Pope: ecumenism means journeying together and not waiting for theologians
On his return flight from Romania, Francis spoke to journalists. Europe that must recover "the mystique of the founding fathers". "A politician must never, never sow hatred and fear". Listening to Benedict XVI "gives me strength, I feel the nourishment of my roots and it helps me to move forward".
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Ecumenism that is "journeying together", Europe that must regain "the dream of its founding fathers" and ethics in politics "a politician must never, never sow hatred and fear" were the main themes of the press conference held by Pope Francis, as usual on his return flight from Romania from Sibiu, in Romania, to Rome.
The question on ecumenism was aroused by the clearly very friendly encounter with the Orthodox patriarch Daniel. Ecumenism, Francis replied, “is done by walking, going together, praying together. We have blood ecumenism in history: when they killed them, Christians did not ask: are you Catholic? Are you orthodox? Are you Lutheran? They asked: are you a Christian? There is the ecumenism of testimony, of blood and then the ecumenism of the poor, working together to help the poor, the sick, the ill, as we read in chapter 25 of Matthew. Walking together, but don't wait for theologians to agree to arrive at the common Eucharist. Ecumenism is made together with works of charity and loving each other ”.
Francis also spoke in response to a question about the fact that "we see that in Europe the number of those who do not want fraternity and prefer to walk alone is growing".
"I spoke of this problem in Strasbourg and when I received the Charlemagne prize and then the speech with heads of state and government in the Vatican on the anniversary of the European pacts. And there is also a fifth speech, with the Burgomaster of Aachen. Europe does not have to say: deal with it and move on: we are all responsible for the European Union and the circulation of the EU presidency is not a gesture of courtesy but a symbol of the responsibility that each of the countries has. If Europe does not take on in full future challenges it will wither. I said that Europe from mother is becoming a grandmother, perhaps someone can secretly ask: won't it be the end of the adventure that began 70 years ago? We need to recover the dream of the founding fathers, rediscover Europe and overcome the divisions of borders, each country has its own identity and must guard it, but I pray Europe will not allow itself to be overcome by pessimism and ideologies because it is attacked by ideologies and small interest groups are born in Europe. Think of the divided Europe, let's learn from history, let's not go back ”.
Responding to a question on Italian politics, Francis admitted that "I do not understand Italian politics". "I am Italian - he added - because I am the son of Italian emigrants: in my blood I am Italian. My brothers, everyone has citizenship. I did not want to have it because in the time they acquired it I was a bishop, and I said: "No, the bishop must be from the fatherland," and I did not want to take it. And that's why I don't have it. There is - he continued - in the politics of many countries - many - the disease of corruption: everywhere. Everywhere: Now don't say tomorrow "the Pope said that Italian politics is corrupt": no. I have said that one of the diseases of politics, everywhere, is slipping on corruption ... it is universal. Please, eh? Don't make me say what I didn't say. And once they told me how political pacts are: figured a meeting of nine entrepreneurs at the table; they discuss to agree on the development of their businesses and eventually, after hours and hours and coffee and coffee and coffee, they agree. They took the minutes, they do the summary, they read it ... do you agree? Agree. While they do it they take a whiskey to celebrate and then they start drawing up papers to sign the agreement. The moment the papers are passed, under the table, me and him... we’ll make another deal under the table. This is political corruption, which is done a little everywhere. We must help politicians to be honest, not to campaign with dishonest flags - slander, defamation, scandals ... And often, sow hatred and fear: this is terrible. A politician must never, never sow hatred and fear. Only hope. Fair, demanding: but hope. Because he or she must lead the country, and not make it fear ".
Finally, replying to a journalist, who reminded him that he said that for him Benedict XVI is like a grandfather, Francis replied: “Every time I go to visit him I feel it like that. I take his hand and make him talk. He speaks little, he speaks slowly but with the same depth as ever. Because Benedict's problem is his knees, not his head: he has a great lucidity and gives me strength, I feel the nourishment of my roots and it helps me to move forward. I feel this tradition of the Church which is not a museum thing. Tradition is like the roots, which gives you the nourishment to grow and you will not become like the roots, no: you will flourish, the tree will grow, you will bear fruit and the seeds will be roots for others. The tradition of the Church is always in motion ".
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