He is visibly moved, Pope Leo, meeting, in the Vatican, some families of the boys who died in the New Year’s Eve tragedy in Crans Montana. He says it himself, off the cuff, greeting them and explaining that he immediately said yes to the request for an audience because «I wanted at least to have the opportunity to share a moment which for you, in the midst of so much pain and suffering, it is truly a test of our faith, it is a test of what we believe. One asks oneself many times: “Why, Lord?”. Someone reminded me of a similar moment, precisely in the funeral Mass where, instead of giving a sermon, the priest spoke as if of a dialogue between the person and God himself, with that question that always accompanies us, saying: “Why, Lord, why?”».
«What meaning should we give to these events?“, asks the Pontiff, recalling how “in the most unexpected moment, on a day in which everyone rejoiced and celebrated to exchange greetings of joy and happiness”, “one of the people closest to you, most loved, has lost his life in an extremely violent catastrophe, or is hospitalized for a long period, with his body disfigured by the consequences of a terrible fire that has affected the imagination of the whole world.”
He wonders where to find consolation, a comfort that is not made up of empty words “but which touches deeply and revives hope”. The word, says the Pope, is «that of the Son of God on the cross – to whom you are so close today – who from the depths of his abandonment and pain cried out to the Father: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?“. The Father’s response to the Son’s plea takes three days to wait, in silence. But then, what a response! Jesus rises in glory, living forever in the joy and eternal light of Easter.”
The Pope knows that his affection and his words “today seem very limited and impotent” and cannot explain “why you and your loved ones were asked to face such a test”. But «the Successor of Peter whom you have come to meet today affirms it to you with strength and conviction: your hope, your hope is not in vain, because Christ is truly risen! The Holy Church is witness to this and announces it with certainty. Saint Paul, who had seen him alive, said to the Christians of Corinth: “If we have placed our hope in Christ for this life alone, we are the men most to be pitied. Hand! Christ has risen from the dead, he, the first to be resurrected among those who fell asleep.”.
It asks us to anchor ourselves to the faith «that lives in us, illuminates the darkest and most painful moments of our lives with an irreplaceable light, which helps us to courageously continue the journey towards the goal» being certain of the closeness and tenderness of Jesus. «He is not far from what you are experiencing, on the contrary, he shares it and brings it with you. Likewise, the whole Church carries it with you. Be certain of the prayer of the whole Church – and of my personal prayer – for the repose of your deceased, for the relief of those you love and who suffer, and for yourselves who accompany them with your tenderness and your love.”
Remember Mary why «your heart today is pierced, as was that of Mary at the foot of the Cross, Mary, at the Cross, who saw her Son. Mary of Sorrows is close to you in these days, and it is to her that I entrust you. Turn your tears unreservedly to her and seek in her the maternal comfort that perhaps only Mary will be able to give and will certainly be able to give you. Like Mary, you will be able to wait patiently, in the night of suffering but with the certainty of faith, for one day, a new day to dawn; and you will find joy again.”
