At the general audience held today in St. Peter’s Square, Francis recounted the stages of the apostolic journey that in recent days has taken him to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. “I have found lively communities that grow by attraction. It has gladdened my heart to be able to spend some time with today’s missionaries and catechists.”
Vatican City () – “When we think about the Church, we are still too Eurocentric. In reality, the Church is much bigger than Rome and the West and is more alive,” said Pope Francis today, addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Wednesday general audience.
As usual, during his first visit after his apostolic journeys, Pope Francis wished to take stock of the twelve days he spent in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. He stressed the specific nature of these visits, which are journeys “to bring the word of the Lord, to make him known, and also to get to know the souls of the people, which is a very beautiful experience.” He also said that on this trip he met Paul VI again, who in 1970 was the first pontiff “to fly towards the rising sun,” visiting several Asian countries and reaching the Samoa Islands. “I tried to follow his example,” he said, “but, being a few years older than him, I limited myself to four countries. I thank the Lord, who has allowed me to do as an elderly Pope what I would have liked to do as a young Jesuit, to go as a missionary there.” But above all, Francis stressed the vitality of the Churches he encountered: “I experienced it in an exciting way,” he said, “meeting these communities, listening to the testimonies of priests, nuns, lay people, especially catechists. Churches that do not proselytize, but grow by attraction.”
In Indonesia, he said, I had confirmation that compassion is the path that Christians can and must follow to bear witness to Christ the Saviour and at the same time encounter the great religious and cultural traditions. Recalling the tunnel of friendship that links the cathedral and the mosque, he commented: “There I saw that fraternity is the future, it is the answer to anti-civility, to the diabolical plots of hatred, war and even sectarianism.”
Regarding Papua New Guinea, he mentioned the “beauty of a missionary and outgoing Church.” Citing the more than eight hundred languages spoken, he described them as “an ideal environment for the Holy Spirit, who loves to make the message of Love resound in the symphony of languages.” “It made my heart happy to be able to spend some time with the missionaries and catechists of today,” he added, citing his visit to Vanimo, where “the missionaries are between the forest and the sea and go to seek out even the most hidden tribes.” He relaunched the challenge of a true encounter with these peoples because “faith must be inculturated and cultures must be evangelized.”
On East Timor, he recalled how the Church in this country has “shared the process of independence with all the people, always directing it towards peace and reconciliation. It is not a question of ideologizing faith, no, it is faith that becomes culture and at the same time enlightens, purifies and elevates it.” But above all, the Pope declared himself “impressed by the beauty of this people: a tried but joyful people, a people wise in suffering. A people that not only produces many children, but teaches them to smile. And this is a guarantee for the future. In East Timor I breathed the air of spring.”
Finally, Singapore, “a country very different from the other three: a city-state, very modern, the economic and financial hub of Asia and beyond.” Where Christians “are a minority, but they continue to form a living Church, committed to generating harmony and fraternity between different ethnicities, cultures and religions.” Even in wealthy Singapore there are “the little ones,” the Pontiff observed, “who follow the Gospel and become salt and light, witnesses of a greater hope than that which economic gains can guarantee.”
Renewing his gratitude for the welcome he received, Francis asked God to bless these people and guide them along the path of peace and brotherhood.
The Pope then called on everyone to pray for peace during his greeting to the Italian-speaking pilgrims: “Let us not forget that war is a defeat,” he said. “Let us not forget Palestine, Israel, tormented Ukraine, Myanmar and so many places where there are ugly wars. May the Lord give us all a heart that seeks peace.”
Francis also recalled World Alzheimer’s Day, which will be celebrated on Saturday, September 21: “Let us pray that medical science may soon offer prospects for a cure for this disease and that more and more interventions may be activated to support the sick and their families.”
Before beginning his speech, he had called two of the Vatican employees who had read the translations into the various languages to introduce themselves to the pilgrims and announced that they would be getting married next Saturday. “It is beautiful to see when love leads us to form a new family,” he had commented. “I wanted to introduce them to thank the Lord.”
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