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Posted on 09/27/2017 5:59:31 PM PDT by ebb tide
"Christ himself asks us to welcome our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters with open arms", Pope Francis took the occasion of the general audience in St. Peter's Square, to launch Caritas Internationalis’ campaign "Share the Journey” in support of families forced to migrate - because, Francis said, "the journey is shared by those who come to our land, and we, who are called to reach their hearts to understand them, understand their culture and language. The Pope recalled once again the opportunity of a new migration law "more pertinent to the current context".
"I am pleased to welcome the representatives of Caritas, who came here to officially start the two-year campaign "Share the journey", which I wanted to coincide with this audience" Jorge Mario said. “I welcome migrants, asylum seekers and refugees who, together with the Italian Caritas and other Catholic organizations, are a sign of a Church that seeks to be open, inclusive and welcoming. Thank you all for your tireless service. You all really deserve a great round of applause! With your daily commitment, you remind us that Christ himself asks us to welcome our brothers and sisters with our arms truly open, ready for a sincere embrace, a loving and enveloping embrace, a bit like this colonnade in St. Peter's Square, which represents the Mother Church that embraces all in sharing our common journey ".
The Pope, who at the audience continued his catechesis on Christian hope, stressed that, "hope motivates so many of our brothers and sisters forced to leave their homes in search of a better life, but also those who welcome them, to “share the journey” with them, the desire to meet, to know each other, to dialogue... Hope is the urge to "share the journey" because "the journey is shared by those who come to our land, and we, who are called to reach their hearts to understand them, understand their culture and language. It is journey made by two that cannot be done without hope. Hope is the drive to "share the journey" of life, as Caritas's campaign reminds us. Brothers, shall we not be afraid to share the journey! Shall we not be afraid to share hope!"
The Argentine Pontiff concentrated today's catechesis on the "enemies of hope", starting from the story of the famous myth of Pandora's box, "The opening of the box unleashes all too many disasters for the history of the world", he said, "few, however, remember the last part of the story, which opens a glimmer of light: after all the evils have come out of box, a tiny gift seems to take revenge in front of all that evil that is spreading. Pandora, the woman who had the box in her custody, sees it at last: the Greeks call it elpìs, which means "hope". This myth tells us why hope is so important for humanity. It is not true that "as long as there is life there is hope", as we say - Bergoglio noted -. If ever, it is the opposite: it is hope that keeps life on its feet, that protects it, fosters it and helps it grow ".
The Pope then quoted French poet Charles Péguy, who was astonished "not so much for the faith that human beings have, nor for their charity" but for their ability to hope and fight tenaciously for a better life. Hope, the Pope said again, “is not a virtue for people with a full stomach" and for this reason "the poor are the first bearers of hope and are the protagonists of history".
"Sometimes, Francis said, having had it all from life is a misfortune. Think of a young person who has not been taught the virtue of patience, who didn’t have "to sweat" at all, who has races through all life's stages at the age of twenty "they already know how the world goes"; they are doomed to the worst condemnation: that of not wanting anything more. This is the worst condemnation, closing the door to desires, to dreams, they perhaps seem young, but autumn has already fallen on their hearts, they are the "young people of autumn"".
Having "an empty soul is the worst obstacle to hope", according to the Pontiff, who recalled "sloth" one of the 7 deadly sins mentioned by the monks of antiquity, which we "must fight, and never accept servilely. God has created us for joy and happiness, and not to have us bathe in melancholic thoughts. That is why it is important to guard one's heart, and oppose the temptations of unhappiness, which certainly do not come from God ". Without forgetting that "we are not alone in fighting against despair" because "if God is with us, no one will steal that virtue which we absolutely need in order to live. No one will steal hope from us.
In his greetings, Francis also addressed special words "to the representatives of many civil society organizations engaged in assisting migrants and refugees who, together with Caritas, have petitioned for a new migration law more relevant to the current context". The reference is to the citizens' proposed law "I was a foreigner" which aims to replace the current Bossi-Fini law -The Pope had already appealed for this initiative - promoted among others by the Astalli centre - last June.
After you, Bishop.
tear down your walls, turkey.
Who is we? We already are paying taxes funneled in the Pope’s pockets... hypocrite evil Pope who thrives on the blood and conflicts.
Say, about that wall around the Vatican....
Did he continue to say “and our necks bared”?
“tear down your walls, turkey.”
After you il pape.
Follow the money .... pappy Francis is making a profit off human trafficking. ‘We the people’ are done with funding ‘fake’ charities, in the name of Jesus.
Tattoo the papal neck: Cut Here
Is it OK to hate the Pope?
It’s going to get real crowded in the Sistine Chapel.
This Pope gets worse by the day.
Cram ‘em all into Vatican City, Francis.
I’m Catholic and I hate the man......not the position
The danger is that this heretical fraud who hates Europe and the Catholic faith COULD be baited into knocking down the wall around the Vatican, beckoning the Muzzies, and fleeing Rome in a helicopter.
Please don’t tease this quisling! He WOULD sacrifice the Vatican...in a heartbeat!
Does the Pope have a turd in his pocket?
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