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Fiftieth year, number 11 (2488) Vatican City Friday, 17 March 2017

Francis visits the Santa Maddalena di Canossa Parish in Rome Awaiting the Resurrection

The Pope for this time

GI O VA N N I MARIA VIAN As the fifth year of his pontificate began, Pope Francis once again drew inspiration from the question of a child who, in one of Rome’s parishes, asked him to reflect on his papal service. The Pope replied in simple and radical terms: “Jesus chooses whom he wants to be Pope in this time; in another time he chooses another, and in another, an- other”. Immediately thereafter Fran- cis shared a confidence: “I like [be- ing Pope]; and I also enjoyed being a priest in a parish, the rector of a faculty and also a parish priest — I liked both callings very much. I also enjoyed doing Sunday school, chil- d re n ’s Mass.... I like this. Being a priest is something that I have al- ways enjoyed very much”. The Pontiff’s simple and straight- forward answer is striking because it On Sunday afternoon, 12 March, some of the beautiful moments of children in 2016. He also greeted allows the disarming sincerity of his the Second Sunday of Lent, the his life and also to share his fears. altar servers and priests of the 36th life to shine through. “What God Holy Father made a pastoral visit to He was also asked how they might Prefecture, to which the parish be- wants. What the Lord gives you is the Parish of Santa Maddalena di address the lack of communication longs, several Daughters of Charity beautiful, because when the Lord Canossa in Rome. At the parish resulting from modern technology. nuns, along with their Superior gives you a task to do, a job — b eing sports field, he held a lengthy As a gift, the Pope received a book General. He then heard several pastor of a parish, or of a diocese, question-and-answer session with of the questions, letters and draw- confessions, before presiding at or being Pope, a pastor — indeed, children and catechism students, ings the children had made for him. Mass in the parish church, where he gives you a task”, Francis added, who asked him about his first en- After his session with the parish he delivered an extemporaneous introducing the children to the mis- counter with Jesus and about his youth, Pope Francis greeted the h o m i l y. sion of parish priests and bishops, experience being a priest and Pope. sick and the elderly, and afterwards which is not only to bring peace, They asked him to speak about met couples who had baptized their PAGES 4-5, 7 but “to teach the Word of God, to do catecheses”. Thus, those who really want to understand Pope Ber- goglio must take into account these General Audience On the role of Sisters worldwide responses of his, leaving aside malevolent caricatures and “gossip” that is dangerous because it is de- Love is not a show Not counting the cost structive, if not downright diabolic- al, in the etymological sense (diàbo- A tribute to nuns who work in some of los, in fact, means “ru m o u r m o n g e r ”, the most difficult and dangerous con- or “one who divides”). texts, prepared to make the ultimate Of course, in the media it is not sacrifice of giving their lives for those easy to find everything that Francis they serve. says, but honesty would require that at least journalists and so-called PAT R I C I A MU R R AY ON PA G E 8/9 pundits take what he says into ac- count, in order to form a reliable idea of who the Pontiff really is, and so as not to project images that are actually far removed from reality; es- Interview with Cardinal Parolin International Women’s Day pecially since Bergoglio himself, shortly before the start of the Con- On Francis’ p ontificate The impossible is possible clave, had outlined the profile of the new Pope: “a man who, through the PAGE 6 ARTURO SOSA ABASCAL ON PA G E 12 contemplation of Jesus Christ and the adoration of Jesus Christ, can help the Church move outside of herself toward the existential peri- Pope’s meditation for priests As the Spiritual Exercises conclude pheries”. Thus, a missionary Pope. And Francis the missionary con- The icon of Simon Peter A thank-you from Francis firms with each passing day, rooted

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AUDIENCES emeritus of the Congregation for VAT I C A N BULLETIN Catholic Education, as his Special Saturday, 11 March Envoy at the ceremony for the lar episcopal See of Ucres. Until de Las Casas Diocese, Mexico (11 coronation of the image of “O ur Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Pre- now he has been parish priest of M a r. ) . Lady Health of the Sick” at the fect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Saint Joseph Parish in Largo, USA (8 Cathedral-Shrine of the Diocese of Family and Life Bishop Díaz Díaz, 64, was born in M a r. ) . Huandacareo, Mexico. He was or- Świdnica, Poland, to be held on 13 May 2017, on the centenary of the Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, Prefect Bishop-elect Campbell, 69, was dained a priest on 23 October 1977. of the Congregation for Catholic apparitions of the Virgin of Fatima born in Pomonkey, USA . He holds a He was ordained a bishop on 10 Ju- (8 Mar.). Education (for Institutes of Study) d e g re e in zoology, anthropology and ly 2003, subsequent to his appoint- Archbishop Fulgence Rabemahafaly, chemistry and a diploma in banking ment as titular Bishop of Izirzada of Fianarantsoa, Madagascar management. For several years he and Auxiliary of San Cristóbal de LENTEN SERMON worked in the banking sector, be- Las Casas. On 15 May 2014 he was coming vice-president and project appointed Coadjutor of San Cristó- On Friday morning, 10 March, in CHANGES IN EP I S C O PAT E manager of the Bank of America. bal de Las Casas. the presence of the Holy Father, Fr He was ordained a priest on 26 May Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap., The Holy Father appointed Bishop 2007. He has served in parish min- The Holy Father accepted the resig- Preacher of the Pap al Household, Manoel Delson Pedreira da Cruz, istry and as: member of the Arch- nation of Bishop Vincent Ri Pyung- delivered the First Lenten Sermon in OFM Cap., as Archbishop of Paraíba, diocesan Synod Implementation ho of Jeonju, Korea (14 Mar.). the Vatican’s Redemptoris Mater Brazil. Until now he has been Bish- Committee, the Archdiocesan Form- The Holy Father appointed Fr John Chap el. op of Campina Grande, Brazil (8 ation Board and of the Clergy Per- Kim Son-Tae as Bishop of Jeonju. M a r. ) . sonnel Board; vicar forane of Until now he has served as parish NECROLO GY Archbishop Pedreira da Cruz, 62, Middle Prince George’s County and priest in Samcheon-dong, Korea (14 was born in Biritinga, Brazil. He of the Executive Committee of the M a r. ) . Bishop James Michael Moynihan, made his religious vows for the Or- Priest Council. Bishop-elect Son-Tae, 55, was Bishop emeritus of Syracuse, USA, at der of Friars Minor Capuchin on 17 age 84 (6 Mar.) The Holy Father appointed Fr José born in Yeosan-myeon, Korea. He January 1978 and was ordained a holds a doctorate in fundamental Luis Retana Gozalo as Bishop of Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak of Wau, priest on 5 July 1980. He was or- theology. He was ordained a priest Plasencia, Spain. Until now he has South Sudan, at age 71 (6 Mar.) dained a bishop on 24 September on 20 January 1989. He has served been diocesan delegate for teaching 2006, subsequent to his appointment in parish ministry and as director of Bishop Tadeusz Rybak, Bishop institutions of the Diocese of Ávila, as Bishop of Caicó, Brazil. On 8 the Diocesan Catechetical Institute emeritus of Legnica, Poland, at age Spain, and parish priest of San August 2012 he was appointed Bish- for two terms. 87 (7 Mar.) op of Campina Grande. Pedro Bautista Parish (9 Mar.). Archbishop Luigi Barbarito, titular Bishop-elect Retana Gozalo, 64, Archbishop of Fiorentino, Apostolic The Holy Father appointed Fr Vi- was born in Pedro Bernardo, Spain. CO N G R E G AT I O N FOR BISHOPS Nuncio, at age 94 (13 Mar.) cente de Paula Ferreira, CSSR, as He was ordained a priest on 29 Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese Bishop Jacques Fihey, Bishop emer- September 1979. He holds a doctor- The Holy Father appointed as mem- of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, assigning itus of Coutances, France at age 85 ate in theology. He has served as: ber of the above Congregation, him the titular episcopal See of Cas- (12 Mar.) formator and professor of the La Archbishop Giacinto Berloco, titular tra nova. Until now he has been Asunción diocesan college of Ávila; Archbishop of Fidene, Apostolic formator of theology students of the rector of the Seminary of Ávila in Nuncio (8 Mar.). Redemptorist Province of Belo Ho- Salamanca; episcopal vicar and rizonte (8 Mar.). private secretary to the bishop; can- ITA L I A N EP I S C O PA L Bishop-elect de Paula Ferreira, 46, on of the Cathedral of Ávila. Asylum requests was born in Araraí, in the State of CONFERENCE — CEI Espírito Santo, Brazil. He holds a The Holy Father appointed Bishop on the rise degree in the science of religion and Daniel Joseph Miehm as Bishop of The Holy Father has confirmed as a specialization in psychology. He Peterborough, Canada. Until now President of the CEI, Cardinal An- in Canada gelo Bagnasco, Archbishop of Gen- made his religious vows for the Con- he has been titular Bishop of Gor oa, Italy, until the appointment of The number of African and Syri- gregation of the Most Holy Re- and Auxiliary of Hamilton, Canada the new president on the occasion of deemer on 12 December 1992 and (10 Mar.). an migrants requesting asylum in the General Assembly to be held was ordained a priest on 16 Novem- Canada, after crossing the border Bishop Miehm, 56, was born in from 22 to 25 May 2017 (8 Mar.). ber 1996. Within the Congregation from the United States, has in- Kitchener, Canada. He was ordained he has served as: vocational pro- creased since the beginning of the a priest on 6 May 1989. He was or- moter; formator of pre-novitiate and year. The Canadian border patrol dained a bishop on 7 May 2013, sub- postulants; president of the Union RE L AT I O N S WITH STAT E S reported that between 1 January sequent to his appointment as titular of Redemptorists of Brazil; Provin- and 21 February, approximately Bishop of Gor and Auxiliary of The Holy Father appointed Arch- cial Superior of the Province of Rio 4,000 people presented requests Hamilton. bishop Charles John Brown, titular de Janeiro-Minas Gerais-Espírito for asylum in Canada, roughly Archbishop of Aquileia, as Apostolic Santo for three consecutive man- 1,500 more than in the same peri- The Holy Father accepted the resig- Nuncio in Albania. Until now he dates; and is a member of the Al- od of 2016. Canadian officials nation of Bishop José de Jesús Mar- has been Apostolic Nuncio in Ire- phonsian Academy in Rome. have not provided details on the tínez Zepeda of Irapuato, Mexico land (9 Mar.). situation of migrants, saying only (11 Mar.). The Holy Father appointed Fr Roy that “some of them had spent Edward Campbell from the clergy of The Holy Father appointed Bishop SPECIAL ENVOY only a short time in the United the Archdiocese of Washington, USA, Enrique Díaz Díaz as Bishop of States”, while others had had a as Auxiliary Bishop of the same Irapuato. Until now he has been The Holy Father has appointed Car- request for asylum rejected by Archdiocese, assigning him the titu- Coadjutor Bishop of San Cristóbal dinal Zenon Grocholewski, Prefect Wa s h i n g t o n .

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At the General Audience the Pope explains that hypocrisy can appear even in acts of charity Love is not for show

At the General Audience on Wednesday morning, 15 March, Pope Francis called for true, concrete love, instead of love that is just “for show”. Addressing the faithful who gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, he continued his series of catecheses dedicated to Christian hope, commenting on the passage of the Letter to the Romans (12:9-13) in which Saint Paul calls us to rejoice in hope as we exercise charity toward our neighbour. The following is a translation of the Holy Father’s catechesis, which he gave in Italian.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Paul invites us to recognize that we are Good morning! sinners, and also that our way of loving is marked by sin. At the same time, however, We know well that the great commandment a new message, a the Lord Jesus left us is the one about love: one becomes the bearer of to love God with all our heart, with all our message of hope: the Lord opens before us a soul and with all our mind, and to love our new path of freedom, a path of salvation. It neighbour as ourselves (cf. Mt 22:37-39); is the opp ortunityfor us too to live the namely, we are called to love, to exercise great commandment of love, to become in- charity. And this is our loftiest vocation, our struments of God’s charity. And this hap- vocation par excellence; and it is also tied to pens when we let our heart be healed and the joy of Christian hope. One who loves renewed by the Risen Christ. The Risen has the joy of hope, of reaching the en- Lord who lives among us, who lives with us counter with the great love that is the Lord. is capable of healing our heart: He does so, if we ask it. It is He who allows us, even in The Apostle Paul, in the passage of the our littleness and poverty, to experience the Letter to the Romans that we have just Fa t h e r ’s compassion and to celebrate the Therefore, with his grace and his fidelity heard, puts us on guard: there is a risk that wonders of his love. And thus we under- dwelling and abiding in our heart, let us our charity may be hypocritical, that our stand that all we can live and do for our live in the joyful hope of reciprocating in love may be hypocritical. So we must ask: our brothers and sisters, through the little when does this hypocrisy happen? And how brothers and sisters is but the response to we can, the abundance we receive from Him can we be certain that our love is sincere, what God has done and continues to do for each day. Thank you. that our charity is authentic? That we are us. Rather, it is God himself who, abiding not pretending to do charity or that our in our heart and our life, continues to be love is not for show: sincere, strong love.... close and to serve all those whom we en- counter each day on our journey, beginning SPECIAL GREETINGS Hypocrisy can insinuate itself anywhere, with the least and the neediest, in whom He I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and even in our world of love. This happens is first recognized. when our love is motivated by interest, by visitors taking part in today’s Audience, par- ticularly the groups from England, Sweden, self-interest; and how much interested love Thus, with these words, rather than re- Canada and the United States of America. I there is ... when the service to charity, proach us, the Apostle Paul wants to encour- offer a special welcome to the many student which we seem to carry out generously, is age us and rekindle hope in us. Indeed, every- groups present. With prayerful good wishes done in order to draw attention to one has the experience of not living the that this Lent will be a time of grace and ourselves or to feel good: ‘Oh, how good I commandment of love fully or as we spiritual renewal for you and your families, am!’. No, this is hypocrisy! Or also when should. But this too is a grace, because it I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in we aspire to things with “visibility” so as to makes us understand that we are incapable our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all! put our intelligence or our abilities on dis- of truly loving by ourselves: we need the play. Behind all this there is a false, mis- Lord constantly to renew this gift in our I address a cordial welcome to the Itali- leading idea, thinking that since we love, heart, through the experience of his infinite an-speaking pilgrims. I am pleased to wel- we are good — as though charity were a mercy. Then, indeed, we will return to ap- come the participants of the Conference manmade creation, a product of our heart. preciate small things, simple, ordinary sponsored by the Focolare Movement on Charity, instead, is first and foremost a things; we will once more appreciate all the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its g ra c e , a gift; being able to love is a gift of these little, everyday things and we will be foundation and I exhort them to witness to God, and we must ask for it. He gives it capable of loving others as God loves them, the beauty of new families, guided by the freely, if we ask for it. Charity is a grace: it wanting their good, that is, that they be peace and love of Christ. Carry on in this does not consist in showing off, but in holy, friends of God; and we will be glad of way! what the Lord gives us and which we freely the opportunity to make ourselves close to I offer a special thought to the employees receive; and it cannot be extended to oth- those who are poor and humble, as Jesus of “Sky Italia”, and I hope their employ- ers if it is not first generated by the en- does with each one of us when we are dis- ment situation may find a rapid resolution, counter with the meek and merciful face of tant from Him, to stoop to the feet of our with respect for the rights of all, especially Jesus. brothers and sisters, as He, the Good of families. Work gives us dignity, and the Samaritan, does with authorities responsible for the people, the each of us, with his government leaders, have the obligation to compassion and his do everything possible so that every man and woman may have work and thus hold f o rg i v e n e s s . their heads high, look others in the face Dear brothers and with dignity. Those who, through economic sisters, what the manoeuvres, with negotiations that are not Apostle Paul re- entirely clear, close factories, close busi- minded us of is the nesses and take away people’s jobs, commit secret for — I shall use an extremely serious sin. his words — it is the Lastly, I extend a greeting to young people, secret for “rejoicing in to the sick and to newlyweds. The liturgical hope” (cf. Rom 12:12); Season of Lent favours drawing closer to rejoicing in hope. The God: fast not only from meals, but above joy of hope: because all from bad habits, dear young people, so as to acquire greater mastery over yourselves; we know that in all may prayer be for you, dear sick people, the circumstances, even means to feel God’s closures, particularly in the most adverse, and suffering; may the exercise of the works of also through our own mercy help you, dear newlyweds, may your failures, God’s love conjugal existence be open to the needs of never fails. your brothers and sisters. page 4 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 17 March 2017, number 11

Speaking with children and young people at Santa Maddalena di Canossa Parish I enjoy being Pope

During his pastoral visit to Rome’s Santa Maddalena di Canossa Parish on No! priest? Think hard, which is more Sunday, 12 March, the Holy Father spent some time speaking with children and I don’t hear well.... b eautiful? young people, and answered five questions which were first read aloud to him by the youngsters. Elisabetta asked about his first encounter with Jesus; Patrizio No! The Pope.... asked whether he was happy being Pope or if he would rather be a simple parish D idn’t you understand? priest; Sara asked what, if anything, frightens him; Edoardo asked him to sha re You don’t pay? If you have a stack of money and you go over the “most beautiful moments” of his life; and Camilla asked how to resolve the Both! problem of lack of communication brought about by modern technology. The follow- there and give it to the cardinals, ing is a translation of the transcript of the conversation. will they make you Pope for this? Both: what God wants. What God wants. What the Lord gives No! you is beautiful, because when the [Pope Francis:] The first question He forgives you! Lord gives you a task to do, a job, No. But if you do not study and was: when did you approach Jesus? And if you.... You have to tell him being pastor of a parish, or of a dio- That was it, isn’t that true? I will do not pay, who makes you Pope? that you are sorry you did these cese, or being Pope, a pastor — in- ask a question in exchange: why is things, isn’t that true? God. deed, he gives you a task. And what that each time you draw near to Je- does the Lord ask of you when he sus, you realize that He has ap- Ye s . God. And tell me, tell me all of makes you a parish priest or he proached you first? If we are able to you: who was the first Pope; what makes you a bishop? What does he draw near to Jesus, it is because He And he forgives you. You are con- was his name? ask you? To do what? has drawn near first. He always trite, and he forgives you. But it is takes the first step. Do you under- always Jesus who first draws near. P e t e r. To bring peace. stand this? Does Jesus refuse to be Peter was a saint, wasn’t he? To bring peace. More.... with us? I ask you.... [Boy:] He is always in our hearts. Louder, I didn’t hear.... Ye s ! To bring the Word.... [Children:] No! Was he always a saint? To teach the Word of God, to do There. Does Jesus await us? Is he [Boy:] He is always in our hearts. catecheses ... what else? You, loudly! or is he not waiting for us? He is always in our hearts. He No! never abandons us. He is always No? Did he do something bad? [Boy:] “To love” Ye s ! with us. In beautiful moments, is he To love, to make a community of with us? When we play, when we are But does he await us like this, or Ye s ! love, that everyone love each other. does he do something else? [A boy happy, is he with us?... Louder! replies: “He comes to meet us”] He What did he do? The worst t h i n g. . . . [Children:] To help your neighbour.... comes to meet us! Well said! Who [Children:] Yes! To bring peace to the world.... said this? You are good! Well done! And in life’s bad moments too? Jesus always comes to meet us. And He said he didn’t know Jesus! To bring peace to the world: is it if you see Jesus coming from this He said he didn’t know Jesus; he only the Pope who must do this, or Yes, He comforts us; he is near and he must we all do it? way, and you somewhat play the comforts us. denied Jesus. A terrible sin, terrible! fool and look the other way, does How was this sinner made Pope? Je- Jesus go away? That’s it: he comforts us. It’s true, sus chooses whom he wants to be Everyone! Jesus is like this. Thank you, good Pope in this time; in another time Everyone! And how do you begin No! He helps you! answer. A good question. Thank you he chooses another, and in another, to bring peace to the world? With for the question! The second was.... another.... But the question: do I, Louder! your family, at school, with your who was chosen for this job, like it friend, when you play with others ... [The parish priest recalls the question:] No! or not? I like it; and I also enjoyed always peace. And if you get angry “Pope or priest in a small parish...”. being a priest in a parish, the rector with a friend or with a classmate, is You, what does Jesus do? You Do you know that you do not of a faculty and also a parish priest this bringing peace? said it well.... — I liked both callings very much. I study to be Pope? Do you or don’t also enjoyed doing Sunday school, No. you study? [Boy:] He helps you! c h i l d re n ’s Mass.... I like this. Al- What must you do if you get ways, being a priest is something Does he take you by the ear and No! angry? that I have always enjoyed very do this? [gesturing] No! This question too: do you much. Thus, which is more beauti- If you get angry with your friend, you [Boy:] No! He makes you understand pay to become Pope? ful: being the Pope or being a make peace and it all ends there! that you have done wrong. Good! If you get angry with your That’s it. He speaks to your heart; friend, as he said, make peace and he makes you understand what love move on. You are good! Thank you. is. And if you do not want to hear Okay? The third question.... Before him, what does he do? Does he go moving on to the third, one thing away? about peace. When spouses argue.... At times you have heard Dad and [Children:] No. Mom argue about something: this is normal; this happens. There are al- He stays. He stays there. He is ways things to argue about, are there patient. Jesus always waits. And this not? But what must they do after- is the answer to your question. We w a rd s ? approach Jesus, but we discover that He has drawn near first. He has They have to make peace! been there, waiting for us. And he waits. And he speaks to us. But he Make peace. And you, tell your is always there; he is always there; p a re n t s . . . . he is always there. And if you have done something bad, does he push [Boy:] ... that they should not argue a n y m o re . you away? No. “If you argue, make peace No! before the day is over”. Okay? This is advice you must give your par- No? ents. Let’s see if you have learned it He forgives you.... well: what was the advice? If you ar- gue.... Ah ... this is a beautiful word that you have said.... [Children:] Make peace before the day number 11, Friday, 17 March 2017 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO page 5

I thank the Lord. You too have al. We must have a concrete dia- beautiful moments, or don’t you? logue, and I am saying this to you, young people. How do we begin to [Children:] Yes.... dialogue? With the ears. Unblock- Yes.... You do not seem con- ing the ears. Ears open to hearing vinced.... Do you have beautiful mo- what is happening. For example: I ments or not? am going to visit a sick person and I start talking: “D on’tworry, you will Ye s ! get better soon, blablablabla .... Bye, God bless you”. How often do we Yes. For example, one.... do this? The poor sick person re- mains there.... But he needed to be To d a y. listened to! When you visit a sick Before moving on to the young person, be quiet. Give them a kiss, is over! neighbourhood; it destroys a parish; lady’s question.... The parish priest caress them, one question: “How are spoke of the catechists. Raise your you?” And let them talk. They need Before the day is over. it destroys everything. But above all gossip destroys your heart. Because hands, catechists.... Thank you very to let off steam, they need to com- much. What would the Church be plain. They also need to say nothing [Boy:] ... also because it is bad to ar- if your heart is capable of dropping without you? You are pillars in the but to feel that they are being seen gue. a bomb, you are a terrorist; you secretly do evil and your heart be- life of a parish, in the life of a dio- and heard. The tongue is in second It is bad, it is bad ... what? comes corrupt. Never gossip! Do cese. One could not conceive of a place; what is in first place? you agree or not? diocese, a parish without catechists. [Children:] To argue.... And this has been so since the earli- [Children:] Ears. It’s bad to argue, but it happens; Ye s ! est times, since after Jesus’ R e s u r re c - I did not hear you. tion: there were women who went to it happens. Always. Because we are Be afraid of gossip! “But I would help their friends, and they were cat- all sinners, aren’t we? But.... E a rs ! like to say something about this per- echists. It is a beautiful vocation. It son ...” — Never! Bite your tongue! And which place does the tongue [Boy:] Saying bad words and curs- is a beautiful vocation. It is not easy Bite your tongue before you say it! take? Always second place. Listen- ing.... to be a catechist, because catechists — “But it hurts!” — Yes, it will hurt, must not only teach “things”; they ing. And from listening to dialogue. Well, cursing, curse words are but never do harm to another per- must teach attitudes; they must And also concrete dialogue, because worse. Bad words are not nice; they son! Understood? Truly, the destruc- teach values, so many things, how to the one that takes place with the are a little less [serious], but they are tion that gossip can do scares me; live.... It is difficult work. I thank mobile phone is virtual; it is “li- not nice! Cursing: never curse! Nev- this speaking ill of others, but in you very much, men and women quid”, not concrete. The concrete- er, ever! Bad words, they are bad, secret; to destroy him, in secret. This catechists, for your work. Thank you ness of dialogue. This is very im- but not as serious as cursing. And is the worst. Yes, this is “being a very much. Thank you. portant. Do you understand? arguing: what is the advice?... All witch”: it is as if one were a witch. together: [together with the children] He or she is a terrorist. Okay? [The parish priest recalls the question:] [The parish priest indicates:] Holy Make peace before the day is over. So much technology that allows com- Father, they are right here, in the front, O kay? [The parish priest recalls the question:] munication, but so difficult to dia- the small group that brought up this The third question: whether there the most beautiful moments of your life, logue.... question. Holy Father.... is something that scares me or This question is beautiful, because Good. Do this: learn to ask ques- frightens me.... When she — Sara — There have been so many. So today we can communicate every- tions: “Oh how are you?” — “We l l asked me the question, she came up many beautiful moments.... One where. But dialogue is missing. ...” — “What did you do yester- to me and said: “Do you know beautiful moment of my life was Think about this.... Close your eyes. d a y. . . ? ”. You ask a question and let what? Witches scare me”! [laughter] when I was a boy, I used to go to Imagine this: at the table, mom, the other person speak. This is how But are there witches? the stadium with my Dad; Mom dad, me, my brother, my sister, each dialogue begins. But let the other came too, a few times, to watch a one of us with his or her mobile person always speak first, and you, [Children:] No — Ye s . . . . match. In those days there were no phone, talking.... Everyone is talking listen closely. This is called “the Really? When you hear a lady problems at the stadium, and this but they are talking outside: there is apostolate of listening”. Do you un- say: “No, I go to the witch because was beautiful. On Sundays, after no talking amongst themselves. derstand? This is how dialogue I have a bug [illness], and she will midday, after lunch, going to the Everyone is communicating, right? works. Back home we have a saying, do three or four things and will cure stadium and then going home.... It Yes, on the telephone, but they are that often priests have to “speak to me”.... What do we call this? was beautiful, beautiful. It was a not having a dialogue. This is the the daughter-in-law so the mother- beautiful time. Another beautiful problem. This is the problem. The in-law hears”; and I say these things A lie. moment of life is.... lack of dialogue. And the lack of to children, but so that grown ups listening. Yesterday, I had a brief A lie. Lying. Yes, we call this non- will also hear! We all need to learn [Boy:] Hearing yourself on T V.... meeting, a nice group came to the these things. sense, because witches have no Vatican — they were more or less power. Okay? I said this [because of No, I don’t like it: TV makes me 400 people — who belonged to the [The parish priest describes a gift being the comment] “witches scare me”. look ugly! [he laughs; they laugh] association “Telefono Amico” — have presented to Pope Francis:] Holy Fath- What scares or frightens me.... It Have you seen that TV changes your you heard about this? — It is an as- er, this is the book which contains all scares me when a person is cruel: face? It makes you a little ... not like sociation which is available for the questions, letters and drawings that the evil of people. But when a per- yourself.... No, I like things “live”. I “listening”: if you are sad, if you are the children and the youth have made son — because all of us have seeds don’t like that, it wastes time. An- depressed, or if you have a problem for you. of cruelty inside, because it is sin other beautiful time of life is meet- or a doubt, you can call there and that leads you to this — but when a ing with friends. Before coming to there is always someone who is will- Thank you for this, because I person chooses to be cruel, that Rome, every two months we would ing to listen to you. Listening is the know that each of you did this with really scares me. Because a cruel meet: ten friends, classmates, who first step in dialoguing, and I think your heart, with love. Thank you person can do so much harm. And completed “secondary school” to- this is a problem which we must re- very much. Thank you very much. it also scares me when in a family, in gether, we finished at 17, and we solve. One of the worst ailments of And I thank these postmen who a neighbourhood, in a workplace, in continued to meet, yes, each one our time is the poor level of listen- brought it: for me this is so valu- a parish, even in the Vatican, there is with his family.... It was beautiful. A ing skills. As if our ears were able, because this is really a bridge gossip; this scares me. I will tell you beautiful time. And another beauti- blocked. Listening.... Yes, “I am of dialogue, because dialogue is al- something: listen closely. Have you ful moment for me — which I enjoy communicating with the mobile ways a bridge. Bring it ... that’s it, heard or seen on TV what terrorists very much — is when I can pray in phone”, but you are not listening to thank you. There is always the last do? They drop a bomb and run silence, read the Word of God: it is those who are near you, you are not one in the mail, this was the last one away: they do this. This is one of good for me; I really enjoy it. There having a dialogue, you are in com- to arrive. It came late, but it is all the things. Gossip is like this: it is have been so many beautiful mo- munication with something else that right. Thank you very much. Now dropping a bomb and running away. ments, so many.... I don’t know.... I may not be true communication, it all together, I invite you to pray to And gossip destroys; it destroys. It could speak of others, but there are is not dialogue: I say one thing, you our Mother in Heaven, Mary. destroys a family; it destroys a so very, very many in my life.... And say something else, but it is all virtu- “Hail Mary...”. page 6 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 17 March 2017, number 11

Interview with the Secretary of State on the fourth anniversary of Francis’ p ontificate The reform? Everything begins from the heart

ALESSANDRO GISOTTI It has been four years since Pope Francis’ election. Four years experienced with great intensity by the Pastor who came almost from “the ends of the earth”, who is putting into action a work of profound renewal of the Church. This fourth year was marked by many magisterial moments and documents. It was the time of Amoris Laetitia and of the historic embrace with Patriarch Kirill in Cuba, of World Youth Day in Krakow, the visit to Auschwitz, the canonization of Mother Teresa and the ecumenical trip to Lund for the fifth centenary of the Lutheran Reformation. In an exclusive interview at the Secretariat for Communication, Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, comments on these events.

Let us go back to 13 March 2013 ing themselves to God. And from when Argentinian Cardinal Jorge this emerged this image of Pastor Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope. and people, with trust and entrust- ing themselves to prayer, and there- On that day, 13 March, I was not fore to the grace and mercy of the in Rome. I was still in Caracas (as L o rd . Nuncio in Venezuela). Therefore, the news reached us at midday when From his first public appearances, the it was already evening in Rome. Ob- Holy Father highlighted this very neces- Pope has called us to return to this the Family, the Pope always used to viously, what I felt first of all was sity of being a “Church which goes very centre, this source. I think that say: “This synod must make the great surprise at this name, at the forth”, a journeying Church. Is this the Church should seek to be a con- Gospel of the Family shine”. The election of Cardinal Bergoglio, Synodal model, this vision the Pope duit, to be a channel for this en- Gospel of the Family means, on the whom I had heard about, but who, truly cherishes, becoming established at counter between God’s mercy and one hand, God’s plan for families, at that time, was not expected to be- various levels within the Church? the man of today in his concrete the plan that God had conceived for come the new Pope. At any rate, the reality, his joy and his suffering, his families since eternity and on the Evidently it is a long journey, a press had not presented him as be- certainties besides his weaknesses other hand, also the real conditions gradual journey which, we could say, ing among the “papable”. Therefore, and doubts. The Holy Year of in which families live: the family had its beginnings in the Second it was a great surprise and the name Mercy was truly an offering the marked by original sin like all hu- Vatican Council, the implementation chosen also came as a surprise, this Pope made to the Church so that man realities. Therefore, I think that name “Fr a n c i s ” which was not in the of which Pope Francis, himself, Amoris Laetitia has given a great im- wants to ensure in the life of the she might become this instrument of Mercy. As he rightly said, the Holy petus to the pastoral care of the Church. I think this journeying family, which I also have heard from Church is important, this Church Door closes but the door of mercy always remains open! With regard to many people. It is really producing which is opening herself up: a the fruit of renewal and assistance to Church which first of all opens her- the fruit, I would like to highlight two things. The first is the number families in fragile situations. As for self to the Lord, a Church which the criticism, ... well, there has al- goes forth toward her Lord, toward of Christians, the many baptized people, the rediscovery of confession ways been criticism in the Church! Jesus Christ. It is precisely because It is not the first time this has oc- the Church is outgoing toward Jesus as a sacrament of God’s Mercy in which Jesus the Lord allows us to curred. I think that Pope Francis Christ, that she is capable of accom- himself gave us the key to interpret- panying people, encountering experience the Father’s mercy, the ing it: that is, it must be sincere cri- people, accompanying people in forgiveness of sins and all his love ticism, that seeks to build and there- their daily reality. I think this is very for us. I have heard from many fore to help make progress; it also important and I think that this jour- people that there has been a helps to find a way together to know ney should be taken together. This reawakening of this sacrament and that many people have moved Go d’s will ever better and to put it is synodal! The Church’s jour- into action. ney is taken together, but closer. Let us hope that this reawakening may continue and truly under the guidance of the Pope Francis is also beginning a pro- translate into a renewed participa- Holy Spirit. Thus, a found reform of the Curia. He often tion in the Sacrament of Reconcili- Church which is stresses that we all need a reform, we gathered by the Spir- ation. The second is the attention to might say an even more important one: it, where each person situations of poverty and destitution. “the reform of the heart”. And in is attentive to the The Pope has shown us, especially Evangelii Gaudium, he calls for “the voice of the Spirit with his gestures, this exercise of reform of the Church in her missionary and where each per- mercy which is also one of the most o u t re a c h ”. Why is this process of reform son also pools the urgent demands of Lent: conversion so important for this Pontiff who con- gifts received from actually occurs by carrying out acts stantly refers to it in many different the Holy Spirit for of fraternal charity. And therefore s p h e re s ? the completion of this renewed attention to people in this mission. difficulty, to the poor, to the outcast, Throughout history, the Council to those in need of support and has always gone back to it, the The Jubilee of Mercy closeness. I think there have been Church semper reformanda! It is a has ended but mercy many initiatives. I think this too is a fundamental dimension of the series of Popes and which, in my continues to be the keystone of this dimension on which we must contin- Church, that of being in a process opinion, immediately revealed what Pontificate, as the episcopal motto of ue to insist. of reform, of “conversion” to use the the characteristics of the new Pontiff Jorge Mario Bergoglio reminds us. Gospel term. And it is right that it would be. Then I was touched by Where do you see the most fertile fruit In the fourth year of his Pontificate, in be so. It is necessary that it be so. his speech, delivered with such sim- of the Holy Father’s continuous call to particular with the publication of the The Pope persistently reminds us so plicity, so much peace, so much mercy, to God’s tenderness? Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation that the Church may become, ever serenity, in particular this reciprocal Amoris Laetitia, some criticism has more herself, ever more authentic, entrustment, the fact that he entrus- I should say that this insistence removing those “scales” which accu- on mercy is not a personal prefer- emerged in Catholic circles, some mis- ted himself to the people and asked understandings, if you will, regarding mulate on the path of history, and them to pray that he receive God’s ence of the Pope so much as the fo- truly shine with the transparency of cusing of attention on the funda- Pope Francis’ Magisterium. How blessing. “Go d’s holypeople”, as should we understand this? the Gospel. I would say that this is Pope Francis loves to say. Addition- mental mystery which is God’s love. fundamentally the sense of the re- ally, it is also the entrustment of the Salvation history is none other than First of all, I would say look at form, and it is for this reason that Pastor to the people; of the people the story of the revelation of the Amoris Laetitia as a great gift to us. I the Pope insists on the “reform of to the Pastor and of the Pastor to love, the mercy, the tenderness of remember at the beginning, even be- the people, and all together, entrust- God toward humanity. And the fore the start of the first Synod on CONTINUED ON PA G E 14 number 11, Friday, 17 March 2017 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO page 7

The Holy Father speaks of the Transfiguration at Santa Maddalena di Canossa Church in Rome Awaiting the Resurrection

“We are used to speaking about the sins of others: it is a bad thing”; instead, we should “look at our own sins” and at Jesus, who sacrificed himself for man’s salvation. This message lay at the heart of the homily Pope Francis delivered on the Second Sunday of Lent, 12 March, at the Santa Maddalena di Canossa Parish in Rome, where he was on a pastoral visit. The following is a translation of the Holy Father’s reflection, which was given in Italian.

In this Gospel passage (cf. Mt 17:1-9), reference is made twice to the beauty of Jesus, of Jesus-God, of luminous Jesus, of Jesus full of joy and life. First, in the vision: “And he was transfigured”. He was transfigured before them, his disciples: “his face shone like the sun, and his garments be- came white as light”. And Jesus is transformed; he is transfigured. The second time, as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to speak of this vision before He had Risen from the dead, meaning the Resurrection Jesus was to have — did have, but at that moment he had not yet risen — the same bright, shining face will be like this! But what did he mean? dalized to see him like this, on the cross, he ap- made sin, which paid in this way, for all of us. Je- That between this Transfiguration so beautiful, peared Transfigured. sus is made sin, he becomes the curse of God, for and that Resurrection, there will be another face We are accustomed to speaking about sins: us: the blessed Son, in the Passion, became the ac- of Jesus: there will be a face not so beautiful, dis- when we confess “I did this sin; I did that sin...”; c u rs e d because he took our sins upon himself (cf. figured, tortured, despised, bloodied by the and also in Confession, when we are forgiven, we Gal 3:10-14). Let us think about this. How much crown of thorns.... Jesus’ whole body will be just feel that we are forgiven because He took this sin love! What love! And let us also think about the as something to be discarded. Two Transfigura- upon himself in the Passion: He became sin. We beauty of the transfigured face of Jesus that we tions, and between them Jesus Crucified, the are used to speaking about the sins of others. It is will meet in Heaven. Cross. We must really look at the Cross! It is Je- a bad thing.... Instead of speaking about others’ May this contemplation of the two faces of Je- sus-God — “this is my Son”, “this is my beloved sins, I am not saying to make ourselves sin, be- sus — the one transfigured and the one made to Son!”— Jesus, Son of God, God himself, with cause we cannot, but to look at our own sins and be sin, made a curse — encourage us to go for- whom the Father is well pleased: He is com- at the One who became sin. ward on the journey of life, on the journey of pletely destroyed in order to save us! To use too This is the journey toward Easter, toward the Christian life. May it encourage us to ask forgive- strong a word, too strong, perhaps one of the Resurrection: with the certainty of this Transfigur- ness for our sins, not to sin so much.... May it en- strongest words of the New Testament, a word ation, to go forward; to see this face so bright, so courage us above all to have faith, because if He which Paul uses: He made him to be sin (cf. 2 beautiful, which will be the same one in the Re- was made to be sin it is because He took ours Cor 5:21). Sin is the most terrible thing; sin is an surrection and the same that we will find in upon himself. And He is always willing to forgive offense to God, a slap in the face to God, it is Heaven, and also to see this other face, which is us. We need only to ask for it. saying to God: “You do not matter to me; I prefer this...”. So Jesus became sin, he annihilated himself, he debased himself to that point.... And in order to prepare the disciples not to be scan- Special greetings at the parish

To the sick and the elderly them. I thank you for bearing God greatly; to bring life: this The Pope your illness in this way. is what He brings. I thank you for being here. I for this time promise to pray for you. And I I am close and I also ask Now I invite you to pray to would also like to tell you you to pray for me, that the Our Lady and then I will give simply that illness is a cross — Lord give me spiritual life, that the blessing to the families. “Hail Mary...”. CONTINUED FROM PA G E 1 you know this — but the Cross he make me good, that he is always a seed of life, and by make me a good priest so as to [Blessing] in prayer and meditation, what he ex- bearing it well one can give be at the service of others. I Thank you very much! Pray plained again to the children who, un- much life to many people trust in your prayers. for me. And carry on! like many adults, want to truly know whom we do not know; and Now, together, let us pray to him. “Another beautiful moment for me then, in Heaven, we will know Our Lady: “Hail Mary ...”. Final farewell outside the church — which I enjoy very much — is when I [Blessing] can pray in silence, read the Word of Good evening everyone! God: it is good for me; I really enjoy See you soon. Pray it”, he said, adding at the end, for those for me. May the Lord Thank you very much for your who still did not understand: “I say bless you! Thank you! warm welcome. I see that you these things to children, but so that are a vibrant community, which grown ups will also hear!”. To parents of newborns moves, and this pleases me. After all, Pope Francis has explicitly baptized in the past year Go forward with joy, always, without becoming discouraged. invited prayer from the first moments of Thank you very much Always go forward, with joy. I his pontificate when, with the faithful, for being here: it is tir- ask you to pray for me: I need he recited the Our Father, the Hail ing to stand with chil- it, because I must do good Mary and the Glory Be for Benedict dren.... Thank you XVI work, not “so-so”; and to do it , then called for “the prayer of the very much, thank you well, your prayers are neces- p eople”for their Bishop, and concluded very much! I ask you sary. Now, I invite you to pray his unforgettable first discourse with an to pray for me; I need oft-repeated request accompanied by a to Our Lady, everyone togeth- it. And I will pray for now familiar gesture of the hand: “Pray er, and I will give you the you, that these chil- for me and until we meet again. We will blessing: “Hail Mary...”. dren may grow up well see each other soon. Tomorrow I wish and be good people. [Blessing] to go and pray to Our Lady, that she Thank you for bring- Have a good evening, every- may watch over all of Rome”. ing life: this is great! one. May the Lord bless you! G.M.V. It makes us resemble Ar r i v e d e rc i ! number 11, Friday, 17 March 2017 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO page 8/9

International Women’s Day: Sisters on the front lines Not counting the cost

have the trust of the people, espe- feeds the students in the Teacher flict and poverty. Many refugees are at least 21 million cially the trust of women who have Training College in Yambio and the in camps within the African contin- people who have exper- often experienced sexual violence or Health Training Centre in Wau. The ent: Ethiopia (702,000); Kenya ienced forced or co- been brutalized as they tried to de- farming project has improved food (552,000); Uganda (428,000) Chad erced human trafficking fend their homes, their children and security by the introduction of basic (420,800) and Sudan (356,000). Oth- worldwide — 68% in their crops and who are deeply trau- farming practices rather than the de- ers are trying to make their way forced labour; 22% in matized. I can still hear the wailing velopment of large commercial enter- across the Mediterranean to Europe. forced prostitution and voice of one woman in Torit describ- prises dependent on expensive equip- In 2015 the UISG prepared 10 sis- 10% in state-imposed ing what she had endured during the ment. The people work on the com- ters from different countries and dif- labour. Forced labour war when the little she had was munity farm but also receive seeds to ferent congregations to form first two generates about $150 plundered by friend and foe alike. grow green gram, maize and cassava and then three communities in Sicily billion in profits annu- Her story was accompanied by the at home. The project is labour in- to accompany the many thousands of ally and 98% of those deadly silence of the listeners, each tensive so that the wages can pay migrants living in holding centres. sexually exploited are of whom I’m sure, had her or his school fees and inject money into the These sisters are from 8 different reli- women and girls. India, own experience. local economy. In addition, the pro- gious communities and 8 different with 14 million, has the When a conflict concludes and the ject uses small technology — hand nationalities. These international sis- largest number of process of reconstruction and recon- and oxen ploughs and small tractors. ters network with local sisters in Si- people enduring this PAT R I C I A MU R R AY, IVBM * Isabel Sola Matas from the congrega- ous to the fact that two civil wars tion of Jesus and Mary died in Haiti. had taken place in the region since ciliation begins, the role of local wo- All across Africa, sisters are involved cily. Their ability to communicate in modern day slavery. serve as the Executive Secret- The Missionaries of Charity sisters independence in 1955. One comment- men is important. Life has to begin in similar projects which ensure food many different languages enables Worldwide, almost 20% ary of the International Uni- Ansel, Margarita, Reginette and Ju- ator wrote poignantly that these were again although the scars of war are security. The joy of independence in them to act as a bridge with the local of all trafficking victims on of Superiors General dith were murdered in Yemen; the wars fought behind “a grass curtain”. deep and the trauma remains. In South Sudan has sadly given way to Sicilian community who feel unable are children. However, in some parts of Africa (UISG) — an organization Holy Spirit Sister Veronica Rockova So many conflicts today happen many countries sisters have been in- a brutal civil war, and the people are to cope. Their inter-cultural p re s e n c e whose members are the lead- was shot and died in South Sudan away from the gaze of the media — strumental in bringing the people to- once again displaced. However even and living is a witness of communion and the Mekong re- ers of nearly 2,000 congregations of and Franciscan Sister Marie Claire as someone once said, “if the media gether for different types of pro- in the midst of the violence, the sis- and encounter at one the world’s gion, children are the I majority (up to 100% in women religious or sisters worldwide. Agano was killed in DRC. All were is not present then it’s not happen- grammes for healing trauma and re- ters demonstrate that people who are borders of suffering. In meeting It is difficult to know how many sis- close to the people they served. ing”. But the sisters are always there building trust. This has often different can live together. I remem- young unaccompanied minors in parts of West Africa). ters are members of these 2,000 con- When conflicts increase in a region in conflict zones, in the midst of the happened across barriers of tribal or ber being asked several times: “how S i c i l y, I have asked them why were Although trafficking gregations, at least 500,000. Before and the International NGO s leave for chaos, trauma, fear, bitterness, grief religious differences. Each small step can you people from different tribes they coming to Europe, and almost seems to imply people moving across ability leads to further exploitation taking up my current role, I was a safer locations, the sisters stay even and desperation. They have a per- in the process of reconciliation is vi- live together?” Perhaps this is the all of them say that they wanted a continents, most exploitation takes including trafficking. As sisters, we though their lives are spective of the reality that few share. tal for the reconstruction of a society most important witness that we sis- good education. Good basic facilities place close to home. International re- are trying to be signs of hope, find- threatened. We don’t hear During the March “solidarity visit”, or the rebuilding of a nation. ters bring to people who have long and opportunities for dignified work search shows that intra- re g i o n a l and ing ways to create “alternate spaces”, about the suffering they the people kept saying “thank you However, these processes take time, histories of inter-tribal conflict. would keep people in their own domestic trafficking are the major where our presence and self-giving, For International Women’s Day, endure on behalf of their for coming to be with us; we thought patience and perseverance, as there is countries. This focuses attention on forms of trafficking in persons. our encounter and communion, our people. Recently, we re- no quick fix to years of enmity and the wonderful work being done by Pope Francis has called human way of embracing differences, of that the world and the universal Refugees and Migrants 8 March, at an event hosted by the ceived news that a Fran- Church had forgotten us”. This con- retaliation. In addition, development sisters in schools throughout Africa trafficking a “plague on the body of healing and reconciliation can be ex- Australian Embassies to the ciscan Sister of Mary Im- text shows how religious women often has to begin from scratch. After Sadly, South Sudan has descended but, unfortunately, many never get contemporary humanity” and calls on perienced. We are finding new ways maculate Colombia, Sr worldwide can respond to the plight many years in displacement in into civil war and many of the people access to a good quality education. society to pass legislation that penal- of being present among the broken Holy See and to Italy, stories were Gloria Cecilia Narvaez of people who feel abandoned. They refugee camps or in towns and cities are back living in refugee camps — Sisters are working in refugee camps izes traffickers and helps to rehabilit- and excluded. We are collaborating Argoti, had been kid- respond by being a presence in the away from the land, people have for- 1.8 million within the country itself in many parts of Africa, in Greece, in ate victims. He has spoken out and networking with governments, shared of the many courageous napped in Mali on Febru- midst of war whether in Syria, in gotten basic agricultural skills. They and many others in Uganda and Lebanon and other countries in the against these new forms of slavery — NGO s, faith based organizations, the ary 7. We pray for her eastern Congo, in northern Uganda have to learn once again what to Kenya. Sadly, this is not the only Middle East and on the Thai- forced labour, prostitution and organ business community etc. We are sisters around the world who are safe return to her com- or in South Sudan. One local con- plant and how to plant. There are African country suffering in this way. Myanmar border in Asia, offering trafficking — saying that their devel- bringing together the capacities of working among the poor and in munity, but I’ve not read gregation of sisters in Syria has been many agricultural projects helping Unfortunately, conflict prevents educational opportunities and health opment is “worse and more inhu- our different congregations to re- or heard much about her displaced at least three times and has people to do just that in war torn people from cultivating the land, and care to thousands. At the same time, mane” than those forms of slavery in spond to new and complex needs. areas of conflict disappearance in the in- continually moved with the people. areas. In South Sudan Sr. Rosa from increased insecurity and fear cause at the United Nations in New York, the past. Pope Francis says “these are We are being bold and inventive as ternational media. There is a ministry of presence re- Vietnam has developed an ex- people to flee to safety. Refugees are many congregations have ECOSO C the least among us” and that “all we live through this time of global Pope Francis has urged quired in these desperate situations; traordinary model farm in the middle leaving DRC, Burundi, Mali, Afgh- and DPI status and are lobbying for men and women of good will are transitions and new requirements. We religious women and men having someone to talk to, to lament of the Equatorial jungle where she anistan, Syria, South Sudan, the particular needs of migrants and called to renew their commitment in are trying to live “in an attitude of 3 member of the central leadership to go to places of great need saying with, someone who can be a small teaches the local people how to grow Somalia, Eritrea, Nigeria, Central refugees in different locations. They improving the human condition”. dialogue and solidarity, of profound team of my congregation and then “leave your nests”; “go out through sign of compassion and comfort. In both traditional and new crops. The African Republic, and Ukraine in are answering Pope Francis’ app eal Sisters play their part in combatting … tenderness and sympathy with the Executive Director of a project called that door and meet the people”; “go many situations of conflict, the sisters food from the farm at Riimenze significant numbers because of con- to all of us to see migrants and this evil: men and women of today and their Solidarity with South Sudan. For al- out on the streets”; “go to the fronti- refugees “as persons, seeing their face — Building their own capacity c u l t u re ”.4 Our various religious insti- most twenty years I have been priv- ers”; “leave the centre and travel to- and listening to their stories, trying — Promoting educational cam- tutes were born to inspire new jour- ileged to see and support the work of wards the peripheries”; “reach the to respond as best we can to their paigns neys, to travel unforeseen routes and sisters worldwide. Sisters work in fringes of humanity”.1 The fringes of situation”.2 While the numbers of — Providing protection and assist- respond to human needs. Now we, in every country in education, health, humanity are often difficult and re- refugees and migrants are enormous ance our time, must set out again on un- social and pastoral services, in agri- mote places. Here we can find the (20 million refugees in 2014; and 23.2 — Starting income generating pro- trodden paths and new highways.... culture and local development. They most vulnerable and forgotten million migrants in 2013), each re- jects There is still much to do — the jour- are involved in some of the most dif- p eople. sponse, however small, affirms the — Introducing child protection ini- ney continues but we know that ficult and dangerous contexts and My own experience of South Su- goodness and dignity of every per- tiatives Go d’s grace accompanies us. they seek to respond to the most ur- dan provides a type of case study of son. — Creating partnerships with oth- gent global needs such as trafficking the kind of processes that happen in ers 1 Congregation for Institutes of in persons, the care of refugees and conflict areas. There have been over Last year Pope Francis called on Consecrated Life and Societies of migrants, campaigning against envir- 250 armed conflicts since the conclu- Tr a f f i c k i n g the religious of the world to promote Apostolic Life, Rejoice: A Letter to onmental destruction, accompanying sion of World War II. Sisters have Before I conclude, I would like to the Feast of St. Bakhita (February Consecrated Men and Women,(R) n. victims of war and conflict. been present before in the midst of say something about trafficking in 8th) as a World Day Against Human 10, KW, p. 60; Apostolic Exhortation On International Women’s Day, 8 these conflicts, and are there to re- human persons — because this evil is Trafficking — a day of awareness rais- of the Holy Father Francis, The Joy of March, I wish to share some experi- spond in the aftermath. I visited often buried within the phenomenon ing, prayer and action. This is the Gospel: Evangelii Gaudium (EG), ences about the work of sisters and Southern Sudan for the first time in of migration. Since 2009 the interna- something in which we can all parti- n. 46 to pay tribute to their generosity and March 2006 as the war between the tional network of religious women cipate as well as the UN Day on July 2 Pope Francis, Address to the US commitment as women who don’t north and south ended. The physical against trafficking of human persons 30. C o n g re s s , 24 September 2015 count the cost and are prepared to scars of war were very evident, as was — called Talitha Kum — has been 3 Pope Francis, Address to the make even the ultimate sacrifice of the presence of soldiers and armed growing in influence and scope. The Members of the Pontifical Academy of In Conclusion giving their lives for those they serve. civilians. Millions had been killed coordinating office at UISG works Science, April 10, 2015 4 In the past few years three mission- and many millions were IDPs (Intern- with 22 national and regional net- War and conflict leads to displace- KW, p. 52. ary Xaverian sisters Srs. Lucia Pulici, ally Displaced Persons) or were in works working in over 81 countries ment which in turn mobilizes thou- Olga Raschietti and Bernadette Bog- refugee camps in Uganda, Kenya or on every continent. While very diffi- sands of men, women and children * Executive Secretary, International gian were killed in Burundi; Sister Ethiopia. The world had been oblivi- cult to estimate, there are said to be to flee their homeland. Their vulner- Union of Superiors General page 10 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 17 March 2017, number 11

The Holy Father meets with the priests of Rome for his traditional Lenten meditation The icon of Simon Peter as ‘sifted through the sieve’

On Thursday, 2 March, Pope Francis met with the priests of Rome in the when he wants to distance the Lord have found the Messiah” (Jn 1:41); Basilica of Saint John Lateran in their traditional meeting at the beginning of from the cross, or when he sinks and he follows his brother who takes Lent. He offered them a meditation inspired by a passage from the Gospel of helplessly into the sea, or when he him to Jesus. And there, the name Luke: “Lord, ‘increase our faith!’” (17:5). A translation of the first part of the defends the Lord in the garden with change immediately takes place. meditation was published in our 10 March issue. The following is a translation of his sword; not to mention the This is because the Lord has chosen the second and final portion of the Holy Father’s meditation, which he delivered shameful moment of his three deni- him for a mission, that of being the in Italian. als in the presence of the servants. “Ro ck”: the solid foundation of faith We can distinguish three types of upon which He will build His This reflection on a faith that grows little later we shall reflect more on Church. We should note that, what with the discernment of the moment the meaning of “to be sifted through thought — each replete with senti- 2 the Lord does is more than change becomes more concrete when we the sieve”. [But for now,] we can re- ments — that are at work whenever Simon Peter’s faith is put to the test: Simon’s name; indeed, He adds the consider the icon of Simon Peter as read the words of the Lord in this name ‘Pe t e r ’. “sifted through the sieve” (cf. Lk way: some of these thoughts come to him out of his very mode of being; oth- This fact alone is already a cause 22:31), which the Lord had prepared “Simon, Simon ... I have prayed ers are directly provoked by the dev- of tension and growth. Peter will al- in a paradigmatic way so that when to the Father for you so that your il (from the evil spirit); and a third ways move around the Lord as the Pe t e r ’s faith was tested he would faith does not remain eclipsed (by type comes directly from the Lord “pivot point”, going about and feel- confirm all of us who “love Christ my disfigured face, which you have and from the Father (from the good ing the weight and movement of his without having seen him” (cf. 1 Pet seen transfigured); and you, once 1:8). Spirit). two names: Simon — the fisherman, you have come out of this experi- the sinner, the friend — and Peter — Here we fully enter into the para- ence of desolation which the devil the Rock on which to build, the one dox that the one who is supposed to has used to sift you through the a) The two names and the desire who holds the keys, the one who has confirm us in faith is the same one sieve, confirm (with your tested to walk to Jesus on the water the last word, the one who tends whom the Lord often reproved for faith) the faith of your brothers”. and feeds the sheep. I like to con- his “little faith”. The Lord usually Thus, we see that the faith of Si- First of all, let us look at how the template that Simon is the name Je- gives us as examples people of great mon Peter has a special characterist- Lord relates to the most human as- sus used whenever they spoke and faith. With remarkable emphasis, he ic: it is a tested faith, and with it he pect of Simon Peter’s faith. I am shared things as friends, and Peter is often praises the faith of simple has a mission to confirm and consol- speaking of that healthy dose of self- the name with which the Lord people and of others who do not be- idate the faith of his brothers: [that confidence that makes someone be- presents him, justifies him, defends long to the people of Israel — we is,] our faith. The faith of Simon lieve in himself and in others; in the him, and highlights him in a unique can think of the Roman centurion Peter is less than that of so many capacity to be worthy of the sincere way as the man in whom he places (cf. Lk 7:9) and the Syro-Phoenician his total trust, in the presence of woman (cf. Mt 15:28) — while the others. Even though it is He himself disciples — and Peter in particular — who gives him the name ‘P i e t ra ’, Je- are often reproved for their “little sus still calls him Simon. faith” (Mt 14:31). Simon Peter’s faith progresses and Keeping in mind that the Lord’s grows amid the tension of these two reflections on great faith and little names, both of which turn on a faith have a pedagogical purpose fixed, central pivot point: Jesus. and are meant to stimulate and so- lidify a desire to grow in faith, let us Having two names decentralizes concentrate on a passage central to Peter. He cannot take either as his the life of Simon Peter, wherein Je- centre point. If he wanted ‘Simon’ sus tells him that He “has prayed” to be his fixed point, he would have for his faith. It is the moment that to say: “Depart from me, for I am a precedes the Passion; the apostles sinful man, O Lord” (Lk 5:8). If he have just discussed who among centred himself exclusively around them is the traitor and who is the the name of ‘Pe t e r ’and forgot or greatest. Jesus says to Simon: covered up everything that was proper to Simon, it would become a “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan de- stumbling block, as happened to manded to have you, that he might him when “he was not conducting sift you like wheat, but I have himself rightly according to the prayed for you that your faith may truth of the Gospel”, as Paul told not fail; and when you have turned him when he hid the fact that he again, strengthen your brethren” (Lk had gone to eat with pagans (cf. Gal 22:31-32). 2:11-14). In order to maintain both Let us carefully examine the ter- the names of Simon (fisherman and minology, since anything the Lord sinner) and Peter (Rock and key- asks of the Father is worth pre- keep er for others), he is obliged to serving in the depth of our hearts. decentre himself continuously so Let us consider that the Lord Pope Francis heard the confessions of several priests prior to the meeting that he can turn solely around ‘prays’1 for Simon, but He is think- Christ, his one centre point. ing of us. “To fail” is a translation of The iconic moment of this decent- ekleipo — the root of ‘to eclipse’ — little ones among the faithful People and faithful trust upon which every of God. There is even that of pa- human friendship is based. There ralization, when it is put fully into and is the very pliable image of a action, is when Peter implores Jesus faith eclipsed by the scandal of the gans, like the Centurion, who have are two episodes in Simon Peter’s to command him to walk toward Passion. We call this experience even greater faith at the moment life where we can see a growth in him on the water. At this point, Si- ‘desolation’: something covers the they implore the Lord to heal a sick faith that we could call sincere: ‘sin- mon Peter reveals his character, his light. person in their family. Simon’s faith c e re ’ in the sense of having no com- dream, and how much he is drawn is more lethargic than that of Mary plications, in which a friendship “To turn back” (e p i s t re p s a s ) ex- to imitate Jesus. When Peter begins Magdalene and John. John believes grows, deepening the awareness of presses the sense of ‘to convert’: to to sink as he takes his eyes off the merely at seeing the sign of the su- who each person is, without the return to an earlier state of consola- darium in the tomb; and he recog- Lord and sees the waves crashing tion after an experience of desola- shadow of doubt. One is the epis- around him, he shows his true fears nizes the Lord on the shore of the ode of the “two names”; the other is tion and having been sifted through Sea of Galilee merely at hearing His and inner ghosts. When Simon Peter when Simon Peter asks the Lord to a sieve by the devil. w o rd s . Simon Peter has moments begs the Lord to save him and the command him to [come out of the “To strengthen” (sterizon) faith is when his faith is very strong, as latter extends His hand to help, he said in the sense of ‘to consolidate’ when he confesses that Jesus is the boat and] walk toward Him on the shows that he really knows who Je- (histemi) it, so that from now on it Messiah, but these moments of w a t e r. sus is for him: his Savior. And the will be ‘firmly set’ (cf. Lk 9:51): a strength are often immediately suc- Simon appears on the scene when Lord strengthens his faith, giving faith that no wind of doctrine will ceeded by moments of serious error, his brother Andrew goes out to him what he wants and extending be able to disturb (cf. Eph 4:14). A extreme fragility, or total denial, as search for him and tells him: “We him a hand, ending with an affec- number 11, Friday, 17 March 2017 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO page 11

strengthen Simon for which the Lord prays. As priests his fragility as a sinful man nor his Pe t e r ’s heart. Jesus who take part in the Petrine ministry fear of walking on water in the prays that Peter “not and, as such, also participate in the middle of a storm. Rather, He fears fall into temptation”. same mission: not only must we the [disciples’] discussion about who The Lord did wash the feet of our brethren as we is the greatest among them. everything he could to do on Holy Thursday, but we must It is in this context that Jesus tells protect his own dur- also confirm them in their faith, just Simon Peter that the devil has asked ing the Passion. Nev- as the Lord prayed for ours. for permission to sift him. We can ertheless, He cannot If in the trials that arise in our imagine that the sifting began pre- prevent each one from own flesh the Lord encourages us cisely during the discussion about being tempted by the and strengthens us, often working who would betray Jesus, which then devil who attacks the many miracles and healings through led to the discussion about who was weakest part of each us, in these temptations that come the greatest among them. The entire one. In this sort of tri- directly from the devil, the Lord passage that follows the institution al — which God does uses a more complex strategy. We of the Eucharist in Luke’s Gospel is not directly cause, but see that there are some demons He a sieve: discussions, predictions of neither does He im- drives away directly without further betrayal, the offering of swords (cf. pede it — Paul tells us ado; others He neutralizes, making 22:23-38). Simon Peter’s faith is that the Lord sees to them keep silent; others He makes sifted through the tensions among it that we are not speak, asking their name, such as the desire to be loyal, to defend Je- tempted beyond our the one called “Legion”; to others sus, and that of being the greatest, strength (cf. 1 Cor He quotes copiously from Scripture, denial, cowardice, and the feeling of 10:13). “Walking on Water”, Sadao Watanabe submitting himself to a long process, being the worst of all. The Lord The fact that the as in the case of the temptation in prays that Satan not obscure Si- Lord explicitly says the desert. The Lord defeats this de- mon’s faith at the moment when he tionate and reassuring question: “O that He is praying for Simon is ex- mon — who tempts Peter at the be- looks at himself either to make him- man of little faith, why did you tremely important, because the dev- ginning of the Lord’s Passion — by self great, to deride himself, or to re- doubt?” (Mt 14:31). il’s most insidious temptation is to praying not that he leave his friend main uneasy and perplexed. make us feel — in the midst of some In every instance when he places in peace, but that the “sieve” b e- If Peter offers us a formulation himself into a “tight” situation, Si- particular trial — that Jesus has come a source of strength for the about these things, it is the “tested mon Peter, guided by his faith in Je- abandoned us, that He has left us benefit of others. faith” he speaks of in his First Letter sus, always discerns the hand that alone in some way and has failed to Here we have some wonderful les- when he warns not to be surprised will save him. He does so with the help us as He should. The Lord sons about growth in faith. One is in by ordeals, as if they were something certainty that, even when he doesn’t himself experienced and overcame regard to the scandal of the suffer- strange (cf. 4:12), but that one must understand completely what Jesus is this temptation, first in the garden ing of the Innocent One and the in- resist the devil and remain “firm in saying or doing, He will make him and then on the cross, by commend- nocent. This touches us more deeply the faith” (cf. 5:9). Peter defines say: “Lord, to whom shall we go? ing himself to the Father when He than we think; it touches both those himself as a “witness of the suffer- You have the words of eternal life” felt abandoned. It is precisely in this who provoke suffering and those ings of Christ” (5:1), and writes his (Jn 6:68). Humanly speaking, the moment of faith that we need to be who pretend not to see it. It be- letters seeking to “stir up sincere awareness of having “little faith”, to- strengthened and confirmed with hooves us to listen to what the Lord minds” (cf. 2 Pet 3:1) (eilikrine di- gether with the humility to allow care in a special way. We find the says precisely at the moment when anoian: a judgment enlightened by a oneself to be helped by someone very strength we need precisely in he is about to take the scandal of ray of sunlight), which would be the who knows how and is able to help, the fact that the Lord foresaw what the Passion upon himself; namely, grace that counteracts the “eclipse” constitutes that healthy dose of self- would happen to Simon Peter and He prays that the faith of the one of faith. confidence in which is implanted the assured him that He had prayed for He appoints as vicar may not fail, Progress in faith, therefore, occurs seed of that faith which exists “to him, that his faith not fail. and He prays that He may confirm thanks to the sieve: that is, by strengthen others”, “to be built This “eclipse” of faith in the face all of us in faith. An eclipse of a passing through temptations and tri- up on”, which is what Jesus wants of of the scandal of the Passion is one faith troubled by the Passion is not als. Simon Peter’s entire life can be Simon Peter and from us who parti- of the things the Lord prayed about something each of us can resolve viewed as progress in faith thanks to cipate in the ministry. I would say in a particular way. The Lord asks and overcome individually. the Lord staying by his side and that it is a faith that can be easily us to pray always and with persist- Another important lesson for us is teaching him to discern, within his shared precisely because it is not too ence; He includes us in His prayer that when the Lord puts us to the own heart, that which comes from admirable. The faith of someone and teaches us to beg that we “not test, He never does so on the basis the Father and that which comes who had learned to walk on water fall into temptation and to be de- of our weakest part. This is typical from the devil. without anxiety would be fascinat- livered from evil”, because our flesh of the devil who capitalizes on our ing, but it would distance us. is weak; He also shows us that there sins and looks for our weakest point, However, this good-friend kind of are demons that cannot be ferociously assailing it and throwing c) The Lord who puts to the faith, mindful of its limitations and conquered except through prayer himself at the weakest in this world. fully confiding in Jesus, elicits sym- test, making faith grow and penance and, on certain occa- Therefore, the Father’s infinite and pathy and — and this is its grace — it from good to better, and the sions, He reveals that He himself unconditional mercy for the littlest strengthens us! ever-present temptations prays in a special way. This is one of ones and for sinners, and the com- those occasions. passion and boundless forgiveness Finally, we move to the encounter b) Jesus’ prayer and the Just as He took upon himself the that Jesus shows even to the point on the Sea of Galilee. This is a fur- humble task of washing His dis- of giving His life for sinners, are not ther step by which the Lord puts devil’s sieve ciples’ feet, just as He took care to given only because God is good, Simon Peter to the test by making In the central passage from Luke console His friends after the Resur- but also because they are the fruit of him grow from good to better. The that we have taken as our guide, we rection, in the same way, with this Go d’s ultimate judgmenton evil so love of personal friendship is can see what produces the devil’s prayer for the strength of Simon as to uproot it from its connection strengthened as that which “feeds” sieve in Simon Peter’s character and Pe t e r ’s faith, He also strengthens the with the fragility of the flesh. In the the flock and strengthens their faith how Jesus prays that his weakness, faith of all of us: this is something final analysis, evil is not tied to the (cf. Jn 21:15-19). even his sin, be transformed into the Lord takes upon himself person- fragility and limitations of the flesh. Read in this context of the trials grace not only for him but also for ally. We must never forget: it is to For this reason, the Word became of Simon Peter’s faith which serve to the whole community. this prayer — the prayer the Lord flesh without any fear and testifies strengthen our own faith, we can see Let us concentrate on the word once made and continues to make as that He can live perfectly in the bos- how this episode involves a very “sieve” (siniazo: to sift grain), which He “is at the right hand of God, om of the Holy Family and grow special trial for the Lord. It is gener- evokes the movement of spirits, and indeed intercedes for us” (cf. under the protection of two humble ally said that the Lord questioned thanks to which, in the end, one can Rom 8:34) — that we must turn in creatures, namely Joseph and the Simon Peter three times because Si- discern between what comes from order to strengthen our faith. Virgin Mary, His mother. mon Peter had denied Him three the good Spirit and what comes If the lesson given to Simon Peter Evil has its origin in an act of times. It could be that this weakness from the bad spirit. In this sense, — that he allow his feet to be spiritual pride that is born from the was present in Simon Peter’s soul the one who sifts — the one who lays washed — confirmed the Lord’s atti- arrogance of a perfect creature, (or in that of the one who reads his claim to the power to sift — is the tude of service and fixed it in the namely Lucifer. Adam and Eve are story) and that the dialogue serves evil spirit. The Lord does not im- memory of the Church as a funda- then stained by it, but precisely in to heal him. But we could also be- pede him, but, taking advantage of mental fact, this lesson, given in the their “desire to become like gods”, lieve that the Lord healed this denial the challenge, directs His prayer to same context, must also become the not in their fragility. In the case of the Father, asking Him to icon of the tested and “sifted” faith Simon Peter, the Lord fears neither CONTINUED ON PA G E 14 page 12 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 17 March 2017, number 11

Jesuit Superior General delivers keynote at Vatican event for International Women’s Day Stirring the Waters Making the Impossible Possible

Women from around the globe came together at the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences to celebrate In- ternational Women’s Day in the Vatican. The fourth annual story-telling event, Voices of Faith: “Stirring the Waters” was sponsored by the Catholic philan- thropic Fidel Götz Foundation and the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). The keynote speaker opening the event was the new Superior General of the Jesuit Order, Fr Arturo Sosa Abascal, whose discourse we publish below.

would like to thank Voices of Faith and the Jesuit Refugee Service for inviting me to celebrate International Women’s Day with you and all of those gathered here to day. II take this opportunity to show my gratitude to the women who will be speaking today, women making a difference in their families and com- munities, especially in the most remote corners of the world. These are difficult times in our world, Fr Arturo Sosa Abascal with Voices of Faith advisory board — photo: Wolfgang Schmidt and we need to stand and work together as wo- men and men of faith. As you know, the global theme for this year’s than ten years. During this time, JRS has brought impossibilities can come closer to reality if women celebration of International Women’s Day is Be refugee women from Colombia together by using play a greater role in the conversation. Bold for Change. Here in Vatican City, physically their artistic expression as a starting point for re- I am not surprised that Angela Merkel has at the center of the Church, Voices of Faith and discovering resilience. been the most courageous and visionary leader in JRS seek to be “Making the Impossible Possible”. While expressing themselves creatively through Europe during this time of phenomenal forced Especially here in Rome, that is a bold change! I art, women also share their experiences and create migration. She had the compassion to look at would like to reflect on what making the im- a network of support to improve their psychoso- those who were in need, and the vision to see that possible possible means to me as the leader of the cial well-being. This healing environment is a they would make a contribution to Germany and Society of Jesus, as a citizen of the world, and as place for listening and coming together — in oth- Europ e. a member of the Catholic Church. We need to er words, resilience. Resilience empowers women Another extraordinary leader is Ellen Johnson have the faith that gives the audacity to seek the and ultimately results in hope and the possibility Sirleaf, the President of Liberia. Through her impossible, as nothing is impossible for God. The of reconciliation with the past, with those who single-minded dedication and vision, she has faith of Mary that opened her heart as a woman have harmed them, and with those where they brought peace and reconciliation to her war-torn to the possibility of something new: to become now live. Reconciliation requires courage, and too country in a way that most men thought would the Mother of God’s son. often, even in 2017, women’s courage, women’s re- be impossible. silience, is unrecognized and undervalued. At the same time, the widespread reality is that By building human connections, resilience re- women are not paid for the work they do, or are JRS: Resilience knits the communal fabric. Some may say such paid less than men for the same work. In the West, women earn on average 70 cents for each As you may be aware, I come from Latin Amer- resilience is impossible to discover: JRS and Voices dollar or Euro a man earns. The gap grows larger ica, a continent with millions of displaced people. of Faith say otherwise. in developing areas of the world. With almost 7 million, Colombia has the largest Many of us are looking at the world through number of internally The World: Collaboration the prism of xenophobia and narrowmindedness displaced people in the these days, a prism which seems to feed on dis- world, and a dispro- As a member of the human community, each of cord and marginalization. In the Jesuit magazine portionate number of us is likely appalled at the situation of our world. America, political commentator Cokie Roberts, them are women and Human displacement has hit an all-time high, the daughter of two former members of the US children. I served at representing incredible human suffering around Congress, puts the reality succinctly: “… Con- the border between the world. Ongoing conflicts are at the root of gress needs more women. Then maybe, just Colombia and my nat- most of this forced maybe, Washington would work again”. ive Venezuela for 10 exile. There are years. I have seen first- more than 65 mil- We can listen carefully to the experience of wo- hand the suffering of lion forcibly dis- men in the public sphere, hear how they work to- those forced to aban- placed people gether, and be inspired by their courage. These don everything to save among us: one in are stories of doing the impossible. their lives. every 113 people In Colombia, for globally is now an The Catholic Church: inclusion example, women and asylum- s e e k e r, an girls are among the internally displaced The role of women in the Church can be, and most vulnerable due person, or a has been, described in many ways: keepers of the to widespread violence re f u g e e . faith, the backbone of the Church, the image of caused by decades of conflict. They are exposed We have to think about the ways that we, as Mary alive among us. We Jesuits are deeply aware to armed recruitment and are likely to fall victim the human community can respond. I cannot put of the roles that women play in our ministries: lay to one form of exploitation or another, ranging enough emphasis on this need for collaboration and religious women serve as presidents and from modern day slavery, to sex and human traf- between women and men. I believe that only to- headmistresses, retreat center directors, teachers, ficking. Many of them flee to neighboring coun- gether we can achieve what today seems im- and every possible role one can think of. As you probably know, the Spiritual Exercises, the found- tries in search of safety, and often find themselves possible: a humanity reconciled in justice, living ation of Jesuit spirituality, were first developed by on their own in efforts to sustain their families. in peace in a common house well kept, where St. Ignatius of Loyola before the Jesuits were I have also witnessed women’s resilience. Des- there is room for everyone because we recognize founded. Our spirituality is open to all women pite this traumatic reality, women often find their that we are sisters and brothers, son and daugh- and men who want to become women and men way not just to survive, but also to overcome all ters of the same God who is Mother and Father with others and for others. the difficulties of exile and forced migration. Re- of us all. In the broader Church, there are contrary cur- silience is what enables us to move forward and We need to collaborate, support and learn from rents about the role of women at this time. As think of the future. Resilience is essential for one another. It already seems impossible to imagine stated by Pope Francis, women play a fundament- making the impossible possible. Let me offer an peace in places like Central African Republic, or al role in passing on the faith and are a daily example. South Sudan, or Colombia. Can we have the auda- source of strength in a society that carries this At the Venezuelan-Colombian border, the Je- city to dream that women and men working togeth- suit Refugee Service has been present for more er will bring peace to these countries? I think these CONTINUED ON PA G E 13 number 11, Friday, 17 March 2017 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO page 13 An inspiring story of hope and survival

TRACEY MCCLURE Fr Frans had refused to abandon communities like Homs. Since the In the “Life-skills” p ro g r a m m e the besieged city when, earlier that war erupted, Nagham said, “t h e re they taught in Syria and now con- Shadan and Nagham’s eyes light up year, a U.N.-brokered ceasefire al- has been no chance for dialogue”; tinue among Iraqi, Afghan and Syri- when they think back to the days lowed some 1,400 starving residents but, early into the conflict, “if a per- an refugees with JRS in Belgium, the spent hiking and camping with Fr to leave. son was open, the war somehow sisters help children to realize they Frans Van der Lugt in their native It was against this background could not change him”. can step out of the spiral of despair, Homs, Syria. The young sisters met that I met Shadan and Nagham in The sisters fled Homs as the viol- anger and violence and “suppress it the charismatic Dutch Jesuit, a long- the Vatican on International Wo- ence escalated, making their way in a peaceful, non-violent way”. time Homs resident, some 15 years men’s Day, 8 March, where they with their mother and brother first Through games, activities and ago. Though Orthodox, Shadan ex- told their story at the fourth annual to Damascus and later, with fighting watching films, the sisters show plained, “I believe I was closer to Voices of Faith event, “Stirring the raging around the capital, to the them how, “from the inside”, they the Jesuits because of Fr Frans” who Waters: Making the Impossible Pos- coastal region of Tartus, from which can take charge, and resolve prob- sible”, organized by the Fidel Götz ran a home for disabled youth and yet again, they had to flee. lems themselves rather than rely on Fo u n d a t i o n . often took young people — Muslims Finally, in August 2015, together help from the “outside”. Smiling, And their journey to the Vatican and Christians alike — on spiritual with Nagham’s new husband, the and first, to Europe, had proved in- Nagham said the children end up retreats, teaching them mutual re- small family decided to attempt to deed to be an impossible one — one seeing that they are the masters of spect and hope. reach Europe, leaving on what was their feelings and hopes: when they that took boundless faith and im- to become a dramatic journey But that all changed with the mense courage — a journey on which are angry, “they discover how they eruption of the Arab Spring, the war through Lebanon, Turkey, the can calm themselves” and “find a the sisters drew hope and inspiration Balkans, Hungary, Austria and Ger- that soon engulfed Homs and all of solution to a problem without al- from their beloved Fr Frans. many. Nagham cringed as she re- Syria, and the murder of 75-year-old ways depending on others”— critical Nagham told me of the anger she membered being “treated like anim- Fr Frans by a lone gunman in April skills amid the chaos of conflict or felt as the bombs were falling and as als” by the smugglers who had ar- 2014 in what appeared to have been the shots rang out in Homs: “I adapting to an unfamiliar country. a targeted assassination. ranged their passage to Greece, the knew that in the beginning, it was harrowing trip on a rubber boat The programme has been so suc- Later, at the General Audience in the Syrians shooting at each other”. cessful that it’s been extended to Rome, Pope Francis recalled his “Je- which left Turkey in the dark of Where once the minority Christi- night. Built to hold thirty, the boat women refugees. The impact on the suit brother”, saying “his brutal slay- an and Alawite communities lived in women, tired and defeated, some ing filled me with profound pain was overflowing with terrified pas- harmony with the Muslim Sunni sengers, almost none of whom knew consumed by resentment, was imme- and made me think again about the majority in Homs, celebrating in how to swim. diate. The women’s sons and hus- many people who are suffering and common each other’s religious It was a dangerous journey that bands would come to us, Nagham dying in that martyred country, my feasts, “all of a sudden, we started to eventually took them to safety and laughed, asking: “what are you do- beloved Syria”. be afraid of each other, of our to a new home in Ghent, Belgium. ing to my mother [or wife] in those neighb ours”, Shadan But Shadan and Nagham recall sessions? She is so different ... so re- said. “We used to be that even during their dark voyage laxed ... Could you please [continue neighbours, friends, on that terrifyingly crowded boat, what you’re doing]?”. colleagues, and all of the echo of Fr Frans’ hope was there As the war in Syria marks its fifth a sudden, we couldn’t to sustain them: the impossible is anniversary this March, it leaves in trust the taxi driver. possible. A psychotherapist by train- its wake more than 250,000 dead, Everything was really ing, Fr Frans, the sisters recalled, countless wounded, millions of upside down”. had taught them “how to start from refugees and some 18 million people The only Christi- the inside”. “All the spiritual basis displaced. ans in their class at that we have, we learned from him”, What will it take, I ask, to stop school, the girls said Shadan. what seems to be a never-ending counted many The sisters carried these spiritual cycle of revenge and hatred? For Muslims among their lessons with them when they began Nagham, the answer will come when closest friends. They counseling with Jesuit Refugee Ser- people rediscover the common continue to stay in vices (JRS) in Syria: helping children good: when people learn to hope touch. But Islamic traumatized by the conflict “to deal and conduct business with honesty extremism had begun with the horrible things they’ve been and when “the teacher teaches from Nagham and Shadan, photo by Wolfgang Schmidt to seep into Syrian t h ro u g h ”, Nagham told me. the heart”. Shadan, less optimistic, thinks things will only worsen “b e- cause violence [begets] violence and a lot of people want revenge”. Chil- dren, she says, must help trigger a Stirring the waters change in the mind-set, and reli- gions should work together for CONTINUED FROM PA G E 12 People of God, as was proclaimed by the Second Vat- peace. She returned again to the ex- ican Council. Women’s creativity can open new ways ample of Fr Frans who never saw faith forward and renews it. Church teaching certainly of being a Christian community of disciples, men and the differences between Muslims promotes the role of women within the family, but it women together, witnesses and preachers of the Good and Christians, only what unites also stresses the need for their contribution in the News. them. “People need to believe that Church and in public life. It draws upon the text of But perhaps more importantly, the inclusion of wo- they are accepted [as they are] and Genesis, which speaks of men and women created in men will also be an outcome of the key concerns of the they don’t have to be someone else the image of God and the prophetic praxis of Jesus in Pope. By bringing Vatican II to life and incorporating to be loved or accepted”, she said. his relationship with women. the poor into our Church, Francis is giving women’s Young people need something to Pope Francis has been quite outspoken about wo- voices more opportunity to speak and be counted. No hope in too. Those who’ve stayed men in making decisions and holding responsibilities one is more resilient than women building and sup- behind in Syria are faced with ter- in the church. He has also created a "Study Commis- porting the Church in the poorest parts of our world. rible hardships, a lack of basic ne- sion on the Women’s Diaconate” to explore the history In his efforts against clericalism and the elitism and cessities, and a hopeless future: no and role of women in this church structure. sexism that come with it, the Pope seeks to open our jobs and no education, the sisters But if we are honest, we acknowledge that the full- future to voices outside of the Vatican, to bring the ex- tell me. All of this “stops the dreams ness of women’s participation in the church has not yet perience of the world into forming that future. The op- — you don’t think of big things” b e- arrived. That inclusion, which would bring the gifts of posite of clericalism is collaboration, working together cause you are consumed with “the resilience and collaboration even more deeply into the as baptized daughters and sons of God. small things” necessary to survive. Church, remains stymied on many fronts. One aspect These efforts have begun the process of deeper in- The sisters, whose impossible voy- has been mentioned by the Pope: we have to work clusion of women into the core of the Church. As chal- age brought them into a brave new harder to develop a profound theology of women. I lenging as the refugee crisis or other world issues are, world where their dreams are pos- would add that an ecclesiology … the study of the to some of us, this might be truly, the impossible. sible, tell me they don’t like to be Church … that includes women is equally needed if St. Francis of Assisi himself said: “Start by doing labeled “re f u g e e s ” or seen merely as women’s roles are to be included as they should. what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly “numb ers”. Refugees need oppor- Indeed, the inclusion of women in the Church is a you are doing the impossible”. In that spirit, we are tunities “to study and to work”, they creative way to promote the necessary changes in it. A here today to listen to Voices of Faith, to hear stories say, “to see themselves as effective theology and an ecclesiology of women should change of resilience, collaboration and inclusion. We have again in life, to know they are not the image, the concept and the structures of the more than started. We will not stop. just sitting and doing nothing, wait- Church. This should push the Church to become the Thank you very much. ing for help”. page 14 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 17 March 2017, number 11 The Holy Father meets with the priests of Rome

CONTINUED FROM PA G E 11 Jesus pushes to make acts of faith at every moment. When Simon Peter with the look that made Simon understands this ‘dynamic’ of the Peter weep so bitterly (cf. Lk 22:62). Lord, this pedagogy of His, he nev- In this question-and-answer se- er passes up the chance to discern, quence, we can see the Lord’s way in every moment, what kind of act of proceeding: He begins with of faith he can make in his Lord. something good — which everyone And he makes no mistake in this. recognized and which made Simon When Jesus acts as his master, giv- Peter happy — “Do you love me ing him the name of Peter, Simon more than these?” (Jn 21:15) — and lets Him do so. His “let it be so” — then He confirms it and simplifies it like Saint Joseph’s — is silent, and it into simply: “Do you love me?” ( v. will prove itself real throughout the 16), which removes any desire for course of his life. When the Lord grandeur and rivalry — and finally exalts him and humbles him, Simon finishing with: “Do you love me as a Peter does not look at himself, but friend?” (cf. v. 17), which is what Si- takes care to learn the lesson of what mon Peter desired most and which comes from the Father and what was evidently most dear to Jesus’ comes from the devil. When the heart. If it is truly the love of friend- Lord reproves him because he puffs ship, then there is no reason for any himself up, he allows himself to be type of reproach or correction in this corrected. When the Lord cleverly love: friendship is friendship and it shows him that he should not act is the highest value that corrects and falsely before tax collectors, he goes improves all the rest, without any out to catch the fish with a coin [in need to speak of the “why”. insert his own temptations and sins — priests — emphasizing that we its mouth]. When the Lord humbles Perhaps the greatest temptation into Jesus’ prayer that our faith not have a responsibility toward the him and predicts that he will deny the devil puts before Simon Peter is fail but rather mature and serve to people, that we are not like everyone Him, he is sincere in saying what he this: to put into his head that he is reinforce the faith of those whom else. These two things are brought feels, just as he will when he goes not worthy of being Jesus’ friend be- He has entrusted to us. together well if we place ourselves out to weep bitterly and in allowing cause he has betrayed Him. But the I like to repeat that a priest or a before others — our sheep — and es- himself to be forgiven. There are Lord is faithful. Always. And He re- bishop who does not feel he is a sin- pecially the poorest. This is what Je- many different moments in Peter’s news His fidelity again and again. ner, who does not confess, who is sus does when He asks Simon Peter life, yet there is one unique lesson: it “If we are faithless he remains faith- closed off within himself, makes no if he loves Him, but tells him noth- is the Lord who strengthens his faith ful, for he cannot deny himself” (2 progress in the faith. ing about the pain and the joy that so that he, in turn, can strengthen this love causes him. He makes him Ti m 2:13), as Saint Paul says to But we must take care that confes- the faith of his people. Let us also Timothy, his son in the faith. look at his brothers in this way: feed ask Peter to strengthen our faith, so sion and the discernment of one’s my sheep; strengthen the faith of Friendship possesses this grace: such personal temptations include and that we can strengthen that of our that one friend who is more faithful your brethren. As if to tell him — as b re t h re n . take into account the pastoral inten- the young man at Hogar de Cristo than another can strengthen the tion the Lord has for them. faithfulness of the other who lacks was told: “Be thankful that you miss A young man once recounted that it. And no one has more power to them now”. while he was recovering in Fr Pepe’s 1 make his friends faithful than Jesus. “Be thankful if you feel you have Cf. Omelia a Santa Marta,3 Hogar de Cristo in Buenos Aires, his It is in this faith — Simon Peter’s little faith” means that you are lov- June 2014. Let us recall that the mind began to play games with him ing your brothers. “Be thankful if Lord prays that we may be one, that faith in Jesus as a faithful friend — by telling him that he shouldn’t stay that he is confirmed and sent to you feel you are a sinner and un- the Father protect us from the de- there, and he was struggling with worthy of the ministry” means you mon and from the world, that He confirm all of us. It is precisely in this temptation. He said that Fr this sense that we can interpret the recognize that if you accomplish forgive us when “we know not what Pepe helped him tremendously. But anything, it is because Jesus is pray- we do”. threefold mission of feeding the one day he told Fr Pepe he couldn’t sheep and the lambs. Considering ing for you, and without Him you 2 It is a matter of the thoughts take it anymore, that he missed his can do nothing” (cf. Jn 15:5). everything that pastoral care entails, family, his wife and two kids, and the Lord discerns in His disciples reinforcing the faith of others in Je- that he wanted to get out. “Then the Our parents and grandparents al- when, arisen, He says to them: sus — who loves us as friends — is priest asked me”, he said, “‘when ways told us that faith increases by “Why are you troubled, and why do absolutely essential. Peter refers to you were going around and getting making acts of faith. Simon Peter is questionings rise in your hearts?” this love in his First Letter: it is a high and selling drugs, did you miss the icon of a man whom the Lord (Lk 24:38). faith in Jesus whom, he says, “you your family? Did you ever think of love, even though you have not seen them?’ I shook my head ‘no’ in si- him; and now, without seeing him, lence”, the man said, “and the priest, you believe in him”. This faith without saying anything to me, gave makes us exult “with inexpressible me a slap on the shoulder and said, Interview with Cardinal Parolin and glorious joy”, confident of hav- ‘Okay. That’s enough’. As if he were ing reached “the goal of (our) faith: telling me: take a look at what is CONTINUED FROM PA G E 6 What has being at Pope Francis’ side the salvation of souls” (cf. 1 Pet 1:7- happening to you and what you are in these years personally given to you, 9). saying. ‘Thank heavens you miss the heart”! However, each reform, first as a Christian, and even more so Nevertheless, a new temptation them now’”. even structural ones that are neces- as Secretary of State? arises, this time against his best sary, — at the level of the Roman The young man said that the Truly I thank the Lord! What friend: the temptation of wanting to priest was great. He said things Curia there have already been vari- impresses me about Pope Francis pry into the relationship between Je- right to his face. And this helped ous decisions which, the Pope re- is precisely this reading of faith in sus and John, the Beloved Disciple. him to go on fighting, because it called in his latest discourse to the things, situations, from which I be- The Lord corrects him seriously on was he who had to assert his own Roman Curia, are leading to some lieve comes a great underlying this point: “What is that to you? will. transformations, to renewal — starts serenity. He has also said it many Follow me!” (Jn 21:22). I tell you this story to show you in the heart, everything begins in- times but I experience it precisely that what helps faith grow is to con- ternally. And therefore the Pope in my contact with him: this funda- rightly insists on this. I would like *** sider together our sins, our desire mental serenity for which, faced for the good of others, the help that to say that it is important, as he with situations, even the most diffi- We see that temptation is ever we receive and the help that we says too, when he insists on the cult ones, the most complicated — present in the life of Simon Peter. ought to give. There is no need to “reform of the heart”: it is not the there are so many that are also He shows us in the first person how separate them: there is no use in functional parameters that should cause for worry, also of concern — to grow in faith by confessing Jesus feeling perfect when we carry out guide this reform but, indeed more this capacity to look at things with and being open to be put to the our ministry, and when we sin, in profoundly, the parameters of an serenity, to know that things are in test. He also shows us how sin itself justifying ourselves by the fact that authentic return to God and an au- Go d’s handsand therefore to pro- can factor into a growth in faith. we are just like everyone else. These thentic manifestation of the true ceed with strength, to proceed with Peter committed the worst of sins — two things must be joined together: nature of the Church. courage. And I would say that this denying the Lord — and he was when we strengthen the faith of oth- also helps me a great deal in carry- made Pope nonetheless. It is im- ers, we do so as sinners. And when Lastly, Your Eminence, you are the ing out my responsibilities and my portant for a priest to know how to we sin, we confess what we really are Holy Father’s closest collaborator. ro l e . number 11, Friday, 17 March 2017 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO page 15

Spiritual Exercises conclude for the Pope and the Roman Curia A thank-you from Francis Compassion and the voice of women The right word to each of us adding the “ultimate which, through the Resurrection, t o r t u re ” to Christ’s gives birth to life anew. Therefore, On Friday, 10 March, Fr Giulio suffering. The Israeli said Fr Michelini, women go to Michelini, OFM, led the last of the writer Amos Oz, on this “place of death and experi- meditations in the chapel of the Casa del the contrary, thinks ence the birth of life” and there, Divin Maestro of the Pauline Fathers in that Jesus is calling all they can do is “wait”. Thus, the Ariccia. The Holy Father thanked him at out to his mother invitation to consider our own the end of the meditation, which marked beneath the Cross, feelings about death and how we the conclusion of the Spiritual Exercises the preacher ob- respond to life’s difficulties: with for the Pontiff and members of the Roman served. prayer, fear, or resignation. Curia. The following is a translation of Jesus, who is not In the ninth and final medita- the Pope’s remarks given in Italian. “re c o g n i z e d ”ortion of the six-day retreat, Fr “welcomed”, he ad- Michelini reflected on missed op- I would like to thank you for the good ded, is “continually portunities for compassion. De- that you wanted to do for us and for misundersto o d”. parting from Matthew’s Gospel, the good that you have done for us. Michelini challenged the papal preacher delved into First of all, for having shown your- “R e s u r re c t i o n ”, Bonnie Bruno his listeners then, to Franz Kafka’s 20th century classic self as you are, natural, without reflect on how they novella, The Metamorphosis, to ana- presenting a “façade”. Natural. react when others lyze the lack of compassion Without artifice. With all your life’s Pope Francis and members of the misunderstand them, and on how Gregor Samsa’s family shows him baggage: studies, publications, friends, Roman Curia concluded their 6- they can improve their communic- when he wakes one day to find parents, the young friars you have to day Lenten retreat at the Casa del ation skills. He further called on himself transformed into a repug- take care of.... Everything, everything. Divin Maestro in Ariccia on Fri- them to “welcome incomprehen- nant, “horrible insect”. Had Thank you for being “normal”. day, 10 March. Fr Giulio Mich- sion with humility” and to wel- Gregor received compassion from Secondly, I want to thank you for elini, OFM, led the meditations for come God’s presence “in the or- his family, Fr Michelini noted, he the Spiritual Exercises throughout dinariness of daily life and in the the work you have done, for how you “would have rediscovered his own prepared. This means responsibility, the week. In the final days of the gaze of the other”. humanity” and “would have re- taking things seriously. And thank you retreat, he noted that women are Jesus’ burial, as recounted in the turned to being a man”. The Fran- for all that you have given us. It is omnipresent in Christ’s Passion as Gospel of Matthew, lay at the ciscan drew an analogy between true: there is a mountain of things on presented in the Gospel of Mat- heart of Fr Michelini’s meditation Gregor Samsa’s metamorphosis which to meditate, but Saint Ignatius thew, subtly making their presence on Thursday afternoon, 9 March. and Jesus’ apparition on Mount says that when one finds something in felt and their voices heard. This is The eighth meditation of the series Tabor in which “Jesus was not one of the themes which Fr Mich- was dedicated symbolically to “all transformed”, but rather, showed the Exercises which offers consola- elini presented among the last of of the world’s crucifixes” which his true being. And from here, we tion or desolation, one must stop have blackened society from the his Lenten meditation. The women understand “the Risen Christ is there and not proceed further. Cer- in this Gospel, he suggested, are last century onwards: “the unbur- the same historic Christ, the man”. tainly each of us has found one or asking that “their words in the ied bodies of men and women, Today, Fr Michelini reflected, in two of these among all this. And the Church today not be ignored”. burned in the gas chambers or a contemporary “p ost-truth” world rest is not wasted; it remains; it will do The sixth meditation, on Wed- buried in the mass graves of the marked by the “globalization of for another time. Perhaps the most nesday afternoon, 8 March, drawn gulags, lost in the Mediterranean, i n d i f f e re n c e ”, mankind may have important, the strongest things, say from Matthew, 27:11-26, Fr Mich- rediscovered in the ocean because “doubts” and “objections” re g a rd - nothing to some, and perhaps a tiny elini said, was co-written with an they had been thrown from planes word, a [little] thing says more.... vuelos de la muerte ing Christ’s Resurrection. Yet the Italian lay couple with whom he in those ”. Like that anecdote of the great Span- has collaborated in ministry over This mystery of suffering, death Resurrection, he said, remains a ish preacher who, after a great, well- the years. The authors of several on the cross and life, the Francis- “meta-historical fact” in which one prepared sermon, was approached by books offer a unique reading of can stressed, can be rediscovered trusts by “looking to the empty a man—agreat public sinner — in the Bible, he noted, adding that in the attitude of “waiting” tomb and listening to the stories “the reading and exegesis of Scrip- demonstrated by the women who, of Jesus’ subsequent apparitions to tears, asking for confession. He con- ture are not the prerogative of the in Matthew’s Gospel, lovingly at- the disciples”. Fr Michelini said to fessed; a floodgate of sins and tears, consecrated” nor of experts, and tended to Christ’s body in the reinforce this trust, one must sins and tears. The confessor, sur- that “couples and families must be tomb. The news of Christ’s Resur- “study the Bible more” to “bridge prised — as he knew the life of this helped to practice it: something rection, the priest recalled, was in the gap between the New Testa- man — asked him: “tell me, at what which, up to now, seems not to fact announced to women. Indeed, ment and today’s man”. In conclu- point did you feel that God was touch- have been done in a convincing women were “protagonists of an sion, he said, this — combined ing your heart?. With which word?”. — way in our Church”. ‘extraordinary birth’ in a symbolic with the “compassion” that would “When you said let us move on to an- As Jesus and Barabbas face the sense, a glimpse of which can be have saved Kafka’s Gregor Samsa other topic”. [laughter]. At times the judgement of the crowds who will seen in their remaining seated at — is the most effective way to simplest words are the ones that help decide who will live, the priest the tomb” which, carved out of spread the Good News of Christ’s us, or the most complicated ones: the suggested it was the Roman pre- rock, is itself the image of a womb Resurrection in the modern day. Lord gives the [right] word to each of fect who bore ultimate responsibil- us. ity for Christ’s death. And here, I thank you for this and I hope you with “an act of love for her hus- will continue to work for the Church, band”, Pilate’s wife pleads for Je- in the Church, in exegesis, in the many sus’ release, the two lay comment- A sign of solidarity from Ariccia ators observed in the meditation, things that the Church entrusts you remarking that “we hope that wo- Help for the people of Syria with. But above all, I hope you may be men are capable of this language a good friar. and do not become ‘p a r ro t s ’ of Prayer and solidarity united Pope Francis and the men” in male power games. Roman Curia with war-torn Aleppo during the The dream of Pilate’s wife and week of Spiritual Exercises. The Pontiff celebrated the other dreams in the Bible, Fr Mass for Syria on Friday morning, 10 March, the Michelini said, help us to see last day of the retreat in Ariccia. In a gesture of “Go d’s dream” in the salvation of closeness and solidarity, and with the contribution His Son, and encourage us to re- of the Roman Curia, a donation of 100,000 euros flect on the Lord’s dream for us. In the seventh meditation, Fr was made for the poor people of Aleppo, a sort of Michelini examined “the Messiah’s spiritual twinning between the preacher of the exer- death” (Mt 27:45-56) and the “mis- cises, Fr Giulio Michelini, OFM, and his confrere in understandings” s u r ro u n d i n g Aleppo, Ibrahim Alsabagh. At the end of the final Christ’s ministry and crucifixion. meditation, Pope Francis wished to thank Fr Mich- Those standing at the foot of the elini for the preparation with which he guided the Cross, he said, “do not understand reflections. The Pope recalled that, at times, a what is happening and how the simple word is enough to promote spiritual medita- Messiah is dying; they believe Je- tion. The Holy Father returned to the Vatican late sus is calling out to Elijah”, Friday morning. page 16 L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Friday, 17 March 2017, number 11

“Crucifixion”, Pablo Picasso (1930)

At the Angelus on Sunday, 12 March, the Pope reflected on the Gospel passage for the Second Sunday of Lent. Afterwards, he asked the faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Square to join him in prayer “for all young victims of violence, abuse, exploitation and war”. The following is a translation of the Holy Fa t h e r ’s reflection, which he gave in Italian.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good Morning! The Gospel of this second Sunday of Lent presents the narrative of the Trans- figuration of Jesus. (cf. Mt 17:1-9). Taking aside three of the Apostles, Peter, James and John, He led them up a high moun- tain. And that is where this unique phe- nomenon took place: Jesus’ face “shone like the sun, and his garments became At the Angelus the Pope calls the faithful to pray white as light” (v. 2). In this way, the Lord allowed the divine glory which could be understood through faith in his preaching and his miraculous gestures, to For all young victims shine within Him. The Transfiguration was accompanied by the apparition of Moses and Elijah who were “talking with him” (v. 3). of violence The ‘brightness’ which characterises this extraordinary event symbolises its pur- they imagined the Messiah, how the Mes- stages of our Lenten journey in order to pose: to enlighten the minds and hearts of siah would be: not a powerful and glori- understand ever better the seriousness of the disciples so that they may clearly un- ous king, but a humble and unarmed ser- sin and the value of the sacrifice by which derstand who their Teacher is. It is a flash vant; not a lord of great wealth, a sign of the Saviour has saved us all. of light which suddenly opens onto the mystery of Jesus and illuminates his whole blessing, but a poor man with nowhere to The Blessed Virgin was able to contem- person and his whole story. rest his head; not a patriarch with many plate the glory of Jesus hidden in his hu- descendants, but a celibate man without manness. May she help us stay with Him By now decisively headed toward Jerus- home or nest. It is truly an overturned in silent prayer, to allow ourselves to be alem, where he will be sentenced to death revelation of God, and the most bewilder- enlightened by his presence, so as to bring by crucifixion, Jesus wanted to prepare his ing sign of this scandalous overturning, is a reflection of his glory to our hearts own for this scandal — the scandal of the the cross. But it is through the Cross that through the darkest nights. Cross — this scandal which is too intense for their faith and, at the same time, to Jesus will reach the glorious Resurrection, foretell his Resurrection by manifesting which will be definitive, not like this After the Angelus the Holy Father continued: himself as the Messiah, the Son of God. Je- Transfiguration which lasted a moment, sus was preparing them for that sad and an instant. Dear brothers and sisters, very painful moment. In fact, Jesus was Transfigured on Mount Tabor, Jesus I would like to express my closeness to already revealing himself as a Messiah dif- wanted to show his disciples his glory, not the people of Guatemala who are grieving ferent from their expectations, from how for them to circumvent the Cross, but to for the serious and tragic fire that broke show where the Cross out inside the Casa Refugio Virgen de la leads. Those who die As u n c i ó n , causing death and injury to the with Jesus, shall rise young women living there. May the Lord again with Jesus. The welcome their souls, heal the injured, con- Cross is the door to Re- sole their grieving families and the entire surrection. Whoever nation. I pray and ask you to pray with struggles alongside him me for all young victims of violence, ab- will triumph with him. use, exploitation and war. This is a This is the message of plague, a hidden cry which must be heard hope contained in Jesus’ by us all and which we cannot continue to Cross, urging us to be pretend not to see and hear. strong in our existence. A warm greeting to all of you here, The Christian Cross is faithful of Rome and from many other not the furnishings of a parts of the world. house or adornments to I greet the pilgrims of Freiburg and wear but rather, the Mannheim, Germany, and those of Leban- Christian Cross is a call on, as well as the marathon runners from to the love with which Portugal. Jesus sacrificed himself to save humanity from I greet the parish groups from Gioiosa evil and sin. In this Len- Ionica and Pachino; the youth from Lodi ten season, we contem- who are preparing for their “Profession of plate with devotion the Fa i t h ”; the students from Dalmine and image of the Crucifix, Je- Busto Arsizio: it is true what you say: “No sus on the Cross: this is to a culture of waste” [reading a banner the symbol of Christian held up in the Square]; and the youth Faith, the emblem of Je- choir from Bergamo, “Goccia dopo goccia”. sus, who died and rose Have a good Sunday. Please do not for- Candles lit during a Vigil in Guatemala City in remembrance of 38 girls for us. Let us ensure that get to pray for me. Have a good lunch. who died as the result of a fire in the Casa Refugio Virgen de la Asunción the Cross marks the Ar r i v e d e rc i !