Jesus Christus praised be Jesus Christ and a most warm welcome to all of you who are joining us as we see our Holy Father right here greeting the president of France Emmanuel macron we are in marsai in southern France where Pope Francis is on his 44th Apostolic Journey
Pope Francis has come primarily to take part in an event that we are about to witness the concluding session of the Mediterranean meetings also called Med 23 a church-led initiative aiming to build community among the Region’s various peoples religions and cultures and we’ll be hearing a bit more of that
Shortly before continuing from wherever you’re joining us I’d like to welcome all of you as we now see Pope Francis arm in arm with the president of France beautiful image here some of you we know tuning in through various Vatican media channels through the Vatican media app
The Vatican radio app our Vatican news English web portal YouTube channel or Facebook live feed our Holy Father now receiving flowers from children speaking with them through an interpreter here now receiving a gift from another child and we have some of you tuning in through television through those of you
Joining in through Salt and Light media EWTN at madarshan TV Shalom World television Catholic faith Network Catholic TV and Uganda Catholic Television and now a girl stepping forward she’s given the Holy Father a book uh there there is writing in it we see the Holy Father leafing through it perhaps messages from friends
We know some of you are also tuning in through radio perhaps through short or shortwave radio broadcasts or through other local or Diocesan radio channels and to those of you joining through other digital platforms a most warm welcome to you all as our Holy Father continues to greet several children on
Hand for the occasion and the company of the president of France Emmanuel macron my name is Sister Bernadette it’s a pleasure to be able to provide the English language translations and texts for you today friend uh Pope Francis departed yesterday from Rome’s fumachimo air fumi Chino Airport
At around 2 30 p.m Rome time yesterday that’s Friday arriving at about four o’clock P.M in marsai there’s no time difference so he’s in the same time zone he was welcomed by Francis prime minister and then headed to The Basilica of Notre Dame de la guarde Marcia’s basilica where he prayed with
Priests Mary in prayer to our lady de la guarde and then with religious leaders that and these religious leaders dedicated to the pastoral care of seafarers migrants and refugees near a memorial built uh and our Holy Father now getting into his wheelchair for this next part today is Pope Francis first public event
It’s his second day here in France earlier this morning he met with people who are living in difficult situations at a home operated by the missionaries of Charity he met with them in private then he traveled here where the meeting will be taking place in the palette a palace in marsai France
Built in 1858 by Emperor Napoleon III for Empress Jenny early father now entering a facility we see a an olive tree here now Pope Francis on Sunday asked everyone to pray for this event he’s calling the Mediterranean encounters which he will be participating in the concluding event here he called it a
Fine initiative here we see the Olive Tree completely and it has notes on it overseeing uh the the other parts of the city here on the on the banks here it’s this is an event that includes uh a lot of different countries whose borders lie along the Mediterranean it brings
Together ecclesial and civil leaders to promote Paths of Peace collaboration and integration around the marinostrum which is Latin for our sea and our Holy Father reminded us that the special intention of this meeting is to focus on the phenomenon of migration he called this a challenge it’s a not not an easy challenge
As we see from the news which we all must face of migrants who continue to to cross this territory he said it’s essential for the future that we face this phenomenon together which we must face in fraternity he said now we see other members here joining the Ecclesia
Leaders who have been joining here this is Francis is the first pope to visit marsai since 1533 when Pope Clement VII visited marsai he was a member of the de Medici family and Pope Clement as Pope Clement the seventh he arrived here in the city for the wedding of King Francis
The first son who was the Future King Henry II who married the Pope’s niece Catherine de Medici and this is the second French city who has hosted Pope Francis Pope Francis visited Strasbourg in 2014 in November when he visited the European Parliament and the Council of Europe now joining in this meeting together
Are Bishops of France and the other Mediterranean dioceses there are young people here political authorities and people representing associations and as I said it’s called the Mediterranean meetings I’m not going to attempt the French and the meeting began on the 17th of September and we’ll conclude tomorrow on the 24th
The objective is to work on the challenges facing the Mediterranean the situation of migrants access to water poverty religious plurality and living together and to see how to leverage all the resources it has to respond to these challenges so that the region can become sustainable and a quote sea of fraternity
So people participating here come from North Africa the Balkans the parts of Europe that line the Mediterranean the Black Sea and the Middle East it follows two other meetings which took place in one in 2020 in Bari called Mediterranean Frontier of peace in which Pope Francis did take part
And then one held in Florence in 2022 both on the initiative of the Italian Bishops conference at that time led by cardinal gualtiero bassetti foreign father did intend to participate in that conference but in the end had to decline due to problems with his knee so the bishops from these regions were
Seeing some of them here from the various Mediterranean regions our dioceses gathered here showing their commitment to carrying forth the process that was begun in Italy there’s been all kinds of concerts exhibitions prayer vigils taking place during the week in marsime there’s about 150 Partners who’ve come together to make this meeting possible
Advocating the values of solidarity Intercultural and inter-religious dialogue various cultures integration through economic activity the preservation of ecological balances so important especially in the Mediterranean area they also include conferences theater theatrical type shows various walks that were planned through the the city a football tournament the soccer tournament was arranged there was
A solidarity banquet with 600 people in vulnerable situations some enhancing the folk dances of the Mediterranean area testimonies from migrants and associations who help and support them spaces for dialogue on taking care of the Mediterranean region there were about 70 exhibitors held on the Esplanade and we have various
Bishops taking place we’ve been seeing them our looks like our Holy Father is now entering the stage we see the Archbishop of Baghdad is here the of course the Archbishop of marsai the Cardinal Jean Mark avellin will be hearing from him as well as guelphierro bassetti who
Would have hosted the meetings in Italy father being welcomed here onto the stage arriving in his wheelchair and he’ll now be helped to the chair here that has been positioned here and on either side of him the Bishops representing these Mediterranean dioceses and we hear a greeting from the audience from those
Partaking in these meetings from Africa we’ll hear first from the Cardinal Archbishop of marsai jean-marc avilene then we’ll have a video presentation followed by an address by a bishop and a young person we see also in attendance the president of France Emmanuel macron everyone has now taken their seats here Most Holy Father
Mr President of the Republic ladies and gentlemen’s dear friends it gives me great pleasure to welcome you this morning to the beautiful Amphitheater of the Palais du Faro for the closing session of the country thank you Mr President of the Republic for honoring us with your presence
In the city that you love on this day when receiving the Holy Father and also representatives from all over France and from all the countries of the Mediterranean it finds itself precisely in a deep vocation a call that of being a bridge linking North and South Europe and the
Mediterranean a gateway to the East and a Gateway to the West or as you have said Most Holy Father during the Angelus last Sunday a gateway to Hope I would particularly like to thank the mayor of Marseille for his welcome to this prestigious site and for the very
Important role the city of marsai has played in organizing this pontifical visit around You Most Holy Father are Bishops who have come to take part in these meetings from the five shores of the Mediterranean North Africa the Middle East the Black Sea the Balkans and latins assembly our students and young professionals
From the same countries we’ve been invited to come and work for a week in marsai to help the Bishops we’ve moved by your deep sense of compassion of the country is currently facing the most trying tragedies our exchanges since Wednesday evening have enabled us to continue to get to know each other
Following our meetings in Bari and Florence and to address together the major challenges of our pastoral mission in the service of the peoples of the Mediterranean we are all delighted that you were able to join us in prayer and reflection to encourage us and point the way forward the Mediterranean
Faces so many challenges our young people students and young professionals from the same countries from all denominations and religions who’ve been invited to come and work for a week to help the Bishops refine their analysis of the situation and consider what concrete initiatives should be taken these two days
They’ve been very fruitful and Holy Father they are we are touched by your concern for the peoples they represent in the diversity of their cultures and religions and we are moved this morning by a deep sense of compassion for the countries currently facing the most trying tragedies whether due to war or
Natural disaster Morocco Tunisia Libya Iraq Syria turkey Ukraine and Armenia to name but a few tranquil mons also present in our assembly are not only the president of the French Republic and some of his ministers but also local and National politicians whom I gratefully welcome in particular the presidents of the region the
Department and the Metropolis who have contributed greatly to the preparation of this great event thank you very much would also like to draw your attention to the presence in our assembly of members of The Diplomatic Corps of whom there are many in marsai as well as civil society players committed to
Serving the people of the Mediterranean particularly on the issues of malnutrition education access to water and many other areas I’d like to extend my special welcome to the sponsors who have helped us create Mr President but for these exceptional days Marseille and trigran I’m not a grand Marseille but an even
Greater Marseille and in other words on a global scale scale since Monday a major cultural associative spiritual ecumenical interreligious Festival has brought together a large number of people for concerts conferences plays and a village set up on the cathedral Esplanade last night a major solidarity banquet was held welcoming almost 600 people in
Precarious circumstances for a meal offered by several of the city’s restaurants and served by volunteers from numerous associations both Believers and unbelievers France last but not least the vast majority of Francis Bishops are in attendance as I said to you recently France France through its Bishops and many pilgrims is
Happy to come and pray with you listen to you and learn to look at the Mediterranean with you We are happy to listen to you and learn to look at the Mediterranean with you becoming aware of the tragedies that occur there and reflect on our country’s responsibility towards this part of the world that is part of its history and geography is thank you I was totally father dear Pope Francis
Will now watch a video with you recounting some of the highlights of this week then we’ll listen to a bishop and a young man share with you the conclusions of our work and above all we’ll listen to you once again thank you very much for being with us
Bishop has been going off script foreign [Applause] and he concluded with the words in Italian thank you your holiness the Cardinal Archbishop of marsai here jean-mark Aveline a greeting our Holy Father after these words of greeting and now we too will watch the film that has been prepared Let us pray to the Lord that everyone might be moved to to overcome the logic of conflict of hate and of Revenge in order to find ourselves Brothers children of one Soul father who makes his sunrise on the the good and the bad And we’re seeing images of people arriving and some of the events that have taken place we invoke the Holy Spirit we call on the holy spirit that each one of us through daily gestures might contribute to build new relationships inspired by understanding welcome patience I’m placing ourselves in conditions to
Be able to experience the joy of the gospel and to spread it in every in every place of our life Thank you Let me know Maria the Virgin Mary the Star of the Sea to whom we turn as the greatest example of faithfulness to Jesus and his word help us to walk on this path next is thank you to the team for the having created this film and we will now hear a testimony from
Maria Serena and then we’ll be hearing from a bishop from one of the Mediterranean dioceses first Maria Serena who’s from Italy [Applause] good day Holy Father good day to everyone my name is Maria Serena I am Italian but for two years I’ve been living in Greece with the John the 23rd Community First
In lesbos and now in Athens in Athens I live in a group home a family that has decided to welcome under their own roof and to share life with those who are most in need specifically now we live with migrants we’re not professionals we’re not doctors psychologists or anything else
So what we’re trying to do is simply to offer others who we are with all of our limitations but perhaps that is the key to treat each other truly as brothers and sisters by being with those who are poor we realize that we too are poor
We all possess poverty and we all need others we need to share what we are without uh a lot of talk without having degrees or special skills simply welcoming each other as you’ve said your Holiness and your visit to the Island of Lesbos to reject the poor means rejecting peace whoever
Rejects the poor whoever rejects a brother or sister rejects peace and I would say closes the doors and all closes doors and also rejects the spirit a beautiful thing I’ve experienced during these days of something that I carry with me that I’ve put into words is this let the spirit flow when we
Reject others when we close doors when we build walls and barriers we close doors not only to our brothers and sisters but also to the spirit to God’s spirit or to God and in these days I’ve really seen that the spirit is at work in each person
Although all of us young people and Bishops who are here come from very different uh backgrounds I’ve received Witnesses from people who really have hope and allow the spirit to work in them everyone in a very specific and wonderful way I think I’ve experienced a miracle in
Such few days in addition to working and developing proposals we’ve developed fraternity a fraternity that touches the five shores of the Mediterranean a Mediterranean that really needs to live fraternity and to spread it everywhere because and I’d like to emphasize this the Mediterranean now can
No longer be a cemetery but it’s a real crime scene Against Humanity and we have to shout this out strongly to shout it out without losing hope because as I said there are so many signs of Hope and this assembly of young people and Bishops together is an example of this hope
So we shouldn’t be afraid let’s let the spirit flow let’s spread hope and help each other to do this for only if we have hope will we be moved to meet to dialogue and engage in concrete action thank you we’ve been hearing Maria Serena now she is going to greet our Holy Father
[Applause] and now we’re welcoming Bishops who is the bishop of Tehran dures in Albania your Holiness from the deepest abyss of the Mediterranean in the time of the Communist dictatorship when I was still a young boy I went to the bishop of Tirana dorazo and I experienced personally the coming
To light or the being the rise of the Light Of Hope I was born in 1977 in Albania ten years before I was born uh my country through its Constitution declared itself atheist and a church has had been destroyed yes had been erased in every visible sign
For that reason I grew up without any religious reference I saw only my grandmother praying the Rosary in front of a barn oh where I first discovered their head there used to be a church even grandfather always prayed in secret my childhood was characterized by so much poverty misery and ideology along
With this our families were afraid of being arrested and taken to concentration camps or labor camps or prisons of the regime my uncle my mother’s brother was arrested while all of Albania was like an open air concentration camp we Catholics Muslims and orthodox we lived the synodality of suffering and
Support which today has brought the fruit of of fraternity and harmony it’s a small child of our people uh oh it’s a child of the great saint of our world Mother Teresa who who brought the love of God and his gospel after the fall of Communism even I like
Many others across the sea and migrated to Italy where I lived for years in my experience as a migrant overwhelmed me with his generosity through providential encounters and made me ReDiscover Faith through baptism and through a Journey of Faith lived with a group called The Immaculata I discovered
A vocation to the priesthood I’m grateful to the Lord and to our lady for their presence and their support in all the circumstances of my life which Always and even now as Bishop continue to bestow is the Star of the Sea so even today in the Mediterranean even in difficult storms
Even when the sea is calm she is always the Queen of Peace May there be peace always and today there are still so many people living difficult situations there are also Grant great distances those faced by our migrant brothers and sisters those that Mark the experience of our people from
The social and economic point of view migrants bring with them not only many trials sufferings and violence they’ve endured but above all they are bearers of a great hope the hope they hold in their hearts which gives them the courage to face so many sacrifices and barriers there are also positive
Distances related to the richness of the cultural and spiritual diversity of our peoples in these days in marsai as churches and Believers of the Mediterranean region we experienced this here we’ve experienced that diversity as the richness produces wealth it shortens negative distances a nurtures fraternity of these days I retain the certainty
That a positive joyful and hopeful look way of looking at reality makes us credible Witnesses of God’s Style fraternal closeness human compassion and prophetic tenderness the experience of the Mediterranean meetings is prophetic caused by allowing a meeting between Bishops and young people this gives rise to the hope that the old shall have
Dreams and the young Visions the freshness of young people’s insights allows the Bishops to express their dreams of the Bishops have given more concreteness to the visions of the young people and in that sense we think it would be appropriate to continue the Mediterranean meetings opening ourselves
More and more to to others and to diversity pursuing that Sentinel perspective that you Holy Father have pointed out to us as the ecclesial style of our time what God expects of the third millennium dear Holy Father our lady de la guarde um protect and guide our church always thank you a
Current Bishop in Albania who himself has lived as a migrant sharing his story with us now participating in this Mediterranean meetings here in marsai having lived personally what it’s like to be a migrant in this area we now prepare ourselves for the popes discourse Mr President of the Republic dear brother Bishops
Distinguished Mayors and authorities representing cities and territories bordered on the Mediterranean Sea dear friends I offer my cordial greetings and I’m grateful to each of you for having accepted the invitation of cardinal Aveline to participate in these meetings thank you for your work and the valuable Reflections that you’ve shared
After Bari and Florence the journey and service to the Mediterranean peoples is moving forward here too church and civil leaders are gathered to deal with mutual interests but animated by the desire to take care for men and women thank you for involving young people who are the
Present and future of the church and Society is a very ancient city founded by Greek Sailors who came from Asia Minor Legend traces it back to a love story between an immigrant sailor and a native princess from its Beginnings it has displayed a diverse and Cosmopolitan character it
Welcomes The Riches of the sea and gives a Homeland to those who no longer have one Marseille tells us that despite difficulties coexistence is possible and as a source of Joy on the map almost seems to draw a smile between nice and Montpellier and I like to think of it that way
Is the smile of the Mediterranean so I’d like to offer you some thoughts centered around three aspects that characterize my sign the sea the port and the lighthouse these are three symbols the tide of peoples has made this city a mosaic of hope it’s great multi-ethnic and Multicultural tradition
Represented by the more than 60 consulates in its territory it’s both a diverse and distinct City for it is its diversity the fruit of an encounter with the world that makes its history distinct nowadays we often hear that Mediterranean history is an intertwining of conflicts between different civilizations religions and
Visions let’s not ignore the problems and yet let us not be misled the exchanges that have taken place between peoples have made the Mediterranean the Cradle of salvation of civilization a sea overflowing with treasures to the point that as a great French historian wrote it is quote not one landscape but
Countless Landscapes not one sea but a succession of seas for Millennia everything has flowed into it complicating and enriching its history is a place of encounter among the abrahamic religions among greek latin and Arabic thought among science philosophy and law and among many other realities it has
Conveyed to the world the lofty value of the human being endowed with freedom open to truth and in need of Salvation who sees the world as a Wonder to be discovered and as a garden to be inhabited under the imprint of a God who makes covenants with men and women
A great mayor saw in the Mediterranean not a question of conflict but a response of Peace indeed the beginning and Foundation of Peace among all the nations of the world unquote this he said in fact is quote the answer it’s possible if we consider the common and so to speak permanent vocation that
Providence assigned in the past a signs in the present and in a certain sense will a sign in the future to the peoples and Nations who live on the shores of this mysterious enlarged Lake of tiberias that is the Mediterranean unquote at the time of Christ the lake of
Tiberias or the Sea of Galilee had a concentration of various populations beliefs and traditions it was precisely there in the Galilee of the Gentiles crossed by the sea route that the greater part of Jesus public life took place a multifaceted and in many ways unstable context was the place for the
The universal proclamation of the Beatitudes in the name of a God who was father of all who makes the sunrise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the Justin on the unjust this was also an invitation to broaden the frontiers of the heart overcoming
Ethnic and cultural barriers here then is the answer that comes from the Mediterranean this potential this perennial Sea of Galilee urges us to oppose the divisiveness of conflicts with the quote coexistence of differences unquote RC marinostrum at the crossroads of north and south east and west brings together
The challenges of the whole world as the five Shores on which you have reflected bear witness North Africa the near East the black and Aegean Seas the Balkans and Latin Europe it is an outpost of challenges that concern everyone let’s think of the climate with the Mediterranean representing a hot spot
Where changes are felt more quickly how important it is to safeguard the Mediterranean Patchwork a unique Treasure Trove of biodiversity in short this sea an environment that offers a unique approach to complexity is a mirror of the world and bears within itself a global vocation to fraternity the only way
This is the only way to prevent and overcome conflict brothers and sisters we are here to enhance the contribution of the Mediterranean so that it can return a laboratory of Peace for this is its vocation to be a place where different countries and realities encounter each
Other on the basis of the humanity we all share and not on the basis of contrasting ideologies indeed the Mediterranean expresses a way of thinking that is not uniform and ideological but multifaceted and consistent with the way things are a vital open and accommodating way of thinking that’s the word
One that’s communitarian how greatly we need this at the present juncture when Antiquated and belligerent nationalisms want to make the dream of the community of Nations fade yeah let us remember this with arm with weapons we make war not peace and with Greed for power we
Always return to the past we don’t build the future where should we begin then in order for peace to take roots and the banks of the Sea of Galilee Jesus began by giving hope to the poor and proclaimed them blessed he listened to their needs healed their wounds and above all
Announced to them the good news of the Kingdom we need to start again from there from the often silent Cry of the least Among Us not from the fortunate ones the first class who have no need of help yet still raise their voices let us the church and Civil Society
Start Anew by listening to the poor who should be embraced not counted for they are faces not numbers the change of Direction in our communities lies in treating them as brothers and sisters whose story we know not as Troublesome problems that we want to send back home
It lies in welcoming them not hiding them integrating them not evicting them and giving them dignity and I’d like to to repeat that marciah is the capital of Integrity of the integration of people this should be your pride the Sea of human coexistence is polluted by instability which even assails
Beautiful marsai where there is instability there is crime when there is a lack of work together with material educational cultural and religious poverty the path is open for gangs and illicit trafficking the commitment of Institutions alone is not enough we need a jolt of conscience to say no no to lawlessness
And yes to solidarity which is not a drop in the ocean but is the indispensable element for purifying the uh the waters indeed the real social evil it’s not so much the increase of problems but the decrease of care who nowadays becomes a neighbor to young people after themselves who are so easy
Pray for crime and prostitution who takes care of them who is close to people enslaved by work that should make them Freer who cares for the frightened families afraid of the future and of bringing children into the world who’s listening to the groaning of our isolated elderly brothers and sisters
Who instead of being appreciated or pushed aside under the false pretenses of a supposedly dignified and Sweet Death that is actually more salty than the Waters of the sea who’s thinking of The Unborn children rejected in the name of a false right to progress which is instead
A retreat into the selfish needs of the individual today we have the tragedy of confusing babies with with puppies and when secretary said that going through Saint Peter’s Square they’ve seen as a woman who had a baby and a baby carriage but it wasn’t a baby in the end it was a puppy
And this tells us something who’s looking with compassion beyond their own Shores to hear the Cry of pain rising from North Africa and from the Middle East how many people live immersed in violence and endure situations of Injustice and persecution and here I’m thinking of the many Christians who are frequently forced to
Leave their homelands or dwell in them without having their rights recognized not enjoying full citizenship please Brothers and Sisters Let’s commit ourselves because so that all who are part of society will be citizens with full rights lastly there is a cry of pain that resonates most of all and it’s turning
The Mediterranean our sea from the cradle of civilization the graveyard of dignity it’s the stifled Cry of our migrant brothers and sisters I want to devote attention to this Cry by reflecting on the second image marsai offers us that of its Port first the Sea and the second is its port
Been a wide open gateway to the sea to France and to Europe for centuries from here many have left to find work and a future abroad and from here many have passed through the gateway to the continent with luggage laid in with hope marsai has a large port and is a grand
Gateway which cannot be closed several Mediterranean ports on the other hand have closed and there are two words that have resounded fueling people’s fears Invasion and emergency and this is what has closed the ports yet those who risk their lives at Sea do not invade they’re looking for welcome they’re looking for Life
Regarding the emergency the migratory phenomenon is not so much a short-term urgency always there to fuel alarmist propaganda but it’s a reality of our times it’s a process that involves three continents around the Mediterranean and that must be governed with wise foresight including European response capable of coping with the objectives objective
Difficulties I’m looking at this map uh the privileged ports Cyprus Greece Italy and Spain these are the the ports that are open to the Mediterranean and receive immigrants with its Shores and on the one hand exude affluence consumerism and waste well on the other there is poverty and instability here also the Mediterranean
Mirrors the world with the South turning to the north with many developing countries plagued by instability regimes Wars and desertification looking to those who are that are well off a globalized world in which we’re all connected but one in which the disparities have never been so wide yet
This situation is not a novelty of recent years and it’s not this Pope who came from the other side of the world to be the first to warn of it with urgency and concern rather the church has been speaking about it in heartfelt tones for more than 50 years Sierra the Poco conclusions
It was shortly after the conclusion of the second Vatican Council it Saint Paul the sixth in his encyclical popularum progressio wrote quote the hungry nations of the world cry out to the peoples blessed with abundance and the church cut to the quick by this anguished cry
Asks each and every person to hear his brothers and answer it lovingly unquote Pope Paul listed three duties of the more developed Nations quote stemming from the human and Supernatural Brotherhood of Man Mutual solidarity that is the aid that the Richer Nations must give to his developing nations
It’s duty to social justice the rectification of trade relations between strong and weak Nations and the third the duty of universal charity that is the effort to build a more human world Community for everyone a world in which everyone could give and received where the progress of some isn’t bought
At the expense of others unquote in the light of the gospel and these considerations Paul VI in 1967 stress seek and the quote duty of giving foreigners a hospitable reception unquote a duty on which he wrote we cannot insist too much unquote 15 years earlier Pope Pius XII had encouraged this
Writing that quote the Holy Family in Exile Jesus Mary and Joseph emigrating to Egypt it’s the model the example and support for all migrants and pilgrims of every time and Country of every Refugee of whatever condition whether compelled by persecution or by want are forced to leave their native
Land and build and beloved parents and to seek a foreign soil unquote Certo Sonos certainly no one can fail to see the difficulties involved in welcoming protecting or accompanied promoting and integrating unexpected people if we don’t reach the end migrants start to orbit the society they need to be welcomed protected promoted
And integrated this is the style even okay it’s true it’s not easy to have this style to welcome and integrate unexpected persons yet the principal Criterion cannot be the preservation of One’s Own well-being but rather the safeguarding of human dignity those who take refuge in our
Midst should not be viewed as a heavy burden to be born if we consider them instead as brothers and sisters they will appear above all as gifts tomorrow we celebrate the world day of migrants and refugees may we allow ourselves be moved by the stories of so many of our brothers and sisters
In difficulty who have the right both to emigrate and not to emigrate and not close ourselves in indifference history is challenging us to make a leap of conscience in order to prevent a shipwreck of civilization for the future will not lie in being closed which is a return to the Past
A U-turn in the Journey of history in the face of the terrible scourge of the exploitation of human beings the solution is not to reject but to ensure according to the possibilities of each an ample new number of legal and regular entrances this would be sustainable with an
Equitable welcome on the part of the European continent in the context of cooperation with the countries of origin whereas merely crying enough is to close our eyes to save ourselves today we’ll turn into a tragedy Tomorrow When Future Generations will thank us if we were able to con create the
Conditions for a necessary integration otherwise they will censure us if we favor only sterile forms of assimilation integration even if migrants is tiring but it’s farsighted we’ll either do it together or it won’t be done at all the simulation an assimilation that does not take into account differences and remains rigidly fixed in
Its own paradigms only makes ideas Prevail over reality and jeopardizes the future increasing distances and provoking ghettoization which in turn Sparks hostility and forms intolerance we need fraternity as much as we need bread the same word brother and its Indo-European etymology derives from a root system associated with nutrition and sustenance
We will support ourselves only by nourishing with hope the most vulnerable accepting them as brothers and sisters do not neglect to show Hospitality scripture tells us and in the Old Testament it’s repeated the Widow the Widow the orphan and The Stranger are those in need of Charity to assist
The Widow the orphan and the stranger who’s emigration in this regard the port of marsai is also a Door of Faith according to tradition it was here that Saints Martha Mary and Lazarus landed and then so the seed of the Gospel in these lands faith comes from the sea
As we are reminded by the evocative marsai tradition of candlemen and it’s Maritime procession in the gospel Lazarus is Jesus friend but also the name of the protagonist of one of his most timely Parables one that opens our eyes to the inequality that corrodes fraternity and speaks to us of the
Lord’s preference for the poor as Christians who believe in God made man in the one inimitable man who on the chairs of the Mediterranean called himself the way the truth and the life we cannot accept that the paths of encounters should be closed let’s not close the path of encounter please no no
We cannot accept that the truth of the Lord of Mammon should Prevail over human dignity that life should turn into death the church proclaims that God and Jesus Christ in a certain way United himself to every man and woman and beliefs with John Paul II that humanity is her way
Worship God and serve the most vulnerable who are his treasures to adore God and to serve our neighbor that is what counts not social importance or vast numbers but Fidelity to the Lord and to humanity is Christian Witness not much is not much is left this is Christian witness
And frequently it’s even heroic I think for example of Saint Charles de Falcon the universal brother of the martyrs of Algeria but also of all those charitable workers in our day Volunteers in this Scandal scandalously Evangelical style of Life the church discovers the shoreport in which to Dock and from
Which to set out in order to weave bonds with the people of every nation seeking everywhere the traces of the spirit and offering all that she herself has received by Grace this is the purest reality of the church this is as berninos wrote quote the Church of the Saints
Adding that quote this great apparatus of wisdom strength elastic discipline magnificence and Majesty is nothing by itself unless inspired by charity unquote I’m happy to celebrate that this particularly French Insight this creative Christian genius that has reaffirmed so many truths through a multitude of actions and writings saint
Jassarius of ARL said quote if you have charity you have God and if you have God what do you laugh unquote Pascal recognized that quote the sole object of scripture is Charity unquote and that quote truth apart from charity is not God but his image and an idol
That one must not love or adore unquote and Saint John cashion who died here wrote that quote everything even what we consider useful and necessary is of less value than that good which is peace and charity it’s right then that Christians should be second to none in charity
And at the gospel of Charity of all pastoral work we’re not called to grieve over times past or to redefine the church’s role in society we’re called to Bear Witness not to embroider the gospel with words but to give it flesh not to worry about our visibility but to
Spend ourselves in utter gratuity believing that the measure of Jesus’s love without measure Saint Paul the Apostle of the Nations who spent much of his life crossing the Mediterranean region from one port to the other taught that in order to fulfill the law of Christ it’s necessary to Bear
Once one another’s burdens dear brother Bishops let’s not burden others let’s not increase the weight others bear but let’s relieve their hardships in the name of the Gospel of Mercy in order to distribute joyfully the consolation of Jesus to a weary and wounded Humanity May the church
Let the church not be a place of prescription of um of legislation but a Port of Hope for those who have their confidence let’s enlarge our heart please [Applause] May the church be a port of refreshment where people feel encouraged to Embark upon life with the incomparable strength born of Christian Joy
Everyone is involved let’s remember the Lord said this let everyone come in I now come to my last image that of the lighthouse which sheds it enables us to see the portion what luminous beacons of light can guide the root of the Mediterranean churches thinking of the sea which unites so many
Different believing communities I think that one can reflect on more Cooperative ways forward perhaps considering also the expediency of a Mediterranean Bishops conference hmm this is [Applause] that could offer greater possibilities for regional dialogue and representation also thinking of ports and the theme of migration it could be profitable to work
Towards a specific pastoral plan that’s even more interconnected so that those dioceses that are more exposed can provide the best spiritual and human assistance to our brothers and sisters who arrive there in great the lighthouse in this prestigious Palace that bears its name makes me think especially of young
People they are the light that indicates the way of the future the root toward the future marciah is a great University City home for four campuses 3 35 000 students five thousand of which are foreigners where do we start to weave relationships between cultures if not in the University there young people
Are not attracted by the seductions of power but by the dream of building the future don’t extinguish the stream May the Mediterranean universities be Laboratories of dreams and Laboratories of the future where young people mature by encountering one another coming to know one another discovering cultures and contexts both
Near and diverse in this way prejudices are dismantled wounds are healed and fundamentalist rhetoric is rejected be aware of the many fundamentalisms which today are The Fad young people well prepared and used to socializing will be able to open unexpected doors of dialogue if we want them to devote themselves to
The gospel and the lofty service of politics we first need to be we first need to be credible forgetful of ourselves free from self-referentiality dedicated to spending ourselves tirelessly for others yet the primary challenge of education has to do with every age starting with children by mixing with
Others they can serve out many barriers overcome preconceptions and develop their own identity in a context of mutual enrichment the church can certainly contribute to this by offering her educational Networks and encouraging a creativity of fraternity brothers and sisters the challenge is also one of a Mediterranean theology [Applause]
Theology needs to be rooted in in life theology develops in a laboratory doesn’t work the challenge is also one of a Mediterranean theology capable of developing ways of thinking rooted in reality a home to human beings and not only technical data poised to unite Generations by linking memory and
Future promoting with originality The ecumenical journey of Christians and dialogue between Believers of different religions how exciting it would be to set out on this adventurous Quest both philosophical and Theological by drawing from the Mediterranean culture sources that can restore hope to men and women
A mystery of freedom in need of God and others in order to give meaning to their lives it’s necessary likewise to reflect on the mystery of God whom no one can claim to possess or control and who must instead be preserved from all violent and instrumental misuse and the
Awareness that the confession of his Grandeur demands of us the humility of seekers dear brothers and sisters I’m happy to be here and Marcia one time his Excellency the president um I visited invited me to come to France but at least to come to marsai at least I’ve come to marsai
I thank you your dedication continue your work be a sea of good in order to confront the poverty of today in solidarity and Cooperative be a welcoming port in order to embrace all those heat a better future be a lighthouse of Peace in order to pierce through the culture of encounter the
Dark abyss is the violence and War thank you very much a beautiful discourse of our Holy Father reflecting on the significance of marsai in the Mediterranean reflecting on the sea the port and the lighthouse from which the the palace uh the pale du photo takes its name
Everyone now on their feet after hearing the discourse of our Holy Father it’s again we see the president of France and the mayor of marsai sitting together in the front row and a flanked flanking the Holy Father religious leaders of various confessions in the in the church who have been participating in these
Discussions our Holy Father now inviting them to to form an ecclesial conference on the Mediterranean so that the church can develop better pastoral responses we’ll now hear from the president of the French Episcopal Conference of Bishops the Archbishop of Rheem Eric demolom before only father Your Presence at the
Conclusion of the Third Edition of the Mediterranean counters strongly attract the attention of everyone he’s thanking the president of France for his presence the Mysteries the ministers the mayor other dignitaries who are here foreign apparently Presence at the conclusion of the Mediterranean counter strongly attracted the attention of everyone of the political authorities and citizens of these countries of Believers and non-believers people of Goodwill for the Bishops of the countries a particular entrepreneurship it indicates a priority for reflection and pastoral actions at the end of the three days
That we received from you a vivid encouragement to take seriously with our Mediterranean Shore calls us to be and to live I led myself to be guided by Jean giono Cantor of Province and the Mediterranean the sea does not separate it United looking together at the Mediterranean contemplating what natural and human
Geography and history from Antiquity to the present have taught us leads us on to recognize ourselves as heirs then as engaged in relationships of strength that need to be transformed into relationships of fraternity and finally invites us to understand our human destiny as a journey toward the homeland of
So that people can experience a full life everyone for everyone we are all heirs to the Sea Heirs of a great civilizations that preceded the birth of Christianity and Islam and in contact with which Judaism was forged the civilizations that invented the alphabet alphabetic writing this Heritage lives again in the way we
Live our faith or religion foreign seems to have been described by Sinbad the Sailor this worker uh Hunter is an Arab in the story of tabari this Heritage lives again in the way we live our faith and religion we Catholic Bishops together with the churches to who
Service God has called us as pastors understand it best to make this Millennial Heritage bear fruit so that it contributes to The Treasure of all Humanity no air can appropriate such inheritance each receives them only to share them our countries have also taken advantage of the Mediterranean Sea and the
Connections it allows between its different Shores to establish relations of domination with other people the poet again on this water for thousands of years murder and love were exchanged on a specifically Mediterranean order was established depending on the periods the dominant countries and dominant Shores have varied
The result is a history of beautiful encounters but also Mutual pain and wounds we must be able to take a clear-eyed look at this past give it a clear name and thus work toward a more real and more profound reconciliation that can touch every person more powerfully than a discourse
Instrumentalized by political needs or Ballot or battles together with others no doubt but with their own spiritual resources our churches can and must raise strong awareness of the wrongs committed against one another and contribute to reconciliation foreign destinies it’s a source of ascetic excitement it’s a reservoir food and produce and it’s
Part of Humanity’s long history contemplating it helps to understand Earthly Life as a journey to the Homeland to the peoples of its Shores so of different races of opposite religions it imposes the same gestures this is another quote from giono thousands millions of people have risked
Their lives in it For Better or For Worse to move toward greater happiness Freedom life Joy or to fall into despair or death May Christians along with many others cannot look at its waves without thinking of all those who have relied on it from Odysseus to those who are
Trying to live to leave their country today is Foreign depending on religions or lack of religion we understand differently The Eternity to which people are called these understandings also determine certain understandings of Earthly life in each person’s responsibilities we want to try to open our Horizons to one another so that the Mediterranean may be a mosaic of Hope
Holy Father on behalf of all the Bishops present associating myself with the young people working along with us these days and with all those whom together we represent thank you for calling us all together our respective problems focus on our common survival and to look toward the
Sea and toward the horizons where it leads we want to try to open our Horizons to one another so that hope may be shared by all people by as many people as possible so that the Mediterranean may be a mosaic of Hope where all is a pledge and a promise for All Peoples
May we help one another he who is greater than we who imagined than we can imagine he’s also thanking the Episcopal Conference of Italy foreign [Applause] [Applause] foreign Mercedes by the Sea living behind ourselves we join the vast world the whole of Humanity on its way to its final destiny as we know the Lord as we know here in marsai Joins his friends embarked on the waves and once again thanking the Holy Father the president of the French Episcopal
Conference is Excellency Eric de Moline but before the Archbishop of Rheem Foreign it looks like a woman from Lebanon they’re going to be singing the uh the Hail Mary [Applause] inspired by a Syriac tradition and Byzantine Foreign Foreign Foreign Thank you we’ve just heard the Hail Mary being sung by a young woman she may be from Libya I’m sorry Lebanon the the Cypress of Lebanon on her Cedar of Lebanon on her type of stole that she’s wearing our Holy Father has now begun to greet the The Bishop’s present for this
Occasion that are here on the stage with him again this is uh Pope Francis first public event today he has taken part in the final session of the Mediterranean meetings at the pale du farro here in marsai a meeting which we heard during the Pope’s discourse
Is one in which the the church along with Society with the Civil Society has been trying to respond to the phenomenon of migration and other problems created in the Mediterranean area and we now bring to an end this live broadcast of the final session of the Mediterranean meetings here at the
Lighthouse Palace which would be the translation in English um shortly after this after meeting with all the Bishops Pope Francis will meet privately with President Emmanuel macron here inside the palace in the salon or the mayor’s Hall of honor and then he’ll be taken by car to the archbishop’s residence where he’ll dine
In private later this afternoon our ongoing coverage continues our Holy Father will be celebrating Mass in marsai velodrome Stadium that will begin around 4 15 PM local time he does return to Rome this evening he’ll arrive in Rome at about 8 50. Central European Time and that’s we’ll we’ll be back as I’ve
Said around 4 15 local time four our ongoing coverage of popes of the Pope’s Apostolic Journey here in marsai as he celebrates Mass with the faithful I invite you to visit the Vatican news web portal Facebook Instagram YouTube and Twitter accounts where you’ll find ongoing coverage of Pope Francis Apostolic Journey here
As well as other coverage of other Vatican and world news on behalf of Vatican media I’d like to thank our audio technician Patricio ciprari and our coordinator father Johann Pacheco and all others who’ve made this broadcast possible especially our Media Partners Salt and Light media EWTN at madarchan TV Shalom World
Television network Catholic faith Network Catholic TV and Uganda Catholic Television praise to be Jesus Christ foreign [Applause] thank you foreign [Applause] Francisco [Applause] California
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