Pope: Assumption of Mary, the Magnificat and women "slaves". Appeal for North Kivu
At the Angelus Pope Francis entrusts to the Virgin Mary and Christ "women overwhelmed by the weight of life and the drama of violence", the "women slaves of the arrogance of the powerful", the "little girls forced to do inhumane work" "women forced to surrender themselves in body and in spirit to the greed of men". "The shameful silence" on the massacres of "many innocent people that have no influence in politics or global public opinion."
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The feast of the Assumption, "the humble girl of Galilee" "permitted by God to stand for eternity next to the Son's throne”, is an opportunity to pray for the liberation of all women who have been made "slaves" to the "arrogance of the powerful".
Addressing pilgrims in St Peter's Square, gathered for the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis also launched an appeal for peace in the world and in particular for North Kivu (Congo Kinshasa), condemning international silence on these massacres of innocent civilians "which have no weight "in politics and in global public opinion.
Referring to today's Gospel, which contains the song of the Magnificat, the Pope said: "The Lord looks down on the humble to raise them and we heard this in Mary's song of the Magnificat. And that song reminds us, in particular, of the women overwhelmed by the weight of life and the drama of violence, the women who are slaves of the arrogance of the powerful, the little girls forced into inhuman work, the women forced to surrender themselves in body and spirit to the greed of some men. May the beginning of a life of peace, of justice, of love, come as soon as possible for them, waiting for the day when they may finally feel gripped by hands that do not humble them, but with tenderness raise and lead them along the path of life, to heaven”. Then he added extemporaneously: "Maria has suffered so much in her life. It makes us think of these women, who are suffering so much. We ask that the Lord to take them to Himself and liberate them from such bondage”.
Just three days ago the Pope visited a house belonging to the Pope John XXIII Institute where he met some women rescued from human trafficking and prostitution.
Francis had previously stressed that "the Assumption of Mary is a great mystery that concerns all of us, our future. Mary, in fact, precedes us on the path of those who, through Baptism, have tied their lives to Jesus, like Mary tied her life to Him. Today's feast promises "new heavens and the new earth", with the victory of the Risen Christ over death and the final defeat of the evil one. Therefore, the exultation of the humble girl from Galilee, expressed in the canticle of the Magnificat, becomes the song of all mankind, that rejoices to see the Lord bend over all men and all women, humble creatures, and take them with him to Heaven".
After the Marian prayer, the Pope entrusted "once again" to the "Queen of Peace" the "anxieties and the sorrows of the populations in many parts of the world, who are innocent victims of persistent conflict". In particular, he added, "my thoughts go to the people of North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, hit by massacres which have for some time been perpetrated in shameful silence, without attracting even as much as our attention. Unfortunately, they are part of the too many innocent people who have no weight on world opinion. May Mary obtain for all people sentiments of compassion and understanding and the desire for peace and harmony! ".
Two days ago, in Beni-ville, in North Kivu 36 civilians were killed with machetes, victims of the lengthy struggle of rebel groups against the central government. Local authorities speak of "Islamic terrorists" from Uganda.
After greetings to certain groups of pilgrims, the Pope concluded with wishes of "a good Feast of the Assumption to all of you present here and to those who are in the various holiday resorts, as well as to those who were unable to go on vacation, especially to the sick, to the lonely and those who during these days of celebration ensure essential services to the community".
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