Pope urges "swift and generous" aid for South Asia quake victims
Benedict XVI talked about the new Blessed, Cardinal Von Galen and his witness against Nazism, a "neo-pagan ideology". He also mentioned the Synod, that it may prompt Catholics towards missionary commitment.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) Benedict XVI has appealed to the international community to be "swift and generous" in dispatching aid to people of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan stricken by yesterday's quake. Speaking from the balcony of his office just after the Angelus prayer, the pope said he commended to God all those had died and he expressed his "deepest sympathy" to the many thousands who were injured or bereaved.
Before the Angelus, Benedict XVI gave a picture of Cardinal Clemens August Von Galen, Bishop of Munster, beatified this morning in St Peter's basilica during mass presided over by Card. Josè Saraiva Martins. The new Blessed "denounced the neo-pagan ideology of National Socialism, defending the freedom of the church and gravely violated human rights, protecting Jews and the most vulnerable people, who the regime considered as rejects to be eliminated".
Taking his queue from the characteristics of Von Galen, Benedict XVI reiterated a theme which is dear to him: "Faith is not to be reduced to a private sentiment, possibly to be hidden when it becomes uncomfortable; rather it implies consistency and bearing witness also in the public sphere in defence of mankind, of justice, of truth."
In the same vein, he reminded the faithful to pray for the Synod that "it may bear the hoped-for fruit". The most important fruit is "missionary commitment" which is born of the Eucharist. Whoever participates in the mass is sent to "take to all the Good News received and to animate society with it".
Here are the words of the Pope before the Marian prayer:
"Dear brothers and sisters!
This morning in St Peter Basilica, the beatification of Clemens August Von Galen, Bishop of Munster, Cardinal, took place; he was a fearless opponent of the Nazi regime. Ordained a priest in 1904, he undertook pastoral ministry for a long time in a parish in Berlin and in 1993 he became Bishop of Munster. In the name of God he denounced the neo-pagan ideology of National Socialism, defending the freedom of the church and gravely violated human rights, protecting Jews and the most vulnerable people, who the regime considered as rejects to be eliminated. Three homilies which the fearless Pastor delivered in 1941 are well-known. Pope Pius XII appointed him as Cardinal in February 1946 and he died barely a month later, surrounded by the veneration of the faithful, who saw him as a model of Christian courage. This is precisely what the timeless message of the Blessed Von Galen is: faith is not to be reduced to a private sentiment, possibly to be hidden when it becomes uncomfortable; rather it implies consistency and bearing witness in the public sphere in defence of mankind, of justice, of truth. I express my congratulations to the diocesan Community of Munster and to the Church in Germany, invoking upon all, through intercession of the new Blessed, abundant graces of the Lord.
In these days, as you know, the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is under way in the Vatican, to delve into the theme of the Eucharist in the present-day life and mission of the Church. I presided over the meetings in the first week and the Synod will constitute my main commitment in the coming two weeks also. I ask you to continue to pray for the Synod, so that it may bear the hoped-for fruit. In particular, in this month of October, during which all church communities are called to renew their missionary commitment, I invite all to take in what Pope John Paul II wrote in the fourth part of the Apostolic Letter, Mane nobiscum Domine, about the Eucharist as the 'principle and plan of mission' (nn. 24-28):
'The encounter with Christ, constantly intensified and deepened in the Eucharist, issues in the Church and in every Christian an urgent summons to testimony and evangelization' (ivi 24). This is emphasised in the dismissal at the end of the mass: 'Ite, missa est', which recalls the 'missio', the task for all who participated in the celebration to take to all the Good News received and to animate society with it.
Let us entrust this intention to the intercession of the most Holy Mary and St Daniel Comboni, whose memory will be commemorated in tomorrow's liturgy.
May he, an outstanding evangeliser and protector of the African continent, help the Church of our time to respond with faith and courage to the mandate of the Risen Lord, which sends it to announce the love of God to all peoples."
After the Angelus prayer, the pope added:
"It was with deep sadness that I learned of yesterday's earthquake in South Asia, which caused such great damage and loss of life in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. I commend to God's loving mercy all those who have died and I extend my deepest sympathy to the many thousands who are injured or bereaved. I pray that the international community will be swift and generous in its response to the disaster and I ask the Lord to grant courage and strength to those involved in the task of rescue work and reconstruction."
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