Bergoglio is hospitalized in a stable state in Rome by bronchitis. Today the Angelus has not prayed; However, the text has been published: a greeting to the participants in the jubilee of the artists and the world of culture, a new call to peace and thanks for the proximity. «The beatitudes disrupt the logic of the world: art participates in this revolution».
Ciudad del Vaticano (Asianews) – “Absolute rest” was prescribed to Pope Francis for the medical team of the Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital of Rome, after he was admitted following a bronchitis picture contracted in recent days. Therefore, Bergoglio did not pray today the Angelus, leaving his text for publication anyway. According to the latest updates of the Vatican press room, yesterday afternoon he had not presented any “febrile episode.” This morning, in the context of the jubilee of the artists and the world of culture, the reading of the homily prepared by the Pontiff was entrusted to Card. José Tolentino de Mendonça.
Pope Francis from the break remembers – in the words shared for the Angelus – today’s celebration at 10 in the morning in the Basilica of San Pedro, chaired precisely by the prefect of Dicastery for culture and education of Portuguese origin. «This appointment […] It reminds us of the importance of art as a universal language that disseminates beauty and unites peoples, contributing to bringing concord to the world and to silence all shout of war ». And the artists – among them painters, musicians and poets – who had come to the Vatican to participate from various parts of the world, directed them a greeting: «I would have liked to be among you but, as you know, I am here in the Gemelli polyclinic because I still need a treatment for my bronchitis ».
The numerous pilgrims arrived in Rome were also greeted on the occasion of the Jubilee, who would have crowded the Plaza de San Pedro to attend the recitation of the Mariana prayer on Sunday. There was also an invitation to pray for peace “in the tormented Ukraine, in Palestine, in Israel and in all the Middle East, in Myanmar, in Kivu and in Sudan.” Finally, Bergoglio thanked “affection, prayer and closeness” of which he feels surrounded in this disease time. “In the same way, I want to thank the doctors and health personnel of this hospital for their care: they do a beautiful and very tired job, let’s support them with prayer!” Said the pontiff.
In his homily, Pope Francis read for the prefect card. José Tolentino de Mendonça, reference was made to the Gospel of the day (Lk 6,17.20-26), in which Jesus shares “before his disciples and a crowd” the beatitudes, which “do not cease to be amazed.” “These words disrupt the logic of the world and invite us to look at reality with new eyes, with the gaze of God, which sees beyond appearances and beauty, even in fragility and suffering,” the prefect read. Remembering that the second part of the text also includes admonitions. “The contrast between ‘blessed you’ and ‘Oh of you’ reminds us of the importance of discerning where we put our security,” he added.
“You, artists and people of culture, are called to witness the revolutionary vision of the beatitudes,” said the cardinal. Its mission is not only to create beauty, but to reveal the truth, goodness and beauty hidden in the folds of history, give voice to the voiceless, transform pain into hope ». Transform the “soul” crisis and “meaning” present in today’s world. “The artist is that or that which has the task of helping humanity not to lose course, not to lose the horizon of hope,” says Pope Francis.
But hope – which is dedicated to the current holy year – is not “easy, superficial, disappointed.” «True hope is intertwined with the drama of human existence. It is not a comfortable shelter, but a fire that burns and illuminates, as the Word of God, ”added the prefect. He also mentioned what an artist should be: «Discover and reveal that hidden greatness, make our eyes and hearts perceive it. The artists, ”added the prefect, are” custodians of beauty that knows how to lean on the wounds of the world, who knows how Refugees. I see in you the guardians of the beatitudes ».
Bergoglio, based on the finding that at the present time the walls rise and the differences feed the division instead of “mutual enrichment”, he addressed artists as capable of subverting this order. “You, men and women of culture, are called to build bridges, create meeting and dialogue spaces, to illuminate minds and to heat hearts.” And again: «Art is not a luxury, but a need of the spirit. It is not an evasion, but a responsibility, a call to action, a cry. Educating in beauty is educating in hope ». And speaking of the “inverted logic” proposed by the beatitudes, Pope Francis said: “Art is called to participate in this revolution.”
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