蜜桃交友

By Pope

There are 21 dioceses in Madagascar and 5 archdioceses. All of their bishops and archbishops were present in Antananarivo鈥檚 Cathedral on Saturday to listen to Pope Francis on the first full day of his visit to the country.         

A land of contradictions

The Pope began by describing Madagascar as a land of contradictions: 鈥渁 rich land with widespread poverty; an ancestral culture and wisdom that respect the life and dignity of the human person, but also the presence of inequality and corruption鈥�.

Sowing in hope

鈥淭he task of a shepherd in such circumstances is not easy鈥�, said the Pope. But bishops are sowers, called 鈥渢o spread seeds of faith鈥� on this earth鈥�, and to 鈥渄o so in hope鈥�. The sower 鈥渘ever stops loving the field entrusted to his care鈥�, continued Pope Francis. 鈥淓ven if he is tempted, he does not abandon it or leave it to another鈥�.

Promoting the human person

鈥淭he task of evangelization implies and demands the integral promotion of each human being鈥�, said the Pope. Religion can no longer be 鈥渞estricted to the private sphere鈥�, it does not exist 鈥渙nly to prepare souls for heaven鈥�, he said. 鈥淐an a pastor worthy of that name remain indifferent before the challenges facing his fellow citizens of all social categories, regardless of their religious affiliation?鈥� asked Pope Francis. 鈥淐an a pastor with the heart of Jesus be indifferent to lives entrusted to his care?鈥�.

Defending the human person

鈥淭o be pastors according to God鈥檚 heart, we must be the first to choose to preach the Gospel to the poor鈥�, continued the Pope. The Church, he said, has a particular duty 鈥渢o protect and remain close to the poor, the marginalized and the little ones, to children and those most vulnerable, to the victims of exploitation and abuse鈥�.

Spiritual fatherhood 

Returning to the image of the sower, Pope Francis clarified that a pastor who is a sower will not try to control every detail, but rather, 鈥渨ill leave plenty of room for new initiatives, let things mature in their own good time鈥� He will not demand more than what is reasonable鈥�.

This kind of fidelity to the Gospel 鈥渕akes us pastors close to God鈥檚 people, starting with our brother priests鈥�, said the Pope. 鈥淥ur priests should see in their bishop an elder brother and a father who encourages them and supports them on their journey鈥�. That, he said, is what 鈥渟piritual fatherhood鈥� is.

Discerning vocations

Caring for the earth also means waiting for harvest time and assessing the quality of the workers, said the Pope. 鈥淎s pastors, you have an urgent task of鈥�ensuring the authenticity鈥� of vocations to the consecrated life and the priesthood, he said. Pope Francis praised the efforts of Madagascar鈥檚 bishops 鈥渢o ensure the formation of authentic and holy workers for the abundant harvest that awaits us in the field of the Lord鈥�.

Training lay people

He also expressed his appreciation for all the initiatives undertaken 鈥渢o provide training for lay men and women, and not to leave them alone in their mission to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world鈥�. In this way, lay people too 鈥渨ill be able to contribute to the transformation of society and the life of the Church in Madagascar鈥�, he said.

Sharing and cooperation      

鈥淭his great responsibility for the Lord鈥檚 field should challenge us to open our hearts and minds鈥�, said the Pope to the bishops. He encouraged them to engage in fraternal dialogue among themselves, to share their gifts and to cooperate with the Particular Churches of the Indian Ocean. The Pope suggested that similar pastoral challenges, like the protection of the environment, or the problem of immigration, could be sources of 鈥渟hared reflection and coordinated action on a large scale in devising effective approaches鈥�.

Two women protectors

Before concluding his address to the bishops, the Pope noted how 鈥渢wo women protect this Cathedral鈥� where the meeting was taking place. Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo, who 鈥渨as able to do much good and to defend and spread the faith in difficult times鈥�, and our Blessed Mother, represented in a statue, 鈥渨hose arms, outstretched to the valley and the hills, seem to embrace everything鈥�, he said.

鈥淟et us ask these two women always to enlarge our hearts鈥�, concluded Pope Francis, 鈥渢o teach us the maternal compassion that women, like God himself, feel for the forgotten of the earth, and to help us to sow seeds of hope鈥�.