At the Regina Caeli, Pope Francis recalls and prays also for the difficult and violent situation in Venezuela. To members of Catholic Action (CA): "" Put yourself in politics, but please in the big politics, in politics with a capital P! ". To young CA members: "Go out to all of the peripheries! Go, and be Church there, with the power of the Holy Ghost."
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "We turn to Mary our Mother, with special thanks for the apostolic journey to Egypt that we have just completed. I ask the Lord to bless all the Egyptian people, so welcoming, the Christian and Muslim faithful and authorities; And that peace be granted to that country”, said Pope Francis before leading the recitation of the Regina Caeli prayer from St Peter's Square.
The square was crowded by members of the Catholic Action (CA) in Rome to celebrate their 150th anniversary. Prior to the Marian prayer, he also recalled the violence in Venezuela and Macedonia. In particular, in Venezuela there has long been a clash between leader Nicolas Maduro and a large part of the population demanding more democracy and better economic conditions. In protests over the past week recent, 32 people died and there have been many arrests.
"As I join the pain of the victims' families, who I assure of my suffrage and prayers, I appeal to the Government and all the members of Venezuelan society to avoid any further form of violence, to respect for human rights and seek negotiated solutions to the serious humanitarian, social, political and economic crisis that is sweeping the population. We entrust the intention of peace, reconciliation and democracy in that dear country to the Blessed Virgin Mary. "
Beforehand, Franciso held an audience with Catholic Action, praising its contribution to the mission of the Church in these 150 years of "beautiful and important history, for which you have many reasons to be thankful to the Lord and for which the Church is grateful to you".
The pontiff summarized the quality of the CA experience: "It is the story of a people formed by men and women of all ages and states who have bet on the desire to live together with the Lord: great and small , laity and shepherds, together, regardless of their social position, cultural preparation, and place of origin. Faithful lay people who at all times share the search for the ways in which to proclaim the beauty of God's love with their own lives and to contribute, with their commitment and competence, to the construction of a more just, more fraternal, more supportive society ".
"As you have over these 150 years, - the Pope urged those present – continue to feel strongly within you the responsibility to caste the good seed of the Gospel into the life of the world through the service of charity, political commitment, educational passion and participation in cultural confrontation ". And he added, "Put yourself in politics, but please in great politics, in politics with a capital P!".
"Dear children – he concluded - young and adult Catholic Action: go out to all the peripheries! Go, and be Church there, with the power of the Holy Spirit.