These episodes, said the Vatican archivist, “make me ashamed to be a man, and if it were not for faith, I would see only darkness”. They carried banners of the Catholic charity in Florence, Italy, that is caring for them and Vatican flags. A dozen men ascended the steps with Francis and sat in front of him on the ground as he delivered his weekly catechism lesson.
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He said the papal visit underlines peace and the Pope’s desire to show his closeness to the entire nation of Armenia, whose people have suffered so much during their long history.
In more than 1,700 years as an officially Christian nation, he said, “you have found in the cross of Christ and in your genius the strength always to rise again even from the sufferings that were among the most bad that history recalls”.
In a video message transmitted June 22 on Armenian television, the pope said he admires the Armenian people but also shares their pain over the hard moments of the country’s history and its people.
“The Christian doesn’t exclude anyone, he gives a place to all, let’s all come”, he continued.
Before concluding, the Holy Father urged those present to every night kneel before God and pray: “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean!”
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) has sent an Open Letter to His Holiness Pope Francis asking him to encourage lasting peace and respect for human rights in the South Caucasus.
Days ago the Pope took in a further nine Syrian refugees, adding to the twelve that were brought over to the Vatican from Lesbos in April.
A representative of the group told CNA that the refugees are being assisted now by the Catholic charity organization Caritas in Florence, Italy.
During his address, the Pope focused on the the records of the healing of lepers in the Gospels. “Say, ‘ Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean, ‘ and think about Jesus” wounds and say an “Our Father’ for each one.’ And Jesus will always listen to us”, Pope Francis said. “This faith is the strength that allowed him to break every convention and try to meet with Jesus and, kneeling before him, call him ‘Lord'”.
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As Jesus reached out and touched the unclean man, he said, so we must never be afraid to reach out and touch the poor and those most in need.
