Pope’s Angelus from Santa Marta: ‘prayer is the force of peace that stops the spiral of hatred’
Pope Francis appeared in St Peter's Square on giant screens because of an “inflammation of the lungs.” His address mentioned the Holodomor famine caused by the Soviet regime, a wound that is still painful. He thanked God for the truce between Israel and Palestine, calling for more aid to Gaza and for dialogue.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – The Angelus was recited on live television today from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, due to the "mild flu" that prevented Pope Francis from participating in yesterday’s scheduled audiences. In his address, the pontiff renewed his appeal for peace.
“For all peoples torn apart by conflicts,” reads the papal message, “let us continue to pray tirelessly, because prayer is the force of peace that stops the spiral of hatred, that breaks the cycle of revenge and opens up unexpected paths of reconciliation.”
Francis underwent a CT scan yesterday at Rome’s Gemelli Isola hospital, with a negative result.
Despite the usual location, the pope appeared on giant screens in St Peter's Square, packed with the faithful with the Christmas tree brought in three days ago from Piedmont.
Francis was pale and in pain, with a bandage on the back of his right hand. He spoke briefly at the beginning, explaining that such an unusual recitation of the Angelus was due to a "problem of inflammation of the lungs".
His reflections were read by Father Paolo Braida, Head of Office at the Vatican Secretariat of State, who was seated to the right of the pope. “He knows them well, because he is the one who drafts them, and he always does them so well," the pope said.
After the recitation of the Marian prayer, the papal address turned to "tormented Ukraine", a day after the commemoration of the Holodomor, “the genocide perpetrated by the Soviet regime which, 90 years ago, caused millions of people to starve to death,” Fr Braida said. It is a "lacerating wound" that, given the appalling war in progress, "continues to make that dear nation suffer."
This was followed by giving thanks "to God" because "there is finally a truce between Israel and Palestine, and some hostages have been freed. Let us pray that they will all be freed as soon as possible – think of their families!” said Fr Braida, who, as Pope Francis has often done in the past few weeks, insisted upon the need for “humanitarian aid” in Gaza and for dialogue, which is the “only way to peace. Those who do not want dialogue do not want peace.”
The pontiff’s address also touched another issue that, like war, poses a great threat. The climate crisis “puts life on Earth, especially for the future generations, at risk.”
Pope Francis's trip to the United Arab Emirates is scheduled for next weekend - from 1 to 3 December 2023 – here he will speak at COP28, the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference.
The climate danger “is contrary to the plan of God, who created everything for life,” said Fr Braida, adding: “I thank everyone who will accompany this journey with prayer and with the commitment to take to heart the preservation of the common home.”
At the start of the link-up, Fr Braida read the commentary of today’s Gospel (Mt 25:31-46), whose theme is the final judgement "which will be based on charity", centred on the "blessed", those who will stand at the right hand of the King. Two criteria of blessedness exist, those of the world and those of Jesus.
According to the former, the "friends of the King" ought to “be those who have given him wealth and power, who have helped him to conquer territories, to win battles,” who helped him “appear as a star on the front pages of newspapers or on social media”
According to the latter, however, "blessed" are “those who have served the weakest people. [. . .] He is a King sensitive to the problem of hunger, the need for a home, sickness and imprisonment: all realities that are unfortunately all too current.
In today's Word, the "Son of Man” says: “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me”
After the Angelus, Pope Francis, through Fr Braida, mentioned the 38th World Youth Day, centred on the theme of “rejoicing in hope" (Rom 12:12), which was celebrated today, the Solemnity of Christ the King and last Sunday of the Liturgical Year, in certain Churches around the world.
“I bless those who are taking part in the initiatives organized in the dioceses, in continuity with the World Youth Day in Lisbon. I embrace young people, the present and future of the world, and I encourage them to be joyful protagonists in the life of the Church.”
Visibly tired, the pontiff finally spoke asking the faithful not to forget to pray for him.
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16/10/2020 16:28
