Benedict XVI on World Refugee Day

6/20/2005 - 6:00 AM PST

Advertisment

The Church Is "a Homeland Where No One Is a Stranger"

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 20, 2005 (Zenit) - Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today before praying the midday Angelus with the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.

* * *

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Tomorrow, June 20, World Refugee Day will be observed, promoted by the United Nations to keep alive attention on the problems of those who must forcibly abandon their homeland. The theme this year, "The Courage to Be a Refugee," underlines the strength of spirit needed by those who must leave everything, at times even their families, to escape from grave difficulties and dangers. The Christian community feels close to those who live this painful condition; it exerts itself to support them and manifests in different ways its interest and love, which is translated into concrete gestures of solidarity so that whoever finds himself far from his country, feels the Church as a homeland where no one is a stranger.

Christians' loving attention to those in difficulty and their commitment in favor of a more solidaristic society are continually nourished by active and conscious participation in the Eucharist. Whoever is nourished with the faith of Christ at the Eucharistic table assimilates his same style of life, which is the style of attentive service, especially to weaker and less favored people (see apostolic letter "Mane Nobiscum Domine," No. 28). May the Year of the Eucharist, which we are living, help diocesan and parish communities to revive this capacity to go out to meet the numerous poverties of our world.

Today we wish to entrust especially the men, women and children who live the condition of refugees to the maternal protection of Mary Most Holy, who, together with her husband St. Joseph and the Child Jesus, experienced the suffering of exile. At that time, the Holy Family had to flee to Egypt, due to the absurd persecution of Herod (Matthew 2:13-23). Let us pray to the Virgin Most Holy that these brothers and sisters of ours may find acceptance and understanding on their journey.

Contact

The Vatican
http://www.catholic.org , VA
Pope Benedict XVI - Bishop of Rome, 661 869-1000

Email

info@yourcatholicvoice.org

Keywords

Pope, Benedict, Angelus, World, Refugee, Vatican, Day, Church

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

0 Comments

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment