack the strength and voice to demand it.

            Many organizations are doing a great deal for refugees.  I am especially pleased by the good work of so many Catholic groups which offer generous aid to many in need without discriminating.  I wish also to express deep gratitude to the Turkish authorities for the great efforts they have made in assisting the displaced, in particular Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and for the authorities’ tangible commitment in trying to meet their needs.  I hope that the necessary support of the international community may not be lacking.

            Dear young people, do not be discouraged.  With the help of God, continue to hope in a better future, despite the difficulties and obstacles which you are currently facing.  The Catholic Church is with you, including through the invaluable work of the Salesians.   The Church, in addition to other forms of help, also offers you the opportunity to see to your education and formation.  Remember always that God does not forget any of his children, and that those who are the smallest and who suffer the most are closest to the Father’s heart.

              For my part, together with the whole Church, I will continue to pray to the Lord, asking him to inspire those in leadership, so that they will not hesitate to promote justice, security and peace and do so in ways that are clear and effective.  Through her social and charitable organizations, the Church will remain at your side and will continue to hold up your cause before the world.

            May God bless you all! 

(from Vatican Radio)

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