Dear readers friendsin just over 15 days of pontificate Pope Leone XIV He made some references, albeit very short, to himself. Not wanting to “appear” as a person is part of his “program”, as he said to the cardinals in the aftermath of his election (whoever exercises an authority in the Church must “Disappear because Christ remains”).
Therefore it is worth retracing these fleeting personal traits that are also leaked from American pontiff. The first time he said “I” It was about peace, speaking to the diplomatic body (May 16): “Because this peace spreads, I will use every effort … the peoples want peace and I, with the heart in hand, I say to the managers of the peoples: let’s meet, dialogue, we negotiate!”.
Leone XIV had made his debut by talking about peace: but the strength and implication of the use of the first person cannot escape, as well as having made available the Holy See For negotiations it is a concrete sign of how that it means being “I ferment for a reconciled world”.
In the same speech he then evoked his biographical story: “My own story is that of a citizen, descendant of immigrants, in turn emigrated”. He spoke here about the task of the rulers of “To work to build harmonic and peaceful civil companies” and of “Promote contexts in which the dignity of each person is protected, especially of the more fragile and defenseless ones, … be it a citizen or immigrant”.
A very significant appeal in a society that often does migrants The doters of other problems. Taking up himself, an American citizen, underlined the possibility – positive – of welcome and integration.
Still a personal reference did it in the Start Mass of the Petrine Ministry (May 18), claiming to have been chosen “Without any merit”: “With fear and tremor, I come to you as a brother who wants to make the servant of your faith and your joy”.
A humble recognition of “inadequacy” Compared to an immense task and the significant presentation as “Brother” who intends to do “Servant”that is, as a Christian between Christians, although with a specific mission.
The last personal reference the Holy Father did it last May 22nd expressing his gratitude to the participants of the General Assembly of Pontifical missionary works For their service to the Church’s evangelization mission, “How I can personally testify to my pastoral experience in the years of Ministry in Peru”.
And here he is subsequently heard his missionary heart. He underlined the communion and the universal dimension of the Church: “In Christ we are one, a family of God, beyond the rich variety of languages, cultures and experiences”.
And, remembering the precious service rendered by the four pontifical missionary works, he mentioned “Those areas of the world where the Church is young and growing”.
In this regard, dear friends, I would like to point out that with the number you have in your hand we begin a new series of Zoom which is titled “Atlas of Christianity” And it will be an 8 -episode trip between these churches scattered on the continents, to know the contexts in which they take root, their strengths and their difficulties.
An opportunity, for us too, to open up “To the universal dimension of the Church’s evangelization mission” and of “Overcoming the boundaries of the individual parishes, dioceses and nations, to share with every place and people the sublimity of the knowledge of Jesus Christ”.
(photo above: ANSA)
