BY CAROL GLATZ
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Francis praised his predecessor's courage in denouncing the danger of people no longer respecting or understanding the sacredness of human life. Pope Francis highlighted retired Pope Benedict XVI's insistence that Europe's renewal comes through its respect for every human life. The pope's remarks were part of an introduction he wrote for a new book, The True Europe. Identity and Mis- sion," which compiles selected texts by Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI on the theme of Europe. The book, cur- rently in Italian, is one of a series of selected texts" being published by Cantagalli press and coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the European Union. Beyond the many words and grandiose proclamations, today, the idea of respect for every human life is increasingly lost in Europe, start- ing with the loss of awareness of its sacredness, that is, precisely from the obfuscation of the awareness that we are creatures of God," the Pope wrote. Benedict XVI has not been afraid over the years of denouncing with great courage and far-sightedness the many manifestations of this dramatic renunciation of the idea of creation" and its consequences, he wrote. And yet, the retired pope also showed his hope and faith in know- ing humanity will always be restless until they find God and discover his truth, Pope Francis wrote. He added that the volume clearly explains the current reality but without leaving the reader feeling pessimistic or sad. On the contrary, Pope Francis said Pope Benedict explains the reasons for his hope, saying the desire and search for God is profoundly in- scribed in each human soul and can- not disappear. Certainly we can forget God for a time, lay him aside and concern ourselves with other things, but God never disappears," Pope Benedict said in a 2012 interview, published in the book. "St. Augustine's words are true: We men are restless until we have found God. This restlessness also ex- ists today and is an expression of the hope that man may, ever and anew, even today, start to journey toward this God." Pope Francis wrote this was the se- cret for how to have hope.
BY JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (CNS) - Slo- vakia's tradition of hospitality along with its witness of faith amid per- secution must be at the forefront of government policies and the Catholic Church's engagement with the faith- ful, Pope Francis said. Addressing government authori- ties on the first full day of his visit to Slovakia Sept. 13, the pope said the traditional custom of welcoming guests is a powerful message of love, especially toward migrants and vul- nerable people. No one should be stigmatized or suffer discrimination. Our Christian way of looking at others refuses to see them as a burden or a problem, but rather as brothers and sisters to be helped and protected," he said. The pope began his day with a wel- coming ceremony at the presidential palace followed by a private meeting with Slovak President Zuzana Caput- ov. After the meeting, he addressed government authorities, members of the diplomatic corps and civil lead- ers. In his speech, the pope said that after numerous challenges through- out its long, rich history, Slovakia attained integration and distinctive- ness through a fundamentally peace- ful process" that led to its indepen- dence in 1993 after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. That peaceful transition to become an independent state serves as "a message of peace in the heart of Eu- rope" and an example of fraternity, which is "necessary for the increas- ingly pressing process of integra- tion," especially as the European Union seeks to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, he said. Nevertheless, "there is always the risk of succumbing to impatience and the lure of profit, leading to a fleeting sense of euphoria that, rather than bringing people together, proves only divisive," he warned. Reflecting on the Slovak tradi- tion of presenting bread and salt to honored guests, the pope said the significance of bread, particularly in Scripture, is a powerful message that reminds us that true wealth does not consist simply in multiplying the things we have, but in sharing them fairly with those around us." The pope also commented on the importance of justice, particularly in stamping out corruption. Since 2018, two governments were ousted after massive protests engulfed the country due to reported connections between members of the ruling Direction-Social Democracy party and the Italian organized crime syn- dicate, 'ndrangheta. The pope emphasized the need of building a future "in which laws are applied fairly to all, based on a sys- tem of justice that is not up for sale." If justice is not to remain an abstract ideal, but to be as real as bread, a serious battle against cor- ruption must be undertaken and, above all, the rule of law must be promoted and must prevail," he said. After his meeting with government authorities, the pope made his way to the Cathedral of St. Martin, where he met the country's bishops, priests, men and women religious, seminar- ians and catechists. Hundreds gathered outside the cathedral cheering in Italian, "Viva Papa Francesco" ("Long live Pope Francis"). Entering the 15th-century edifice, the pope smiled as those gathered in the cathedral applauded while a choir sang in Latin, "Tu es Pe-
Priest-doctor in Haiti says violence is a threat
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CNS) - Violence in Haiti not only complicates earthquake relief, it threatens the future of the country, said the U.S. priest-founder of St. Luke Foundation for Haiti, a medical mission and orphanage in Haiti. "Everyone without exception is at risk," Passionist Father Richard Frechette said of the security situation. "Haiti has become a bandit state in the face of the inability of the Haitian government to govern," he told CNS. "The future is bleak, and Haitians want to leave Haiti. It will be an enormous effort and investment to turn things around." He said Haiti's government-led negotiations with gang leaders to allow for transit of aid after the Aug. 14 earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people was short-lived. The truce is with one gang ... the truce is no longer respected, and that gang is calling for the resignation of the prime minister," said Father Frechette, a medical doctor. Throughout Haiti, he said, there are gangs en- gaged in killing, kidnapping and banditry.
Eucharist heals from idolatry of 'self,' pope says
BUDAPEST, Hungary (CNS) - Spending time in ado- ration of the Blessed Sacrament can heal Christians from a self-absorbed religiosity that is ostentatious and triumphalist, Pope Francis said. Presiding over the closing Mass of the International Eucharistic Con- gress Sept. 12, the pope urged people to make time for eucharistic adoration. "Let us allow Jesus, the liv- ing bread, to heal us of our self-absorption, open our hearts to self-giving, liberate us from our rigidity and self-concern, free us from the paralyzing slavery of de- fending our image, and inspire us to follow him wher- ever he would lead us," he said. Pope Francis, arriving in his popemobile, was greeted warmly by thousands who lined the street leading toward the Mass site in Heroes' Square. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople was among those at the Mass.
Pope Francis says Benedict rightly warned against not respecting life Pope urges Slovak church, government to put people first
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At Mass for patron, bishop seeks Cubans' help
WASHINGTON (CNS) - Bishop Felipe J. Estevez, of the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida, called on Cubans, on and off the island, to choose forgiveness to help the is- land nation, during a Sept. 8 homily marking the feast of Cuba's patron saint, Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre. As a mother, "La Cachita," the familiar name Cubans have given to the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Charity, knows what her children need and she knows "there is something that worries us and that steals our peace, something that saddens us, that distresses us," said Bishop Estevez during an outdoor Mass in Spanish at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami. Bishop Es- tevez was one of several U.S. prelates to mark the day, that is special to the Cuban Catholic community and even to Cubans who aren't Catholic. The Madonna is beloved even among Cuban nonbelievers. Pope Francis, who visited the island nation in 2015, extended a mes- sage to Cubans Sept. 8, saying he placed prayers at the feet of Our Lady of Charity for "the life, dreams, hopes, and sorrows of the Cuban people."
Polish cardinal, blind Franciscan nun beatified
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) - The archbishop who steered Poland's Catholic Church through communist rule and a blind Franciscan nun who founded one of Europe's foremost centers for the sight-impaired took a step closer to sainthood Sept. 12. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes, said both "gave testimony of a life faith- ful to the Gospel at all costs - a model of service to a specific person in need, even when no one cares and indifference seems to prevail." The Italian cardinal preached at the beatification Mass for Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, who died in 1981, and Mother Elisabeth Rosa Czacka, who died in 1961, at Warsaw's Church of Divine Providence. In attendance were 7,000 people - including government leaders, bishops from Poland and abroad, as well as two women whose cures were the miracles for the advancement of the sainthood causes. Both of the newly beatified "knew how to fill each other with strength, endurance and courage," said Cardinal Semeraro.
Founder of Peru's Shining Path insurgency dies
LIMA, Peru (CNS) - Abimael Guzmn, founder of Pe- ru's violent Shining Path insurgency, died in his prison cell Sept. 11. He was 86. Guzmn, a philosophy profes- sor turned guerrilla leader, launched the outlawed party's war on the Peruvian state in 1980. The first armed action was burning ballot boxes in a remote Andean village in May of that year, coinciding with the first presidential election after 12 years of military rule. Guzmn was arrested in September 1992 and was serving two life sentences. Shining Path was bru- tal, razing entire villages as part Guzmn's messianic vision and the cult-like following he demanded. The group was responsible directly or indirectly for the bulk of the nearly 70,000 people killed or disappeared during the internal conflict, according to the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report in 2004. Abimael Guzmn was Peru's most-hated man, much like Osama Bin Laden in the U.S. His brand of bellicose Marxist orthodoxy became increasingly anachronistic in the new 21st-century world," said Orin Starn, a pro- fessor at Duke University and co-author of recent book, The Shining Path: Love, Madness, and Revolution in the Andes." trus" ("You Are Peter"). In his address, the pope emphasized the need for a humble church that is "not a fortress, a stronghold, a lofty castle, self-sufficient and looking out upon the world below," but instead one that immerses itself in the life of the people. Living within the world means being willing to share and to understand people's problems, hopes and expectations. This will help us to escape from our self-absorption, for the center of the church is not the church," he said. The Catholic Church, he continued, is called to respond to the spiritual needs of the people, begin- ning with freedom. The tragic chapters of your country's history pro- vide a great lesson: When- ever freedom was attacked, violated and suppressed, humanity was disfig- ured, and the tempests of violence, coercion and the elimination of rights rap- idly followed," he said. However, the pope said freedom also requires personal responsibility for our choices, discern- ment and perseverance" and not giving in to the temptation of having "ev- erything readily defined, laws to be obeyed, security and uniformity."
CNS PHOTO L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO
Pope Francis greets retired Pope Benedict XVI at the retired pope's residence after a consistory for the creation of five new cardinals at the Vatican June 28, 2017.
CNS PHOTO PAUL HARING
Pope Francis greets the crowd before celebrating a Byzantine Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom at Mestsk portov hala Square in Preov, Slovakia, Sept. 14.
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