VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI Brazil - “Your country is to serve as a cradle for ecclesial proposals which, God willing, will give the Continent new missionary vigour and impulse”

Thursday, 10 May 2007

São Paulo (Agenzia Fides) - In the early afternoon of Wednesday 9 May the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, arrived at São Paulo/Guarulhos airport welcomed by the President of Brazil, and political, civil and ecclesial authorities. In his addresses during the welcome ceremony the Pope said “Brazil has a very special place in the heart of the Pope not only because it was born a Christian nation and today has the highest number of Catholics, but principally because it is rich in potential with an ecclesial presence which is a motive of joy and hope for the whole Church”. Pope Benedict XVI recalled the purpose of his visit: “I have come to preside, in Aparecida, the opening session of 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean. By providential manifestation of the goodness of the Creator, this country is to serve as a cradle for ecclesial proposals which, God willing, will give the Continent new missionary vigour and impulse”.
The Holy Father then underlined the duty of Catholics, the majority in this geographic area, “to contribute in a particular way to promoting the common good of the nation”, and he recalled the Church's profound commitment to the mission of evangelisation, “at the service of the cause of peace and justice”. Referring to the missionary theme chosen for 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean the Pope underlined “the profoundly Christian values which can never be erased from the soul of the Latin American people. “The Church wishes simply to indicate these moral values in every situation and to form citizens so that may make free and conscious decisions; in this sense, the Church will always insist on the necessary commitment to guarantee the consolidation of the family, as the nucleus of society, of youth whose formation constitutes a decisive factor for the future of a nation - and last but not least, to defend and promote the above mentioned values in every social sector, above all among the indigenous peoples.”
At the end of the welcome ceremony at the airport the Pope went to São Bento Monastery in São Paulo where he will be staying. After stopping for a moment to pray in the chapel and address a few words to the hosting Benedictine community, the Pope went to the first floor balcony to greet the crowds waiting to see him: “Dear friends! Your warm welcome moves the Pope! Thank you for waiting for me. The coming days, for you and for the whole Church, will be filled with emotion and joy. The whole Church is rejoicing! In every corner of the earth they are praying for fruits for this first pastoral journey in Brazil and Latin America which Divine Providence has granted me to undertake as Successor Peter! The Canonisation of Brother Galvão and the inauguration of 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean will stand as milestones in the history of the Church. I rely on your prayers! Thank you very much.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2007; righe 34, parole 483)


Share: