Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - “On Friday we celebrated the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion deeply rooted among the people” Pope Benedict XVI said from his study window on Sunday 5 June before leading the recitation of the midday Angelus prayer with thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square. “In the heart of the Redeemer we adore God’s love for humanity, his desire for universal salvation, his infinite mercy - the Pope said -. To worship the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ is therefore to adore the Heart which after loving us to the end was pierced by a lance and from the cross effused blood and water inexhaustible source of new life.” The Holy Father then recalled that the feast of the Sacred Heart is a day of prayer for the sanctification of priests, “an opportune occasion on which to pray that priests may put nothing before love of Christ”.
The Pope then recalled Blessed Bishop Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, patron of migrants, a man profoundly devoted to the Heart of Christ. “On 1 June we celebrated the centenary of his death. He founded the Priests and the Sisters of St Charles Borromeo known as Scalabrinians to proclaim the Gospel among Italian emigrants. Recalling this great Bishop my thoughts turn to those who are far from their homeland and often also from their family and I hope that they will always find on their path friendly faces and welcoming hearts to sustain them in the difficulties of every day” the Pope said.
After the Angelus prayer the Holy Father expressed concern for social and political tension in various parts of the world which threaten to explode in conflict. “At this moment, my thoughts go particularly to Bolivia and the concerning situation in that country. While I ask you to pray for those dear people, I entrust to Our Lady my hope and my appeal that in all may prevail the search for the common good, sense of responsibility and readiness for open and sincere dialogue.” The Pope united his voice “with those of the President of Italy, the President Afghanistan and the people of Italy and Afghanistan to call for the release of Italian humanitarian volunteer Clementina Cantoni. May the painful experience lived by our sister act as stimulus to try every means to reach peaceful and fraternal understanding among individuals and nations.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 6/6/2005; righe 27, parole 395)
