VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 196
DATE 06-11-2015
Summary:
- The Pope receives the governor general of Grenada
- Francis: helping human life means reaching out to those in need
- The Pope is interviewed by the newspaper Straatnieuws: "The Church teaches
that everyone has the right to work, a home and the earth"
- Christians and Hindus: promoting human ecology together
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts
___________________________________________________________
The Pope receives the governor general of Grenada
Vatican City, 6 November 2015 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican Apostolic
Palace Pope Francis received in audience the governor general of Grenada,
Cecile
Ellen Fleurette La Grenade, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of
State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Gallagher, secretary for
Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, emphasis was placed on the good bilateral
relations between the Holy See and Grenada, as well as the important
contribution of the Catholic Church to the development of the country,
especially with reference to social challenges and the education of the young.
Finally, this was followed by an overview of the situation of the Caribbean
region, with particular reference to economic problems and environmental issues
linked to climate changes.
___________________________________________________________
Francis: helping human life means reaching out to those in need
Vatican City, 6 November 2015 (VIS) - "I encourage you to continue your
important work in favour of life from conception until its natural end, also
taking into account the conditions of suffering that many brothers and sisters
have to face and at times submit to", said Pope Francis this morning as he
received, in the Sala Regia, the 510 participants in the Congress of the
Movement for Life being held in Sacrofano, Italy from 6 to 8 November.
"In existential dynamics everything is related, and we need to nurture a
personal and social sensibility both towards the welcoming of a new life and
towards those situations of poverty and exploitation that affect the weakest
and
most disadvantaged. On the one hand, 'how can be genuinely teach the importance
of concern for other vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient
they
may be, if we fail to protect a human embryo?". On the other, 'human life
itself
is a gift which must be defended from various forms of debasement'", he
affirmed, citing his encyclical "Laudato si'" and adding that "indeed, we must
note sadly that there are many people who experience uncomfortable conditions
of
life, who require our attention and our solidarity".
"For Christ's disciples, helping wounded human life meant going towards people
in need, putting themselves by their sides, and taking on board their frailty
and suffering so as to relieve them. How many families are vulnerable due to
poverty, illness, unemployment and homelessness? How many elderly people suffer
the burden of suffering and loneliness? How many young people are lost,
threatened by addiction and other forms of slavery, waiting to rediscover trust
in life? These people, wounded in body and spirit, are icons of that man of the
Gospel who, travelling the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, ran into some
brigands who robbed and beat him. He experienced first the indifference of
some,
and then the closeness of the good Samaritan".
On this path, "that crosses the desert of life, even in our times there are
still many wounded people, caused by today's brigands, who despoil them not
only
of their belongings but also of their dignity. Faced with the suffering and
need
of our defenceless brothers, some turn away or move on, whereas others stop and
respond with generous dedication to their cry for help. You, members of the
Movement for Life, have sought to imitate the good Samaritan during the forty
years of your activity. Before the various forms of threats to human life, you
have approached the frailty of others, you have taken action so that in society
there may no longer be excluded or marginalised who live in precarious
conditions".
The Pope again thanked the members of the Movement for their work, and invited
them to continue "to protect the most vulnerable people, who have the right to
be born into life, as well as those who ask for a healthier and more dignified
existence. In particular, there is a need to work at different levels and with
perseverance, in the promotion and defence of the family, society's foremost
resource, especially with reference to the gift of children and the affirmation
of the dignity of the woman".
To this end, he concluded, "I would like to underline that in your activity,
you have always welcomed everyone regardless of religion and nationality. The
relevant number of women, especially immigrants, who attend your centres show
that when women are offered concrete support, in spite of problems and
influences, they are able to make the sense of love, life and maternity triumph
within them".
___________________________________________________________
The Pope is interviewed by the newspaper Straatnieuws: "The Church teaches
that
everyone has the right to work, a home and the earth"
Vatican City, 6 November 2015 (VIS) - The Dutch newspaper "Straatnieuws",
published by the homeless, today published an interview granted by Pope Francis
on 27 October. The article is also present in other dailies of the same type
associated with the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), which has
113
members. This type of publication is sold directly by the homeless, thus
providing them with a source of income.
The following are extensive extracts from the interview, especially with the
theme of poverty.
Interviewer: What is the Church's message for the homeless? What does
Christian
solidarity mean for them in practice?
Pope Francis: "Two things come to mind. Jesus came to the world homeless, and
made Himself poor. Then, the Church wishes to embrace all and to say that it is
a right to have a roof over your head. In popular movements they work according
to the three Spanish 't's: trabajo (work), techo (casa) and tierra (earth). The
Church teaches that every person has a right to all three".
Interviewer: You often ask for attention to the poor and refugees. Do you not
fear that in this way a sort of weariness in relation to this theme may be
generated in the mass media or in society in general?
Pope Francis: "When we return to a theme that is not pleasant, because it is
disagreeable to talk about it, we are all tempted to say. 'That's enough, I am
tired of this'. I feel that this weariness exists, but I am not afraid of it. I
must continue to speak the truth and say how these things are".
Interviewer: Are you not afraid that your defence of solidarity and assistance
for the homeless and other poor people may be exploited politically? How should
the Church speak in order to be influential and at the same time remain
external
to political affiliations?
Pope Francis: "There are roads that lead to errors in this regard. I would
like
to underline two temptations. The Church must speak truthfully and also by her
witness: the witness of poverty. If a believer speaks about poverty or the
homeless and lives like a pharaoh, this is not good. This is the first
temptation.
"The second temptation is to make agreements with governments. Agreements can
be made but they must be clear and transparent. For example, we manage this
building, but the accounts are all audited, in order to avoid corruption, as
there is always the temptation to corruption in public life, both political and
religious. ... Once I asked a question to a minister in Argentina, an honest
man -
one who left his post because he could not reconcile himself with various
obscure aspects. I asked him: when you give assistance in the form of meals,
clothing or money to the poor and needy, what percentage of what you send
arrives? And he answered, 35 per cent. That means that 65 per cent is lost. It
is corruption: a cut for me, another cut for you".
--- MPost/386 v1.21
* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)
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