Vatican City (AsiaNews) – After Pope Francis was released from Hospital last Sunday, his situation remains "stable with slight improvements” with the pontiff following a routine “of therapy, prayer, rest and a bit of work,” the Holy See Press Office announced recently.
As in previous Sundays, the Angelus was released in text form. In it, Francis calls on the faithful to live Lent "as a time of healing,” noting that, “I too am experiencing it this way, in my soul and in my body. [. . .] Frailty and illness are experiences we all have in common”. He also uses this opportunity to thank those who “are instruments of healing for their neighbour with their word and their knowledge, with kindness and with prayer”.
With respect to international issues, he says, “I am following the situation in South Sudan with concern”. The African country is the youngest in the world, after breaking away from Sudan in 2011.
Recently, the main opposition group announced that the arrest of its leader, Vice President Riek Machar, invalidated a 2018 peace agreement that had ended a brutal civil war (2013-2018) between the forces loyal to President Salva Kiir's and Machar's own militias that killed about 400,000 people and displaced some four million. Now many fear that hostilities will resume.
“I renew my heartfelt appeal to all leaders to do their utmost to lower the tension in the country,” Francis writes. “We must put aside our differences and, with courage and responsibility, sit around a table and engage in constructive dialogue. Only in this way will it be possible to alleviate the suffering of the beloved South Sudanese people and to build a future of peace and stability,” he adds.
Regarding Sudan, Francis lamented an “appalling humanitarian catastrophe” with the highest number of internally displaced people on the planet, more than 11 million, where “the war continues to claim innocent victims.”
“I urge the parties concerned in the conflict to put the safeguarding of the lives of their civilian brothers and sisters first; and I hope that new negotiations will begin as soon as possible, capable of securing a lasting solution to the crisis.”
Addressing the international community, he urged it to “increase its efforts.”
Turning to the faithful, he called on them to pray for peace, “Trusting in the mercy of God the Father, we continue to pray for peace: in martyred Ukraine, in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Myanmar, which is also suffering so much because of the earthquake.”
Speaking about the latter, he said: “I was deeply saddened by the loss of life and widespread devastation” in Myanmar (and Thailand), following reports about the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck at a depth of only 10 km with thousands of people feared dead.
Regarding peace in the world, Frances is grateful “to God” for some “positive events: for example, the ratification of the Agreement on the demarcation of the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which is an excellent diplomatic achievement. I encourage both countries to continue on this path.”
Meanwhile, the sixth major event of the Holy Year, the Jubilee of the Missionaries of Mercy, is currently underway. Some 500 priests travelled to the Vatican from every continent for that purpose.
Pope Francis, who is back at Casa Santa Marta after his 38-day hospital stay at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, could not be present, but in his message, he thanks them, “for with your service you bear witness to the paternal face of God, infinitely great in love, who calls everyone to conversion and renews us always with His forgiveness.”
Speaking about “Conversion and forgiveness,” the pontiff noted that, “they are the hands with which the Church embraces us, sinners; they are the feet on which we walk in our earthly pilgrimage.”
The Missionaries of Mercy number 1,258 priests. Francis established their ministry during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016. They have special authority to forgive even sins reserved to the Apostolic See.
“I encourage you, therefore, in your ministry as confessors, to be attentive in listening, ready to welcome and constant in accompanying those who wish to renew their own lives and return to the Lord,” says the pope’s message, read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella.
“[T]he Lord’s forgiveness is the source of hope, because we can always count on Him, in any situation. God made Himself man to reveal to the world that He never abandons us!”
