Pope's Address at Ground Zero

Zenit.org ^ | 09-25-15 | Pope Francis

[Salvation]

Pope's Address at Ground Zero

"This flowing water reminds us of yesterday’s tears, but also of all the tears still being shed today"

• New York City, September 25, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Staff Reporter | 1905 hits

  Here is a Vatican translation of the address Pope Francis gave today at an interreligious ceremony at Ground Zero. He began the Spanish-language address apologizing for being unable to give it in English.

  * * *

  Dear Friends,

  I feel many different emotions standing here at Ground Zero, where thousands of lives were taken in a senseless act of destruction. Here grief is palpable. The water we see flowing towards that empty pit reminds us of all those lives which fell prey to those who think that destruction, tearing down, is the only way to settle conflicts. It is the silent cry of those who were victims of a mindset which knows only violence, hatred and revenge. A mindset which can only cause pain, suffering, destruction and tears.

  The flowing water is also a symbol of our tears. Tears at so much devastation and ruin, past and present. This is a place where we shed tears, we weep out of a sense of helplessness in the face of injustice, murder, and the failure to settle conflicts through dialogue. Here we mourn the wrongful and senseless loss of innocent lives because of the inability to find solutions which respect the common good. This flowing water reminds us of yesterday’s tears, but also of all the tears still being shed today.

  A few moments ago I met some of the families of the fallen first responders. Meeting them made me see once again how acts of destruction are never impersonal, abstract or merely material. They always have a face, a concrete story, names. In those family members, we see the face of pain, a pain which still touches us and cries out to heaven.

  At the same time, those family members showed me the other face of this attack, the other face of their grief: the power of love and remembrance. A remembrance that does not leave us empty and withdrawn. The name of so many loved ones are written around the towers’ footprints. We can see them, we can touch them, and we can never forget them.

  Here, amid pain and grief, we also have a palpable sense of the heroic goodness which people are capable of, those hidden reserves of strength from which we can draw. In the depths of pain and suffering, you also witnessed the heights of generosity and service. Hands reached out, lives were given. In a metropolis which might seem impersonal, faceless, lonely, you demonstrated the powerful solidarity born of mutual support, love and self-sacrifice. No one thought about race, nationality, neighborhoods, religion or politics. It was all about solidarity, meeting immediate needs, brotherhood. It was about being brothers and sisters. New York City firemen walked into the crumbling towers, with no concern for their own wellbeing. Many succumbed; their sacrifice enabled great numbers to be saved.

  This place of death became a place of life too, a place of saved lives, a hymn to the triumph of life over the prophets of destruction and death, to goodness over evil, to reconciliation and unity over hatred and division.

  It is a source of great hope that in this place of sorrow and remembrance I can join with leaders representing the many religious traditions which enrich the life of this great city. I trust that our presence together will be a powerful sign of our shared desire to be a force for reconciliation, peace and justice in this community and throughout the world. For all our differences and disagreements, we can live in a world of peace. In opposing every attempt to create a rigid uniformity, we can and must build unity on the basis of our diversity of languages, cultures and religions, and lift our voices against everything which would stand in the way of such unity. Together we are called to say “no” to every attempt to impose uniformity and “yes” to a diversity accepted and reconciled.

  This can only happen if we uproot from our hearts all feelings of hatred, vengeance and resentment. We know that that is only possible as a gift from heaven. Here, in this place of remembrance, I would ask everyone together, each in his or her own way, to spend a moment in silence and prayer. Let us implore from on high the gift of commitment to the cause of peace. Peace in our homes, our families, our schools and our communities. Peace in all those places where war never seems to end. Peace for those faces which have known nothing but pain. Peace throughout this world which God has given us as the home of all and a home for all. Simply PEACE.

  In this way, the lives of our dear ones will not be lives which will one day be forgotten. Instead, they will be present whenever we strive to be prophets not of tearing down but of building up, prophets of reconciliation, prophets of peace.

[Tax-chick]

Speaking of Star Wars, Dan got a Star Wars origami book at the church book sale.

[fatima]

It’s crazy here in Philly.Everyone is so happy.:)

[fatima]

10 family members are going to the Mass tomorrow.

[Tax-chick]

I hope they have a wonderful time. I have cousins in Philadelphia but haven’t heard it they’re going.

Maybe if I was on Facebook ...

[Kolokotronis]

You are all blessed to have him there!

[Chauncey Uppercrust]

If Billy or Franklin Graham had the audience that this Pope has had the last week, thousands upon thousands upon thousands would be saved,

There would be no mistaking were they stood on abortion/homosexuality and the removal of God/Christ from the classroom public square etc

What a waste of time the Popes visit has been, what a missed opportunity

Franklin or Billy or many other Christian pastors would have led people to Christ

This whole week has been a embarrasment

[fatima]

Thanks guys.My 30 year daughter started crying yesterday and woke up and put the Pope back on and started crying again.My husband said”What’s the matter with her.I said it’s the Holy Spirit-duh :)

[Tax-chick]

The closest he came to us was Washington, D.C. I was in college in San Antonio when Pope John Paul II was there. I’m kind of sorry I didn’t go, now, but I’ve never been comfortable with enormous-crowd events.

Maybe my cousins will go. They’re converts, too. My grandfather was an old Orangeman from Londonderry, and now half his grandchildren and 11/13 of his great-grandchildren are Catholic.

[Salvation]

He was speaking in front of a mixed group of religious men and women, including a Rabbi and Iman. He was being diplomatic as well as kind.

[Tax-chick]

My husband said, ”What’s the matter with her?

LOL!

I'm sure some of my friends' husbands are saying the same thing! He's a hugh hit with older, Spanish-speaking women.

[Salvation]

Ever hear of evangelization? It’s one of his strengths.

[jwalsh07]

Not a word about Muslim extremism nor the continuous murder of innocents by Muslims in the birthplace of Christianity. StThomas said it is not only right to defend innocent human life from wanton destruction but it is a sin not to. This Pipe would do well to understand that.

[Salvation]

And you know that for sure?

John 3:5

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

[fatima]

Well they have Pope Fever.What was fun for me was the Mass at the Basilica.My friend did the audio and video and my priest friend was in charge.My husband I kept popping off names of people we knew there.The celebration is tonight and I think it’s live on major networks.I did get to see John Paul 11 years ago.

[Biggirl]

There is reason why the Gospel is not being preached: FEAR.

[fatima]

Sister Sledge just performed and the nuns were dancing in the aisles.Funny.We are family.Twitter is #popeinphila.

[Tax-chick]

It’s always nice to recognize people on tv!

[fatima]

Yes,I was at Father Gill’s first Mass and never dreamed he was in charge of that Mass.Pope going with Pope Mobile through thousands of crowds right now.This is crazy-many of my friends are there tonight.Tomorrow they expect a million and a 1/2 people for the closing Mass.

[Biggirl]

These crowds are what Billy or Franklin Graham could only dream of. Got to remember that this Pope has planted the seeds of faith in Christ, no more and no less.

[Chauncey Uppercrust]

Exactly, and they would have squandered this opportunity, the people would have heard a true Gospel message whether they liked it or not

There would have been no pseudo Christianity, no Sister Sledge, and thousands would have made decisions for Christ

There would have been no mention of climate change but millions would have heard about sin, and the one way to salvation, there would be no funny hats or dresses, nobody outside of Christ/God would be called Holy Father