VATICAN - “To complete the work of salvation, the Redeemer continues to draw to himself and his mission men and women who are ready to take up the cross and follow him,” Benedict XVI says in the Angelus, focusing on the immigration situation

Castel Gandolfo (Agenzia Fides) – Speaking from his balcony in the interior courtyard of the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo, where he recited the Angelus on Sunday, August 31, the Holy Father Benedict XVI reflected on the Gospel from the day’s liturgy, once again focusing on the figure of the Apostle Peter. “When, in fact, Jesus begins to speak openly about the fate that awaits him in Jerusalem, when he says that he must suffer much, be killed and rise again, Peter protests,” the Pope mentioned in his address, pointing out that Peter, “according to a human logic, is convinced that God would never allow his Son to end his mission dying on the cross. Jesus, on the contrary, knows that the Father, in his great love for men, sent him to give his life for them, and if this means the passion and the cross, it is right that such should happen.”
Then, Benedict XVI highlighted that the death of God’s Son on the cross, is certainly not “because of a cruel design of the heavenly Father” but rather because of “the gravity of the sickness of which he must cure us... In fact, it is with his death and resurrection that Jesus defeated sin and death, reestablishing the lordship of God.” And yet, we should not forget that “Evil exists and resists in every generation, even in our own,” the Holy Father said, mentioning “the horrors of war, violence visited on the innocent, the misery and injustice that persecutes the weak” and encouraging all to respond to such evils “with the unarmed love that defeats hatred, life that does not fear death,” following Jesus’ example.
“To complete the work of salvation, the Redeemer continues to draw to himself and his mission men and women who are ready to take up the cross and follow him. Just as with Christ, it is not ‘optional’ for Christians to take up the cross; it is rather a mission to be embraced out of love. In our present world, where the forces that divide and destroy seem to prevail, Christ does not cease to propose his clear invitation to all: Whosoever wants to be my disciple, he must renounce his selfishness and carry the cross with me.”
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father spoke on the phenomenon of immigration that has now become an emergency situation, saying, “In recent weeks the news has reported the growth in the episodes of irregular immigration in Africa. It is not rare that crossing the Mediterranean toward the European continent -- which is seen as a place of hope to escape adverse and often unbearable conditions -- ends in tragedy; what happened a few days ago seemed to surpass previous incidents in terms of the number of victims.
Migration is a phenomenon that has been present from the dawn of human history, and it has always, for this reason, characterized the relations between peoples and nations. The emergency that migration has become in our times, nevertheless, calls out to us and, while it solicits our solidarity, demands, at the same time, effective political answers.
I know that many regional, national, and international institutions are occupying themselves with the question of irregular migration: I applaud them and encourage them to continue this meritorious work with a sense of responsibility and humanitarian spirit. The countries of origin must also show a sense of responsibility not only because it is a matter of their own citizens, but also to remove the causes of irregular migration and cut off at the root all of the forms of criminality that are linked to these causes.
For their part, European countries, and all other countries that are the destination of immigration, are called to, among other things, develop through consensus initiatives and structures that continue to adapt themselves to the needs of irregular migrants. The latter must be made aware, on the one hand, of the value of their own lives, which are a singular good, always precious, that should be safeguarded in the face of the grave risks that the pursuit of better situations exposes them to and, on the other hand, the duty of legality that is imposed on all.
As the Pope, I feel a profound obligation to recall everyone’s attention to this problem and to ask for the generous cooperation of individuals and institutions to deal with it and to find solutions. May the Lord accompany us and make our efforts fruitful!”
Greeting Spanish-speaking pilgrims, Benedict XVI especially recalled the Pastors and faithful of “the beloved nation of Cuba” who have officially begun preparations for the 400th anniversary of the presence of the image of “Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre” in the country. Assuring them of his prayers that following the example of Mary, the faithful of the Church in Cuba may obtain a faith rich in works of love and mercy, the Pope encouraged them to receive every day the Word of God in their hearts, to meditate upon it, and place it into practice, so that “as authentic children of God the Father, faithful disciples of Christ, and blessed with the strength of the Holy Spirit, they may be missionaries of the Gospel in every circumstance of their lives.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2008)