蜜桃交友

By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis began by recalling the history of the shrine. He focused on the invading forces of 1799. They destroyed the wall in which the shrine stood, leaving intact one single gate: the one that 鈥渟heltered the image of the Virgin Mary 鈥楳other of Mercy鈥欌��.

Pope Francis said that from then on, Mary has worked to teach us that we can 鈥渄efend without attacking鈥� and that we can 鈥渒eep safe without the unhealthy need to distrust others鈥�.

The value of fraternity

The Pope said that the image of Jesus is imprinted on every human heart, making it possible for us to encounter God. When we build walls and close our hearts out of fear of others, 鈥渨e end up depriving ourselves of the Good News of Jesus鈥�.

This is what we did in the past, he said: We 鈥渂uilt all too many fortresses鈥�. Today, Pope Francis said that we 鈥渇eel the need鈥� to acknowledge one another as brothers and sisters and experience 鈥渨ith joy and peace the value of fraternity鈥�.

To share, to enrich

Pope Francis said that 鈥渢hanks to ready communications and the freedom of circulation between our countries鈥� numerous nationalities, Catholic and Orthodox, are able to freely visit the Mother of Mercy. He expressed 鈥渉ow good it would be鈥� if this could be accompanied by 鈥渆ase in establishing points of encounter and solidarity鈥� in order to share those gifts 鈥渨e have freely received鈥�. This, according to Pope Francis, would be a 鈥渟ource of enrichment in our lives鈥�.

Charity is key

 鈥淭he Mother of Mercy, like every good mother, tries to bring her family together鈥� he said. 鈥淪he whispers in our ear: 鈥楲ook for your brother, look for your sister鈥欌��, opening the door to 鈥渁 new dawn, a new day鈥�.

The Mother brings us to the very doorstep of this new day, where the 鈥渃hildren and families with bleeding wounds await us鈥�. Referring to Lk 16:19-31, he said that these wounds are not those of Lazarus in the parable, but that 鈥渢hey are the wounds of Jesus鈥�. 鈥淭hey cry out for us to bring them the healing light of charity. For charity is the key that opens to us the door of heaven鈥�, just as God did for Lazarus.

Bridges, not walls

The Pope concluded by saying that crossing this doorstep will lead us to 鈥渆xperience the power that purifies our way of dealing with our neighbours鈥�. Asking that Mary our Mother 鈥済rant that we may regard their limits and faults with mercy and humility, thinking ourselves superior to no one.鈥� and that Lithuania 鈥渂e a country that chooses to build bridges, not walls".