Pope: in Cuba, religious freedom creates conditions conducive to peace and harmonious
Havana (AsiaNews) - The Pope
acknowledges "with joy" in Cuba
that " in Cuba
steps have been taken to enable the Church to carry out her essential mission
of expressing her faith openly and publicly. Nonetheless, this must continue
forwards, and I wish to encourage the country's Government authorities to
strengthen what has already been achieved and advance along this path of
genuine service to the true good of Cuban society as a whole. " Religious
freedom, in fact, manifests the unity of the human person, who is at once a
citizen and a believer. It also legitimizes the fact that believers have
a contribution to make to the building up of society. Strengthening religious
freedom consolidates social bonds, nourishes the hope of a better world,
creates favourable conditions for peace and harmonious development, while at
the same time establishing solid foundations for securing the rights of future
generations.. "
The last day of Benedict XVI's visit to Cuba: the Plaza de la Revolución "José
Martí", linked to the interminable speeches of Fidel Castro, who will meet
Pope after Mass, there are, they say, 600 thousand people. The regime - today under
Raul Castro - met its commitment to encourage the participation of Cubans to
the events of the papal visit, but took all the precautions - from preventive
arrests to blocking phones - to avoid any expression of dissent.
Human progress, reconciliation and religious freedom were at the center of the
address Benedict XVI delivered arriving on the island. They were also today, in
the largest public event of his visit. For Cubans today, Benedict XVI spoke of
truth and freedom, of faithfulness to Jesus and religious freedom. Inspired, as
always, by today's Gospel. " If you continue in my word, you are truly my
disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free
" (Jn 8:31). "In this text
from today's Gospel, - he says - Jesus reveals himself as the Son of God the
Father, the Saviour, the one who alone can show us the truth and give genuine
freedom."
"The truth is a desire of the human person, the search for which always supposes the exercise of authentic freedom. Many, however, prefer shortcuts, trying to avoid this task. Some, like Pontius Pilate, ironically question the possibility of even knowing what truth is (cf. Jn 18:38), proclaiming that man is incapable of knowing it or denying that there exists a truth valid for all. This attitude, as in the case of scepticism and relativism, changes hearts, making them cold, wavering, distant from others and closed. They, like the Roman governor, wash their hands and let the water of history drain away without taking a stand".
"On the other hand, there are those who wrongly interpret this search for the truth, leading them to irrationality and fanaticism; they close themselves up in "their truth", and try to impose it on others. These are like the blind scribes who, upon seeing Jesus beaten and bloody, cry out furiously, "Crucify him!" (cf. Jn 19:6). Anyone who acts irrationally cannot become a disciple of Jesus. Faith and reason are necessary and complementary in the pursuit of truth. God created man with an innate vocation to the truth and he gave him reason for this purpose. Certainly, it is not irrationality but rather the yearning for truth which the Christian faith promotes. Each human being has to seek the truth and to choose it when he or she finds it, even at the risk of embracing sacrifices".
"Furthermore, the
truth which stands above humanity is an unavoidable condition for attaining
freedom, since in it we discover the foundation of an ethics on which all can
converge and which contains clear and precise indications concerning life and
death, duties and rights, marriage, family and society, in short, regarding the
inviolable dignity of the human person. This ethical patrimony can bring
together different cultures, peoples and religions, authorities and citizens,
citizens among themselves, and believers in Christ and non-believers. "
"Christianity, in highlighting those values which sustain ethics, does not
impose, but rather proposes Christ's invitation to know the truth which sets us
free. The believer is called to offer that truth to his contemporaries, as did
the Lord, even before the dark omen of rejection and the Cross. The personal
encounter with the one who is Truth in person compels us to share this treasure
with others, especially by our witness. Dear friends, do not hesitate to follow
Jesus Christ. In him we find the truth about God and about mankind. He helps us
to overcome our selfishness, to rise above our ambitions and to conquer all
that oppresses us. The one who does evil, who sins, becomes a slave of sin and
will never attain freedom (cf. Jn 8:34). Only by renouncing hatred and our hard
and blind hearts will we be free and a new life will well up in us. "
"Convinced that it is Christ who is the true measure of man, and knowing that
in him we find the strength needed to face every trial, I wish to proclaim
openly Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life. In him everyone will
find complete freedom, the light to understand reality more deeply and to
transform it by the renewing power of love".
"The Church exists to share this truth with others. " To carry out this
duty, she must count on basic religious freedom, which consists in her being
able to proclaim and to celebrate her faith also in public, bringing to others
the message of love, reconciliation and peace which Jesus brought to the world."
"When the Church upholds this human right, she is not claiming any special
privileges for herself. She wishes only to be faithful to the command of her
divine founder, conscious that, where Christ is present, mankind becomes more
human and founds its consistency. This is why the Church seeks to give witness
by her preaching and teaching, both in catechesis and in schools and
universities. It is greatly to be hoped that the moment will soon arrive when,
here too, the Church can bring to the arenas of knowledge the benefits of the
mission which the Lord entrusted to her and which she can never neglect".
"Cuba
and the world - he concludes - but this will occur only if each one is in a
position to seek the truth and chooses the way of love, sowing reconciliation
and fraternity."
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12/02/2016 02:03
