Pope Francis referred in his farewell speech to the civilisation
of love, which made me think of the Mariapolis! At WYD how many challenges
there were, accommodation, no room, no electric power, misunderstandings, the
rain! Despite everything there a civilisation of love was slowly emerging,
through each participant following the law of love in the present moment. That’s
like a mega Mariapolis! Below is the text of the Pope’s speech this morning, a
true Meditation!
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Dear Cardinals and Brother Bishops, Dear
Friends,
I am about to leave your country to
return to Rome. I depart with many happy memories which I know will nourish my
prayers. Already I am beginning to miss Brazil, this great people showing so
much affection and friendship. I shall miss the natural and warm smiles I have
seen in so many faces, and the enthusiasm shown by the volunteers. I shall miss
the hope filling the eyes of the young people in the Hospital of Saint Francis.
I shall miss the faith and joy shown by the residents of Varginha in the midst
of their hardship. I know that Christ is truly present in the lives of
countless young people and in the lives of many whom I have met during this
unforgettable week. Thank you for the warm welcome and the friendship that have
been offered to me. This too I shall miss.
In particular, I would like to thank
Madam President for expressing the sentiments of the entire population of
Brazil towards the Successor of Peter. I warmly extend gratitude to my brother
Bishops and to their many collaborators for making this week a splendid
celebration of the richness and joy of our faith in Jesus Christ. I thank all
those who took part in the Eucharistic celebrations and other events, and I
thank those who organized them and those who worked to broadcast them through
the media. Finally, I wish to thank all those who in one way or another rose to
the challenge of hosting and organizing the large numbers of young people. And
not least my gratitude goes to the many people who prayed, often in silence and
simplicity, for this World Youth Day to be an authentic experience of growth in
faith. May God reward all of you, as only he can!
As I express my thanks and bid farewell,
my thoughts turn to those who are at the heart of these celebrations: the young
people! May God bless you for the beautiful witness of your lives and for your
intense and joyful participation over these last few days. Many of you came
here as disciples; I have no doubt that all of you will leave as missionaries. Through your joyful witness and service,
help to build a civilization of love. Show,
by your life, that it is worth giving your time and talents in order to attain
high ideals, it is worth recognizing the dignity of each human person, and it
is worth taking risks for Christ and his Gospel. It is he that we have come
to seek because he first sought us. It is he who has inflamed our hearts with
the desire to take the Good News to the large cities and to the small
communities, to the countryside and to all the corners of this vast planet. I
will always place my hopes in the young people of Brazil and in the young
around the world: through them, Christ is preparing a new springtime all over
the earth. I have seen its first fruits and I know that others will joyfully
reap the full harvest.
Finally, my thoughts turn to Our Lady of
Aparecida, to whom I also bid farewell. In that beloved Shrine I knelt to pray
for the entire human family and in particular for all Brazilians. I implored
Mary to strengthen you in the Christian faith, which forms part of the noble
soul of Brazil, as indeed of many other countries; this faith is your culture’s
treasure and serves as encouragement and support in the task of building a
renewed humanity in harmony and solidarity.
As he departs, the Pope says to all of
you affectionately: “see you soon”. He asks you not to forget to pray for him.
The Pope needs the prayers of all of you. I offer you an affectionate embrace.
May God bless you!
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