2013-07-22 L’Osservatore Romano
The immediate preparation for the first international journey of
this Bishop of Rome, brought from “almost the ends of the earth”, was
marked by three gestures, simple but rich in meaning in a sort of
“triduum” to introduce the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro desired by
Benedict XVI. First of all came the affectionate visit Pope Francis paid
to his Predecessor — it is obvious that the two are fundamentally in
sync — to pray together and to ask for Pope Benedict’s spiritual
closeness on the eve of this new and important world event of a
Catholicism that is as vivid and vital as it appeared at the meetings in
Cologne, Sydney and Madrid.
What came as a surprise was his long, silent prayer before the ancient icon of the Virgin, Our Lady
Salus populi Romani,
venerated in St Mary Major, where as the new Bishop of Rome he had also
chosen to go only a few hours after his election in the Conclave. As a
simple member of the faithful on this occasion too Pope Francis brought
flowers to Our Lady. He then lit a candle — an image of ceaseless prayer
— bearing the logo of the WYD in Rio and he asked those present to
accompany him on his journey with prayer, trust and penance.
Lastly, at the Angelus, which follows the hours of the day referring
to the mystery of Christ’s Incarnation, for the third time the Pontiff
requested prayers for the Brazilian meeting — which he called a “week
of youth” — and whose core he was able to describe succinctly: “The
heroes of this week will be the youth. All those who come to Rio
desiring to hear the voice of Jesus, to listen to Jesus. Lord, what
should I do with my life? What is the path for me?”. These are
questions, he added, that certainly do not only apply to the meeting in
Brazil.
With these three gestures Pope Francis thus manifested the main point
of the week, opening in Rio de Janeiro which is consistent with the now
almost 30-year old itinerary of the World Youth Days wanted by John
Paul II. Emphasizing and witnessing to the centrality of Christ,
combining contemplation and service. As the Pope had just said in his
comment on the Gospel passage that presents Martha and Mary: For a
Christian, acts of service and charity are never detached from the
principle of all our action: that is, listening to the Word of the Lord,
and being — like Mary — at the feet of Jesus, with the attitude of a
disciple”.
Listening to this voice — which is not imposed but is at the door of
every human creature, and knocks, according to the image in the Book of
Revelation — will consequently be the true centre of World Youth Day.
After the trip to Lampedusa, a memorable and moving sign of closeness to
the most neglected and forlorn humanity of our time, Rio de Janeiro is
the first international destination of the pontificate, just as Cologne
was for Benedict XVI, in another World Youth Day that thought out by his
Predecessor. In an unusual succession of events which marked the return
of the two pontiffs — certainly not planned — to the respective lands
of their birth: then in the heart of Europe, today, in Latin America.
G.M.V.
g.m.v.