Pope in Armenia: Memory, faith, mercy, the foundation for rebuilding Church and society

In the city of Gyumri, marked by the genocide and by the earthquake, Pope Francis offers the "three stable foundations" to rebuild the person, the population, society. The invitation to young people to consecrate their lives to merciful love for the Church and the world "this is something that is needed in these troubled times, which is also a time of mercy".

Gyumri (AsiaNews) - "Building" and "rebuilding" Christian life and the life of society relying on "three stable foundations": memory, faith, merciful love. These are the most important words that run through the homily that Pope Francis gave at the Mass celebrated this morning at 11 am (local time) in Vartanants square, Gyumri, in front of over 20 thousand faithful gathered also from neighboring Georgia. The celebration was also attended by the Armenian Apostolic Patriarch, Catholicos Karekin II, who at the beginning greeted Francis. there were also many Catholic and Armenian bishops in particular Msgr. Raphael François Minassian, titular archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia of the Armenians and Ordinary for Armenian Catholics of Eastern Europe, based in Gyumri.

"Building" and "rebuilding" has a strong meaning for Gyumri which - as the Catholicos pointed out - has a story "marked by anguish": first of all for the "pervasive and devastating past under the Ottoman Empire", which also led here the massacresof the Armenian people. And bearing in mind that Gyumri is a few kilometers from the Turkish border, Karekin II adds: "The closed borders are witnesses to the memory of the genocide that denial does not want to recognize."

Another fact of "anguish" was the earthquake that struck the city in 1988, which killed at least 100 thousand people. For dozens of years the population of the nation's most industrialized city has had to live in containers. Karekin II also recalled that the earthquake was an opportunity for a great solidarity and brotherhood with many operators of the Catholic Church, who came here to help in the rebuilding process.

In his homily, Pope Francis began by recalling the earthquake, "“They shall build up the ancient ruins… they shall repair the ruined cities” (Is 61:4).  In this place, dear brothers and sisters, we can say that the words of the Prophet Isaiah have come to pass.  After the terrible devastation of the earthquake, we gather today to give thanks to God for all that has been rebuilt".
He continued: "Yet we might also wonder: what is the Lord asking us to build today in our lives, and even more importantly, upon what is he calling us to build our lives?  In seeking an answer to this question, I would like to suggest three stable foundations upon which we can tirelessly build and rebuild the Christian life".

The memory of the person and of the people

"The first foundation is memory.  One grace we can implore is that of being able to remember: to recall what the Lord has done in and for us, and to remind ourselves that, as today’s Gospel says, he has not forgotten us but “remembered” us (Lk 1:72).  God has chosen us, loved us, called us and forgiven us.  Great things have happened in our personal love story with him, and these must be treasured in our minds and hearts.  Yet there is another memory we need to preserve: it is the memory of a people.  Peoples, like individuals, have a memory.  Your own people’s memory is ancient and precious.  Your voices echo those of past sages and saints; your words evoke those who created your alphabet in order to proclaim God’s word; your songs blend the afflictions and the joys of your history.  As you ponder these things, you can clearly recognize God’s presence.  He has not abandoned you.  Even in the face of tremendous adversity, we can say in the words of today’s Gospel that the Lord has visited your people (cf. Lk 1:68).  He has remembered your faithfulness to the Gospel, the first-fruits of your faith, and all those who testified, even at the price of their blood, that God’s love is more precious than life itself (cf. Ps 63:4)".

Faith and the living encounter with the Lord

"The Second Foundation" is "Faith [that] is also hope for your future, the light on the path of life."

"There's always - added Francis - a danger that can dim the light of faith, and that is the temptation to reduce it to something from the past, something important but belonging to another age, as if the faith were a beautiful illuminated book to be kept in a museum.  Once it is locked up in the archives of history, faith loses its power to transform, its living beauty, its positive openness to all.  Faith, however, is born and reborn from a life-giving encounter with Jesus, from experiencing how his mercy illumines every situation in our lives.  We would do well to renew this living encounter with the Lord each day.  We would do well to read the word of God and in silent prayer to open our hearts to his love.  We would do well to let our encounter with the Lord’s tenderness enkindle joy in our hearts: a joy greater than sadness, a joy that even withstands pain and in turn becomes peace.  All of this renews our life, makes us free and open to surprises, ready and available for the Lord and for others. It can happen too that Jesus calls us to follow him more closely, to give our lives to him and to our brothers and sisters.  When he calls – and I say this especially to you young people – do not be afraid; tell him “Yes!”  He knows us, he really loves us, and he wants to free our hearts from the burden of fear and pride.  By making room for him, we become capable of radiating his love.  Thus you will be able to carry on your great history of evangelization.  This is something the Church and the world need in these troubled times, which are also a time of mercy".

Merciful love in the Church and in society

"The third foundation, after memory and faith, is merciful love: on this rock, the rock of the love we receive from God and offer to our neighbour, the life of a disciple of Jesus is based.  In the exercise of charity, the Church’s face is rejuvenated and made beautiful.  Concrete love is the Christian’s visiting card; any other way of presenting ourselves could be misleading and even unhelpful, for it is by our love for one another that everyone will know that we are his disciples (cf. Jn 13:35).  We are called above all to build and rebuild paths of communion, tirelessly creating bridges of unity and working to overcome our divisions".
The Pope urged believers to be an example of unity, "May believers always set an example, cooperating with one another in mutual respect and a spirit of dialogue, knowing that “the only rivalry possible among the Lord’s disciples is to see who can offer the greater love!” (JOHN PAUL II, Homily, 27 September 2001: Insegnamenti XXIV/2 [2001], 478)."

This can be seen in society: "How much we need this!  We need Christians who do not allow themselves to be overcome by weariness or discouraged by adversity, but instead are available, open and ready to serve.  We need men and women of good will, who help their brothers and sisters in need, with actions and not merely words.  We need societies of greater justice, where each individual can lead a dignified life and, above all, be fairly remunerated for his or her work".

The example of St. Gregory of Narek

The Pope asked, "how can we become merciful, with all the faults and failings that we see within ourselves and all about us?". He suggested drawing on the wisdom of Gregory of Narek, the Armenian he proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. He has plumbed "the abysmal misery that can hide in the human heart", but "he always balanced human weakness with God’s mercy, lifting up a heartfelt and tearful prayer of trust in the Lord."

"Gregory of Narek - he continued - Gregory of Narek is a master of life, for he teaches us that the most important thing is to recognize that we are in need of mercy.  Despite our own failings and the injuries done to us, we must not become self-centred but open our hearts in sincerity and trust to the Lord, to “the God who is ever near, loving and good” [ibid., 17, 2), “filled with love for mankind … a fire consuming the chaff of sin (ibid., 16, 2).
In the words of Saint Gregory, I would like now to invoke God’s mercy and his gift of unfailing love: Holy Spirit, “powerful protector, intercessor and peace-maker, we lift up our prayers to you…  Grant us the grace to support one another in charity and good works…  Spirit of sweetness, compassion, loving kindness and mercy…  You who are mercy itself… Have mercy on us, Lord our God, in accordance with your great mercy” (Hymn of Pentecost).".
At the end of the Mass, after the greeting of Msgr. Minassian, Francis thanked those present and especially those who "generously and with concrete love" help "those who are in need." He cited the work of Ashotsk hospital, desired by John Paul II, together with the works of the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and the Missionaries of Charity.

Following Mass, the Pope went to the Convent of "Our Lady of Armenia" of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, where he greeted a orphans housed there and the "Diramayr" Vocational School students run by the Congregation.