Holy Mass in the occasion of the Name Day of His Holiness Pope Francis

Excellencies,

Rev. Fathers,

My beloved Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

 

We express our joy and sincere wishes for the Name Day of His Holiness Pope Francis. We send from Cyprus through his representative the Apostolic Nuncio H.E. Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto our warm greetings of Love and communion with the Holy Father whose mission is confirming God’s love and mercy in the world and spreading hope and faith that can be realized through the unity of mankind called to live in peace and joy. Pope Francis in his modesty, deepness and generosity of spirit lives as the one who cares for the other, goes forth to meet him in the spirit of fraternity and human tenderness. We see in him a living example of Jesus’ teachings, a leader whose moral authority comes not just through words but also through deeds. Pope Francis is inspiring our mission in the Church and the civil society. We ask the Lord to strengthen him repeating with his Patron Saint Francis: “Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures”.

 

         The today’s liturgical readings confirm that the merciful God cares for his creation; he is the healer of every human being. In fact, when we “worship God of Heaven, who made both sea and dry land” (1 Jonah 1:9) we cannot overlook our brother who is in need. The wounded man of the “Good Samaritan” Gospel, remaining alone in the periphery of death and life, was waiting for a merciful heart to cure him. The Samaritan comes, free in his behaviour, his heart and thought and did what the men of the religious and social belonging did not do. “Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice” (Mt 12:7). The mercy is the true sacrifice God made for us through his Son Jesus Christ. The "Good Samaritan” showed us the goodness of God in a prophetic attitude and in the dynamism of the diaconia - service he bows before the wounds of the man considered "enemy" according to our categories, selfishness and sins. We are called to follow the law of the Spirit, because "The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Cor 3:6).

This is the message of Pope Francis in today’s world. In this spirit the Successor of Peter is leading in these days a Synod for the family; because without mercy our homes become places of indifferences, and not spaces of love, joy, forgiveness and natural and integral growth of the human being. We are called to rediscover “the richness and the beauty of family life”. Our families in fact have an essential role in listening.

In this spirit the Bishop of Rome proclaimed the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. He says: “no one can place limits on the love of God who is ever ready to forgive. During this Holy Year, a Door of Mercy will be opened “through which anyone who enters will experience the love of God who consoles, pardons, and instils hope”. (Misericordiae Vultus, 11 April 2015). Let us make from our hearts, our families, our communities and our countries a door of mercy to welcome all initiatives of solidarity, brotherhood and forgiveness.

 Dear brethren,

We in Cyprus, thank the Lord for the new atmosphere of the “talks” between the two leaders under the auspices of the United Nations. The Religious Track is strengthening efforts and supporting initiatives. Cyprus through its rich past and as a member of the European Union cannot be anymore divided. The reunification must be based on the values of our common, cultural, social and religious sources, on the Charter of human Rights and on the values of the EU. The right of possession of properties for all Cypriots, individuals and institutions, must be guaranteed. The freedom of religion where every person can have a free access to all worship places without any kind of procedures, till the final solution, is a strong step for renewing the trust and strengthening bonds among all Cypriot communities, particularly the young generations that unfortunately do not know well each other. We should help them to dream a Cyprus of prosperity, of Peace, of conviviality and diversity in the unity. Things request courageous and concrete steps, based on freedom, justice and the respect of the human dignity.

How many sufferings are happening every day in our beloved region of the Middles East? Millions of refugees from Syria and Iraq are scattered around the whole world. It is the Tragedy of the recent era. Pope Francis is calling the conscience of the international community to welcome them and to seriously work for ceasing fire and ending war. The Holy Father welcomed Syrian families offering them refuge in his personal home, he is asking the Church and the whole world to welcome them and to care for them.

The Middle East has the right to live in stability and peace. Wars create wounds in the peoples’ bodies, psychology and existence. Solving the problem by the force of arms will open another conflicts and wars. The dialogue is the way that reconciles communities in conflict. No one in the name of God has the right to kill any person, because such behaviour is against the religious message which is mercy, brotherhood, peace and love.

In our region, the Christian communities and all the minorities are facing big challenges of existence. Their rights must be safeguarded for the respect of the human being as an absolute value and for having diverse cultural and civil societies. The principle of equal citizenship is a solid and logic fundament for the stability in the Region. The dialogue around these principles and the daily interaction among communities will help all to feel that they live under “one common home”.

My beloved,

The humanity is called to protect and live in this “common home” as appeared recently in Pope Francis Encyclical "Laudato Si". A holy appeal urging us, in our daily life, for courageous actions and strategies and for responsible effort to “redirect our steps” aiming to implementing a “culture of care” the “care for the Earth which is a gift from God that must be loved and developed responsibly”: care for the creation, the family, the poor, the migrants and the environment. "The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change.” (Francis Pope, Laudato Si, 13). The Creator who created us does not abandon us.

 

Let us thank the Lord for Pope Francis, let us be united in prayers with him, for his mission by the intercession of the Virgin Mary “The Door of Mercy” and “the Queen of Peace”, to protect and accompany him in his Apostolate witnessing God’s mercy and joy.

 

Amen.

 

† Youssef Soueif

Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus

{fcomments}{/fcomments} {flike}{/flike}