“In Canada I felt the slaps of pain from those people. I went to ask for forgiveness on behalf of the Church because it was necessary to put my face to it ». Pope Francis explains the reasons for the apostolic journey last week in which he met the local communities of indigenous people. Then he renews the invitation to pray for peace in the world, especially in Ukraine. And it remembers the second anniversary, on 4 August, of the terrible explosion in the port of Beirutcapital of Lebanon.
It is the first general audience since the July break. Welcomed by the ovation of the thousands of pilgrims, the Pontiff, who walks leaning on a stick, entered the Paul VI Hall from the entrance on the stage and, without going down into the stalls, greeted and blessed those present.
As he had announced in the Angelus last Sunday, Bergoglio dedicated the general audience to an assessment of the recent trip to Canada, retracing the salient moments through three stages: “Memory, reconciliation, and therefore healing”. It was “a journey different from the others”, said the Pope, “The main motivation was to meet the original populations to express my closeness to them – the closeness of the Church -, my pain and ask forgiveness for the harm done to them by those Christians, including many Catholics, who in the past collaborated in the policies of forced assimilation and liberation of the governments of the time “, explained Francis,” In this sense, in Canada a path has been undertaken to write a new page of the journey that the Church has been making for some time together with indigenous peoples. And in fact the travel motto – “Walking together” – explains this a bit. A path of reconciliation and healing, which presupposes historical knowledge, listening to the survivors, awareness and above all conversion, the change of mentality “.
On the one hand, he continued, “some men and women of the Church were among the most decisive and courageous supporters of the dignity of indigenous peoples, taking up their defense and contributing to the knowledge of their languages and cultures”, the Pope’s analysis: “But, on the other hand, unfortunately there was no lack of Christians – that is, priests, men and women religious, lay people – who participated in programs that we now understand are unacceptable and contrary to the Gospel. And for this I went to ask for forgiveness, on behalf of the Church», He continued off the cuff:« It was therefore a penitential pilgrimage. There were many joyful moments, but the sense and tone of the whole was one of reflection, repentance and reconciliation ».
Francis recalled the profound meaning of the spirituality of the natives: “Together we made memory: the good memory of the millennial history of these peoples, in harmony with their land – this is one of the most beautiful things of indigenous peoples: harmony with the earth, they never mistreat creation – and the painful memory of the abuses suffered, even in residential schools, due to the policies of cultural assimilation “, he said, summarizing the first stage of the” penitential pilgrimage “to Edmontonin the western part of the country.
“Accompanied by the sound of the drums, we left room for silence and prayer, so that a new path can start from memory, with no more rulers and subjects, but only brothers and sisters. After the memory, the second step of our journey was that of reconciliation ”, the reference to the second stage, a Quebec, in the eastern part. “Not a compromise between us – it would be an illusion, a staging – but letting ourselves be reconciled by Christ, who is our peace”, the Pope pointed out, “We did it with the figure of the tree as a reference, central to the life and symbolism of indigenous peoples ».
“Recovering the harmony between modernity and ancestral cultures”
Bergoglio went on to explain the other stages of the journey: “We took this third step of the journey on the shores of Lake Sant’Anna, on the day of the feast of Saints Joachim and Anna”, he explained, “for Jesus the lake was an environment familiar. We can all draw from Christ, the source of living water. From this journey of memory, reconciliation and healing springs hope for the Church, in Canada and everywhere», The Pope’s thesis, which referred to the figure of the disciples of Emmaus, who« after walking with the risen Jesus passed from failure to hope. The journey together with the indigenous peoples constituted the backbone of this apostolic journey “, Francis repeated:” Two meetings with the local Church and with the authorities of the country, to which I wish to renew my sincere gratitude for the great availability and cordial welcome they have reserved for me and my collaborators, and for the bishops all the same. Before the rulers, the indigenous leaders and the diplomatic corps – the Pope summed up – I reiterated the active will of the Holy See and the local Catholic communities to promote the original cultures, with appropriate spiritual paths and with attention to customs and languages of peoples. At the same time, I noted how the colonizing mentality presents itself today under various forms of ideological colonization, which threaten the traditions, history and religious bonds of peoples, flattening the differences, focusing only on the present and often neglecting duties towards the weakest and most fragile ».
For the Pope, “it is therefore a question of recovering a healthy balance, recovering harmony – which is more than a balance, it is something else – between modernity and ancestral cultures, between secularization and spiritual values”, the recipe for Francis: “And this directly questions the mission of the Church, sent all over the world to witness and sow a universal fraternity that respects and promotes the local dimension with its many riches.I want to reiterate my thanks to the civil authorities “, he continued off the cuff:” To the lady governor, to the prime minister, to the authorities of the places where I went: thank you so much for the way in which they helped that this was done. And thank the bishops, especially the unity of the episcopate: this was possible on our part because the bishops were united, and where there is unity we can go forward ».
The third and final meeting in Canada, in the land of Inuit, 300 kilometers from the Arctic Circle, with young and old, it took place “in the sign of hope”, the Pope explained: “Especially in this last meeting – Francis revealed off the cuff – I had to feel like slaps from the pain of those people: the elderly who have lost their children and did not know where they had ended up, for this assimilation policy. It was a very painful moment, but we had to put our face up: we must face up to our mistakes, our sins. Also in Canada this is a key combination, it is a sign of the times “, he said referring to the meeting with the Inuit:” Young and old in dialogue to walk together in history between memory and prophecy, which are in tension. May the fortitude and peaceful action of the indigenous peoples of Canada be an example for all the original populations not to close themselves off, but to offer their indispensable contribution for a more fraternal humanity, which knows how to love creation and the Creator “, the final wish of the Pope: “In harmony with creation, in harmony with all of you”.
After the catechesis, in greetings in various languages, the Pope addressed the Polish pilgrims: «I know that in August many of you go on foot to Jasna Góra and to other Marian shrines. I ask you to offer the hardships of your journey also for the Church, for peace in the world, especially in Ukraine», He said,« I greet the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth, who are living here in Rome the time of spiritual renewal: many of them work in Ukraine. May the Mother of God obtain abundant divine graces on them and on the people to whom they bring help ».
Bergoglio also recalled that “tomorrow is the second anniversary of the explosion of the port of Beirut: My thoughts – he continued – it goes to the families of the victims of the disastrous event and to the dear Lebanese people. I pray that everyone will be consoled by faith, comforted by justice and truth, which can never be hidden “, the Pope said.” I hope that Lebanon, with the help of the international community, will continue to walk the path of rebirth, remaining faithful to its vocation as a land of peace and pluralism, where populations of different faiths can live in fraternity ”.
Finally, the Pope greeted the children of the Summer Center “Summer boys in the Vatican”: «They have been silent until now, it is clear that they are making a bit of noise, no», he underlined in front of their cries, «accompanied by parents and animators whom I thank for their precious work. The work you have done, thank you. And in a special way – added the Pontiff – I would like to thank Don Franco, the chaplain, the spiritual soul of the Vatican, who like a good Salesian was able to sow this seed, to do this summer camp already for the third year. Thank you, Don Franco! ».