1. "I thank you,
Father ... that you have hidden these things from the wise
and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father,
for such was your gracious will" (Mt 11:25-26).
Dear Brothers and
Sisters,
These words of Jesus
in today's Gospel are a special invitation to us to praise
and thank God for the gift of the first indigenous Saint of
the American Continent.
With deep joy I have
come on pilgrimage to this Basilica of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, the Marian heart of Mexico and of America, to
proclaim the holiness of
Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, the
simple, humble Indian who contemplated the sweet and serene
face of Our Lady of Tepeyac, so dear to the people of
Mexico.
2. I am grateful for
the kind words of Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera,
Archbishop of Mexico City, and for the warm hospitality of
the people of this Primatial Archdiocese: my cordial
greeting goes to everyone. I also greet with affection
Cardinal Ernesto Corripio Ahumada, Archbishop Emeritus of
Mexico City, and the other Cardinals, as well as the Bishops
of Mexico, of America, of the Philippines and of other
places in the world. I am likewise particularly grateful to
the President and the civil Authorities for their presence
at this celebration.
Today I address a very
affectionate greeting to the many indigenous people who have
come from the different regions of the country, representing
the various ethnic groups and cultures which make up the
rich, multifaceted Mexican reality. The Pope expresses his
closeness to them, his deep respect and admiration, and
receives them fraternally in the Lord's name.
3. What was Juan Diego
like? Why did God look upon him? The Book of Sirach, as we
have heard, teaches us that God alone "is mighty; he is
glorified by the humble" (cf. Sir 3:20). Saint
Paul's words, also proclaimed at this celebration, shed
light on the divine way of bringing about salvation: "God
chose what is low and despised in the world ... so that no
human being might boast in the presence of God" (1
Cor 1:28,29).
It is moving to read
the accounts of Guadalupe, sensitively written and steeped
in tenderness. In them the Virgin Mary, the handmaid "who
glorified the Lord" (Lk 1:46), reveals herself to
Juan Diego as the Mother of the true God. As a sign, she
gives him precious roses, and as he shows them to the
Bishop, he discovers the blessed image of Our Lady imprinted
on his tilma.
"The Guadalupe Event",
as the Mexican Episcopate has pointed out, "meant the
beginning of evangelization with a vitality that surpassed
all expectations. Christ's message, through his Mother, took
up the central elements of the indigenous culture, purified
them and gave them the definitive sense of salvation" (14
May 2002, No. 8). Consequently Guadalupe and Juan Diego have
a deep ecclesial and missionary meaning and are a model of
perfectly inculturated evangelization.
4. "The Lord looks
down from heaven, he sees all the sons of men" (Ps
33:13), we recited with the Psalmist, once again
confessing our faith in God, who makes no distinctions of
race or culture. In accepting the Christian message without
forgoing his indigenous identity, Juan Diego discovered the
profound truth of the new humanity, in which all are called
to be children of God. Thus he facilitated the fruitful
meeting of two worlds and became the catalyst for the new
Mexican identity, closely united to Our Lady of Guadalupe,
whose mestizo face expresses her spiritual motherhood which
embraces all Mexicans. This is why the witness of his life
must continue to be the inspiration for the building up of
the Mexican nation, encouraging brotherhood among all its
children and ever helping to reconcile Mexico with its
origins, values and traditions.
The noble task of
building a better Mexico, with greater justice and
solidarity, demands the cooperation of all. In particular,
it is necessary today to support the indigenous peoples in
their legitimate aspirations, respecting and defending the
authentic values of each ethnic group. Mexico needs its
indigenous peoples and these peoples need Mexico!
Beloved bothers and
sisters of every ethnic background of Mexico and America,
today, in praising the Indian Juan Diego, I want to express
to all of you the closeness of the Church and the Pope,
embracing you with love and encouraging you to overcome with
hope the difficult times you are going through.
5. At this decisive
moment in Mexico's history, having already crossed the
threshold of the new millennium, I entrust to the powerful
intercession of Saint Juan Diego the joys and hopes, the
fears and anxieties of the beloved Mexican people, whom I
carry in my heart.
Blessed Juan Diego, a
good, Christian Indian, whom simple people have always
considered a saint! We ask you to accompany the Church on
her pilgrimage in Mexico, so that she may be more
evangelizing and more missionary each day. Encourage the
Bishops, support the priests, inspire new and holy
vocations, help all those who give their lives to the cause
of Christ and the spread of his Kingdom.
Happy Juan Diego, true
and faithful man! We entrust to you our lay brothers and
sisters so that, feeling the call to holiness, they may
imbue every area of social life with the spirit of the
Gospel. Bless families, strengthen spouses in their
marriage, sustain the efforts of parents to give their
children a Christian upbringing. Look with favour upon the
pain of those who are suffering in body or in spirit, on
those afflicted by poverty, loneliness, marginalization or
ignorance. May all people, civic leaders and ordinary
citizens, always act in accordance with the demands of
justice and with respect for the dignity of each person, so
that in this way peace may be reinforced.
Beloved Juan Diego,
"the talking eagle"! Show us the way that leads to the "Dark
Virgin" of Tepeyac, that she may receive us in the depths of
her heart, for she is the loving, compassionate Mother who
guides us to the true God. Amen.
After the
celebration, before imparting the final blessing the Holy
Father said:
At the end of the
canonization of Juan Diego, I want to renew my greeting to
all of you who have been able to take part, some in this
basilica, others in the nearby areas and many others by
means of radio and television. I warmly thank all those I
have met in the streets for their affection. In this new
saint you have a marvellous example of a just and upright
man, a loyal son of the Church, docile to his Pastors, who
deeply loved the Virgin and was a faithful disciple of
Jesus. May he be a model for you who are so attached to him,
and may he intercede for Mexico so that it may always be
faithful! Take to all Mexicans the message of this
celebration and the Pope's greeting and love for them all!
