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Pope Benedict XVI- General Audiences |
General
Audience
On the Trip to Cyprus
"I Was Almost Able to Feel So Many Hearts Beating in Unison"
H.H. Benedict XVI
June 9, 2010
www.zenit.org
Dear brothers and sisters!
Today I wish to reflect on my apostolic journey to Cyprus, which in many
aspects is in continuity with my preceding trips to the Holy Land and
Malta. Thanks be to God, this pastoral visit went very well, because
happily it achieved its objectives. Already in itself it constituted a
historic event; in fact, never before had a Bishop of Rome gone to that
blessed land, site of the apostolic work of St. Paul and St. Barnabas,
traditionally considered part of the Holy Land.
In the footsteps of the Apostle to the Gentiles I made myself a pilgrim
of the Gospel, first of all to strengthen the faith of the Catholic
communities, a small but lively minority on the island, encouraging them
also to continue on the path toward full Christian unity, especially
with our Orthodox brothers. At the same time, I wished ideally to
embrace all the Middle Eastern populations, and bless them in the name
of the Lord, invoking from God the gift of peace. I experienced a
cordial welcome, which was given to me everywhere, and I happily take
this opportunity to express again my heartfelt gratitude in the first
place to the archbishop of Cyprus of the Maronites, Joseph Soueif, and
to His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal, together with their
collaborators, renewing to each one my appreciation for their apostolic
work. My heartfelt gratitude goes then to the Holy Synod of the Orthodox
Church of Cyprus, particularly to His Beatitude Chrysostomos II,
Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus, whom I had the joy of
embracing with fraternal affection, as well as to the president of the
republic, to all the civil authorities and to all those who in different
ways dedicated themselves commendably to the success of my pastoral
visit.
It began on June 4 in the ancient city of Paphos, where I felt enveloped
by an atmosphere that seemed almost like the perceptible synthesis of
2,000 years of Christian history. The archeological finds present there
are the sign of an ancient and glorious spiritual heritage, which still
today has a strong impact on the life of the country. A touching
ecumenical celebration took place in the Church of St. Kiriaki
Chrysopolitiss, a place of Orthodox worship open also to Catholics and
Anglicans, located inside the archeological site. With Orthodox
Archbishop Chrysostomos II and representatives of the Armenian, Lutheran
and Anglican communities, we fraternally renewed our reciprocal and
irreversible ecumenical commitment. I manifested such sentiments
subsequently to His Beatitude Chrysostomos II in a cordial meeting at
his residence, during which I saw how much the Orthodox Church of Cyprus
is tied to the fortunes of that people, keeping a devout and pleasing
memory of Archbishop Makarios III, commonly regarded as father and
benefactor of the nation, to whom I also wished to render homage pausing
briefly at the monument that represents him. This rootedness in
tradition does not impede the Orthodox community from being committed
decisively to ecumenical dialogue together with the Catholic community,
both animated by the sincere desire to restore full and visible
communion between the Churches of the East and West.
On June 5, in Nicosia, capital of the island, I began the second stage
of the journey by going to visit the president of the republic, who
welcomed me with great courtesy. In meeting with the civil authorities
and the diplomatic corps, I stressed the importance of founding positive
law on the ethical principles of natural law, in order to promote moral
truth in public life. It was an appeal to reason, based on ethical
principles and charged with exacting implications for today's society,
which often no longer recognizes the cultural tradition on which it is
founded.
The Liturgy of the Word, celebrated in the elementary school of St.
Maron, was one of the most thought-provoking moments in the meeting with
the Catholic community of Cyprus, in its Maronite and Latin components,
and it allowed me to see firsthand the apostolic fervor of Cypriot
Catholics.
This is expressed also through educational and charitable activity with
dozens of structures, which are placed at the service of everyone and
are appreciated by the governing authorities as well as by the whole
population. It was a joyful and festive moment, animated by the
enthusiasm of numerous children, youth and young people. Not lacking was
the aspect of memory, which made perceptible in a moving way the spirit
of the Maronite Church, which precisely this year celebrates the 1,600th
anniversary of the death of the founder St. Maron. Particularly
significant, in this connection, was the presence of some Maronite
Catholics, natives of four villages of the island where Christians are a
people who suffer and hope; I wished to manifest to them my paternal
understanding of their aspirations and difficulties.
In that same celebration I was able to admire the apostolic commitment
of the Latin community, led by the solicitude of the Latin Patriarch of
Jerusalem and the pastoral zeal of the Friars Minor of the Holy Land,
who are at the service of the people with persevering generosity. The
Catholics of the Latin rite, very active in the charitable realm, give
special attention to workers and the neediest. To all, Latins and
Maronites, I assured my remembrance in prayer, encouraging them to
witness to the Gospel also through the patient work of reciprocal trust
between Christians and non-Christians, to build lasting peace and
harmony between peoples.
I wished to repeat the invitation to trust and hope in the course of the
Holy Mass, celebrated in the parish of the Holy Cross in the presence of
priests, consecrated persons, deacons, catechists and representatives of
lay associations and movements of the island. Beginning with reflection
on the mystery of the cross, I then addressed a heartbroken appeal to
all Catholics of the Middle East so that, despite the great trials and
the well known difficulties, they not yield to dejection and the
temptation to emigrate, since their presence in the region constitutes
an irreplaceable sign of hope. I guaranteed them, especially the priests
and religious, the affectionate and intense solidarity of the whole
Church, as well as incessant prayer that the Lord will help them to
always be a lively and peacemaking presence.
Certainly the culminating moment of the apostolic journey was the
presentation of the "instrumentum laboris" of the Special Assembly for
the Middle East of the synod of bishops. This ceremony took place on
Sunday, June 6, in the Sports Centre of Nicosia, at the end of the
solemn Eucharistic celebration, in which patriarchs and bishops of
various ecclesial communities of the Middle East took part. The
participation of the People of God was unanimous, "with glad shouts and
songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival," as the Psalm says
(42:5). We had a concrete experience of this, also thanks to the
presence of so many immigrants, who constitute a significant group of
the island's Catholic population, where they have integrated without
difficulty. We prayed together for the soul of the mourned Bishop Luigi
Padovese, president of the Turkish episcopal conference, whose sudden
and tragic death has left us saddened and dismayed.
The theme of the synodal assembly for the Middle East, which will take
place in Rome this October, speaks of communion and openness to hope:
"The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness." This
important event is designed in fact as a gathering of the Catholic
community of that area, in its different rites, but at the same time as
a renewed search for dialogue and courage for the future. Hence, it will
be supported by the prayerful affection of the whole Church, in whose
heart the Middle East occupies a special place, inasmuch as it is
precisely there that God made himself known to our fathers in the faith.
However, attention from other individuals of world society will not be
lacking, specifically of protagonists in public life, called to work
with constant commitment so that the region will be able to overcome the
situations of suffering and conflict that still afflict it and finally
rediscover peace in justice.
Before taking leave of Cyprus I wished to visit the Maronite Cathedral
of Nicosia -- where Cardinal Pierre Nasrallah Sfeir, patriarch of
Antioch of the Maronites, was also present. I renewed my sincere
closeness and deep understanding to every community of the ancient
Maronite Church spread around the island, on whose coast the Maronites
arrived in different periods and were often harshly tired to remain
faithful to their specific Christian heritage, whose historical and
artistic memories constitute a cultural patrimony for the whole of
humanity.
Dear brothers and sisters, I returned to the Vatican with a spirit
brimming with gratitude to God and with sincere sentiments of affection
and esteem for the inhabitants of Cyprus, by whom I felt welcomed and
understood. In the noble Cypriot land I was able to see the apostolic
work of the different traditions of the one Church of Christ and I was
almost able to feel so many hearts beating in unison, precisely as the
theme of the journey affirmed: "One heart, one soul." The Cypriot
Catholic community, in its Maronite, Armenian and Latin expressions,
makes an incessant effort to be one heart and one soul, both among
itself as well as in cordial and constructive relations with Orthodox
brothers and with the other Christian denominations. May the Cypriot
people and the other nations of the Middle East, with their governors
and the representatives of various religions, be able to build together
a future of peace, friendship and fraternal collaboration. And we pray
that, through the intercession of Mary Most Holy, the Holy Spirit will
render this apostolic journey fruitful and animate throughout the world
the mission of the Church, instituted by Christ to proclaim the Gospel
of truth, love and peace to all peoples.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[The Holy Father then greeted the people in several languages. In
English, he said:]
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In my Apostolic Journey to Cyprus this past week, I walked in the
footsteps of Saints Paul and Barnabas, who first brought the Gospel to
that island, and visited the small but lively Catholic communities of
the island. I thank the Authorities for their warm hospitality, and I
particularly thank the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus and
His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos the Second for their fraternal
welcome. In my celebrations with the Maronite and Latin Catholic
communities I witnessed their strong faith and traditions, and the
vitality of their educational and charitable institutions. In Cyprus and
throughout the Middle East, Christians are called to overcome divisions
and to persevere in their witness to the Gospel in those lands. At
Sunday Mass in Nicosia I consigned the working document for the
forthcoming Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of
Bishops. Let us pray that the Synod will strengthen those ancient
Christian communities in communion and hope, and help them to build a
future of peace throughout the Middle East.
I offer a warm welcome to the ecumenical study group from the School of
Theology at Seton Hall University, and to the members of the
International Leadership Programme for LaSallian Universities. My
cordial greetings also go to the scholars and experts taking part in the
international conference sponsored by the International Insolvency
Institute. I greet the many student groups present, and I thank the
choirs for their praise of God in song. Upon all the English-speaking
visitors present in today's Audience, especially those from Ireland, the
Philippines and the United states, I invoke Almighty God's blessings of
joy and peace.
©Copyright 2010 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[In Polish, he said:]
I cordially greet the Poles. Thank you for the prayers you made during
my journey in Cyprus. The new Polish Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko
taught love and solidarity toward those in need of spiritual and
material support. I entrust to his protection all those who are
suffering from landslides and those who take aid to them. May God bless
you!
[In Italian, he said:]
The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which we celebrate the day after
tomorrow, will mark the conclusion of the Year for Priests. Thousands of
priests from all parts of the world will gather in Rome to praise the
Lord and renew their commitment. I invite everyone to participate in
this event with prayer.
My cordial greeting goes, finally, to young people, the sick and
newlyweds. Dear young people, continue to be committed with your
characteristic enthusiasm to the building of a civilization whose
foundations are truth and love, peace and solidarity. Dear sick, unite
your sufferings to the infinite love of the Heart of Christ for the
salvation of humanity. Dear newlyweds, know how to progress ever more on
the path of love and mutual respect.
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