Pope: 'We cannot turn a blind eye to Myanmar's suffering'

Francis at the general audience: the international community must work for reconciliation. Catechesis to the faithful on devotion to saints to be purified from a pagan mentality. Prayer for religious on the Day for Consecrated Life and a thought for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games that are about to begin in Beijing.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of so many brothers and sisters in Myanmar," decried Pope Francis at today's general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, in a new strong appeal for the country on the first anniversary of the military coup.

The military revolt that swept away the democratically elected government has now degenerated into an open war, with over 400,000 people displaced.

"For a year now," the Pontiff recalled, "we have been witnessing with pain the violence that is bloodying Myanmar. I make my own the appeal of the Burmese bishops for the international community to work for reconciliation between the parties involved. Let us ask God in prayer for consolation for that tormented population. To Him we entrust the efforts for peace".

The appeal came at the end of the weekly catechesis during which the Pope, continuing the cycle dedicated to the figure of St Joseph, proposed a reflection on the truth of faith of the "communion of saints" which is also at the root of devotion to this great figure.

He said: "At times, even Christianity can fall into forms of devotion that seem to reflect a mentality that is more pagan than Christian. The fundamental difference lies in the fact that our prayer and the devotion of the faithful people is not based on trust in a human being, or in an image or an object, even when we know that they are sacred. It is not the saints who work miracles, but only the grace of God that acts through them".

Francis continued: "It is good to reflect on the definition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church according to which "the communion of saints is precisely the Church" (no. 946). "What does this mean? That the Church is reserved for the perfect? No," commented the Pope, "it means that it is the community of saved sinners. Our holiness is the fruit of God's love manifested in Christ, who sanctifies us by loving us in our misery and saving us from it. Through Him we form one body, says St Paul, in which Jesus is the head and we are the members".

"The joy and pain that touch my life," explained the pontiff, "concerns everyone, just as the joy and pain that touch the life of the brother and sister next to us also concern me. In this sense, even the sin of an individual person always affects everyone, and the love of each individual person affects everyone. By virtue of the communion of saints, every member of the Church is bound to me in a profound way, and this bond is so strong that it cannot be broken even by death".

"The saints," Francis concluded, "are friends with whom we very often enter into friendly relations. What we call devotion is actually a way of expressing love, starting from this very bond that unites us. And this is the trust that must always animate us when we turn to them in the decisive moments of our lives.

In his greetings in various languages, the Pope then recalled the Day for Consecrated Life which is celebrated today on the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple: "May Christ, the Word of God, grant them ever more strength to be at the service of the values of the Kingdom and of a Church that is fraternal and close to all," he commented. From this feast, however, there is also a message that applies to everyone: "Christ offers himself as an example in his offering to the Father, indicating with what generosity it is necessary to adhere to God's will and to the service of his brothers and sisters".

Francis then recalled the International Day for Human Fraternity, which is celebrated on 4 February on the anniversary of the signing of the Abu Dhabi document, signed in 2019 by the pontiff together with the Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyib: "Fraternity - he said - means reaching out to others, respecting them and listening to them with an open heart. I hope that concrete steps will be taken to affirm that today is a time of fraternity, avoiding fuelling clashes, divisions and closures".

Finally, the Pope addressed his best wishes to the organisers and athletes who will take part in the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing from 4 February: "Sport," he told them, "with its universal language can build bridges of friendship and solidarity between people of every culture and nationality.