SA国际传媒

By Christopher Wells

In his address to civil authorities on his first full day in Belgium, Pope Francis praised Belgium as a bridge 鈥渂etween the continent and the British Isles, between the Germanic-and French-speaking regions, between southern and northern Europe.鈥�

Despite its small size, he said, Belgium is 鈥渁 bridge enabling concord to spread, and disputes to abate鈥�.

Europe needs Belgium, he continued, to remind it of its history of peoples and cultures, cathedrals and universities, but also of darker periods of war, colonialism and exploitation.

鈥淓urope needs Belgium鈥�, Pope Francis repeated, 鈥渋n order to continue along the path of peace and fraternity among its peoples鈥�.

The Holy Father reminded the civil leaders in attendance that 鈥減eace and harmony are never won once for all鈥�, but rather imply 鈥渁 duty and a mission that needs to be undertaken unceasingly, with great care and patience鈥�.

The role of the Church

In his address to civil leaders, Pope Francis also highlighted the role of the Church in 鈥渉elping everyone to face challenges and difficulties, not with frivolous enthusiasm or bleak pessimism, but with the certainty that humanity, loved by God, is not destined to collapse into nothingness, but is eternally called to goodness and peace鈥�.

He also frankly acknowledged that the Church, as she carries out her mission, must recognize the 鈥渇ragility and shortcomings of her members鈥�, and the 鈥減ainful counter-testimonies鈥� that appear throughout history.

The Pope noted especially 鈥渢he tragic issues of child abuse, which is a scourge in the Church鈥�, while emphasising the Church鈥檚 firm commitment to address the issue 鈥渂y listening to and accompanying those who have been wounded, and by implementing a prevention programme throughout the world鈥�.

Pope Francis also recalled the practice of 鈥渇orced adoptions鈥� that were prevalent in the middle part of the twentieth century, while acknowledging that the practice was often undertaken with good intentions.

With regard to these and other evils that have occurred throughout history, the Pope prayed 鈥渢hat the Church will always find within herself the strength to bring clarity and never conform to the predominant culture, even when the culture uses, in a manipulative way, values derived from the Gospel, drawing from it inauthentic conclusions that cause suffering and exclusion鈥�.

Learning from history

Pope Francis concluded his remarks with the prayer 鈥渢hat the leaders of the nations, by looking at Belgium and its history, will be able to learn from it鈥�.

He prayed that political leaders would work for peace, and know how 鈥渢o avoid the danger, disgrace, and absurdity of war鈥�.

The Holy Father finished on a note of hope, recalling the motto of his visit, 鈥淓n route, avec Esperance鈥�. In the motto, 鈥淗ope鈥�, Esperance, is capitalised, he said, precisely to show that hope is not of secondary importance, but is instead 鈥渁 gift from God that is carried in our hearts鈥�.

鈥淚 would like to leave you, then, with the following wish for you and for all those living in Belgium鈥�, he said. 鈥淢ay you always ask this gift from the Holy Spirit, and welcome it in order to walk together with hope along the path of life and history鈥�.