Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On the occasion of the Year of St. Paul, the International Secretariat of the Pontifical Holy Childhood Association (POSI) and the National Secretariat of Italy of the HCA (POIM) have organized the Pauline Pilgrimage to Rome for the Missionary Children from Italy and other European nations (see Fides 10/2/2009; 29/5/2009). At noon on Saturday, May 30, the Holy Father Benedict XVI received the nearly 5,000 children who had participated in the pilgrimage and their chaperones. Following a greeting from Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and two children, the Pope spontaneously responded to questions from three children. Below is the transcription of the questions and the Pope's answers.
First Question: My name is Anna Filippone. I am twelve years old and am an altar server. I am from Calabria, from the Diocese of Oppido Mamertina-Palmi. Pope Benedict, my friend Giovanni has an Italian dad and an Ecuadorian mom and is very happy. Do you think that the different cultures will be able to live [together] without disputing in Jesus' name?
Holy Father: I think you want to know how we helped one another as children. I should mention that during elementary school, I lived in a small town of 400 inhabitants, very far from the urban centers. We were a bit naïve and in that town there were very rich farmers, others who were not as rich but were well-off, and then, there were the poor workers, artisans. Just before I began elementary school, we moved to the town from another town, so we were a bit like foreigners to them, although they spoke a different dialect. In this school, though, very diverse social situations were found. However, there was a beautiful unity among us. They taught me their dialect, which I had not yet learned. We worked well together, although I have to admit that once in awhile – of course – we argued, but afterwards we made up and we forgot what had happened. I think this is important. Sometimes in life, arguing seems unavoidable. However, the art of reconciliation, forgiveness, of beginning anew and not letting bitterness stay in your soul, is always important. With great fondness, I remember how we all collaborated. We helped one another and walked together on our way. We were all Catholic, and that, of course, was a great help. Thus, we learned the Bible together, starting with creation up until the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, and then even the early Church. We learned the catechism together. We learned how to pray together and together we prepared for our First Confession and First Communion, which was a splendid day. We knew that Jesus Himself comes to us and that He is not a distant God. He enters in my own life, in my own soul. And if Jesus Himself enters inside each one of us, we become brothers, sisters, friends, and we should treat each other as such. For us, this preparation – both for the First Confession as a purification of our conscience and our life, and that of the First Communion as a concrete encounter with Jesus who comes to me, to each one of us, were contributing factors in building our community. This helped us to walk along together, to learn how to be reconciled with one another whenever it was necessary. We also did little plays. It is important to learn how to participate, to pay attention to one another. When I was 8 or 9 years old, I became an altarboy. At that time, there were not female altar servers, but the girls read better than we did. So, they read the readings at the Mass and we were the altar boys. At that time, there were also a great many Latin texts to learn, so each one had to do their part. As I said, we were not saints. We had our fights, but there was a beautiful harmony among us, where the distinctions between rich and poor, intelligent and less intelligent were not important. It was our communion with Jesus on the path of the common faith and common responsibility in games, in work. We were able to live together and be friends. And even though I have not been back to that town since 1937 – 70 years – we are still friends [today]. So, we learned to accept one another, to share one another's burdens. I think that this is important: in spite of our weakness we accept one another and with Jesus Christ, with the Church, we can find the path to peace together and learn to live well.
Second Question: My name is Letizia and I would like to ask you a question. Dear Pope Benedict XVI, what did the motto ‘children help children’ mean to you when you were a boy? Did you ever think of becoming the Pope?
Holy Father: To tell you the truth, I never thought of becoming the Pope, because as I have already explained, I was a fairly naïve young boy in a small country town very far away from [urban] centers in a forgotten province. We were happy to be in this province and we did not think about other things. Obviously, we knew, venerated and loved the Pope, at that time Pius XI, but for us he was at an unreachable height, almost another world. He was our father, nevertheless, a reality that was way above all of us. And I must say that even today I have difficulty understanding how the Lord could think of me and choose me for this ministry. But, I receive it from His hands, even if it is something surprising that seems beyond my strength. But the Lord helps me.
Third Question: Dear Pope Benedict, I am Alessandro. I would like to ask you: You are the first missionary, and as children, what can we do to help you preach the Gospel?
Holy Father: I would say that an initial way is by collaborating with the Holy Childhood Association. In this manner, you are part of a great family that brings the Gospel to the world. Thus, you belong to a great network. Here, we see how the family of diverse nations is reflected. You are in this great family: each one does their part and together, you are missionaries, carrying out the missionary work of the Church. You have a beautiful itinerary, which your spokesperson mentioned: listening, praying, knowing, sharing, and solidarity. These are the essential elements that are truly a means of being missionary, of contributing to the growth of the Church and the presence of the Gospel in the world. I would like to highlight some of these points. Above all, prayer. Prayer is a reality: God hears us and, when we pray, God enters our lives and He becomes living and active in us. Prayer is very important. It can change the world, because it makes the power of God present. And it is important to help one another in prayer: we pray together in the liturgy, in the family. And here, I would say that it is important to begin the day with a little prayer and then finish the day with a little prayer. Pray for your parents. Pray before eating lunch, before dinner, and at the Sunday Mass. A Sunday without Mass, the great common prayer of the Church, is not a real Sunday; it lacks what is at the heart of Sunday and thus, what is also the light for the entire week. You can also help others – especially those who perhaps do not pray at home or do not know what prayer is – teaching them how to pray by praying with them and introducing others into communion with God. Then, listen, so as to learn what it is that Jesus truly tells us. In addition, learn Sacred Scripture, the Bible. In the story of Jesus, we learn – as the Cardinal said – of God's face, we see who God is. It is important to have a profound personal knowledge of Jesus. That way, He can enter our lives, and through our life, enter the world. Also, sharing and not wanting things only for oneself, but for everyone; sharing with others; and if we see someone in need, someone who has a harder time, we should help them and thus make the love of God present, without great words, within the small world of our personal realm, which forms a part of the great world. And thus, we come together to form a family, where everyone respects one another: accepting the other person n their otherness, accepting even the mean people, not letting anyone be left out and helping them to enter into the community. All this is the same as simply living in this great family of the Church, this great missionary family: living the essential points of sharing, knowing Jesus, prayer, mutual listening, and solidarity are missionary tasks, because they help the Gospel become a reality in our world.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 1/6/2009)
