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Rebirth of society demands upright men, women - Pope

Rebirth of society demands upright men, women - Pope
By Larry Moonze in Havana, Cuba
Wed 28 Mar. 2012, 13:00 CAT

REBIRTH of society demands upright men and women of firm moral convictions with noble and strong values, Pope Benedict XVI has said. The Pope said given the concrete circumstances in Cuba, the church will better present her true face as a place in which God draws near and encounters humanity.

And Pope Benedict has said the visit to Cuba by his predecessor John Paul II left an indelible mark on the souls of all Cubans.

On arrival at Santiago de Cuba's Antonio Maceo International Airport where he was received by President Raul Castro, Pope Benedict said he had come to Cuba as a pilgrim of charity to "confirm my brothers and sisters" in the faith and
strengthen them in the hope which was born of the presence of God's love.

"I carry in my heart the just aspirations and legitimate desires of all Cubans wherever they may be, their sufferings and their joys, their concerns and their noblest desires, those of the young and the elderly, of adolescents and children, of the sick and workers, of prisoners and their families, and of the poor and those in need," he said.

Pope Benedict said many parts of the world today were experiencing a time of particular economic difficulty.

He said not a few people had regarded the economic crisis as part of a profound spiritual and moral crisis which had left humanity devoid of values and defenceless before the ambition and selflessness of certain powers which took little account of the true good of individuals and families.

"We can no longer continue in the same cultural and moral direction which has caused the painful situation that many suffer," Pope Benedict said.

"On the other hand, real progress calls for an ethics which focuses on the human person and takes account of the most profound human needs especially man's spiritual and religious dimension. In the hearts and minds of many the way is thus opening to an ever greater certainty that the rebirth of society demands upright men and women of firm moral convictions with noble and strong values who will not be manipulated by dubious interests and who are respectful of the unchanging and transcendent nature of the human person."

He said he was convinced that Cuba at this moment of particular importance in its history was already looking to the future and was striving to renew and broaden its horizons.

"Of great help in this enterprise will be the fine patrimony of spiritual and moral values which fashioned the nation's true identity and which stand out in the work and the life of many distinguished fathers of the country like blessed Jose Olallo Valdes, the servant of God Felix Varela and the acclaimed Jose Marti national hero," Pope Benedict said.

He said the church too had diligently contributed to the cultivation of those values through its generous and selfless pastoral mission.

Pope Benedict called for renewal of commitment to work tirelessly to better serve all Cubans.

"I ask the Lord to bless abundantly this land and its children in particular those who feel disadvantaged, the excluded and all those who suffer in body or spirit," he said.

"At the same time I pray that, through the intercession of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, he will grant to all a future of hope, solidarity and harmony."

Pope Benedict said he was pleased to be among Cubans to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the holy statue of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre.

"Since the beginning she has been very much present in the personal lives of Cubans as well as in the great events of the nation especially since independence for she is honoured by all as the true mother of the Cuban people," he said.

"Following in the footsteps of countless pilgrims down the centuries, I too wish to go to El Cobre to kneel at the feet of the Mother of God, to thank her for her concern for all her Cuban children and to ask her to guide the future of this beloved nation in the ways of justice, peace, freedom and reconciliation."

Pope Benedict thanked God's grace and goodness for making it possible to visit Cuba.

"Standing here among you I cannot but recall the historic visit to Cuba of my predecessor, Blessed John Paul II who left an indelible mark on the soul of all Cubans," said Pope Benedict.

"For many whether believers or not his example and his teachings are a luminous guide for their personal lives and their public activity in the service of the common good of the nation. His visit to this island was like a gentle breath of fresh air which gave new strength to the church in Cuba, awakening in many a renewed awareness of the importance of faith and inspiring them to open their hearts to Christ while at the same time kindling their hope and encouraging their desire to work fearlessly for a better future."

He said one important fruits of that visit was the inauguration of a new phase in the relationship in Cuba between the church and the state in a spirit of cooperation and trust.

Pope Benedict said many areas remained to be developed especially regarding the indispensable public contribution that religion was called to make in the life of society.

During mass at the Antonio Maceo Revolution Square, the pontiff said when God is put aside, the world becomes an inhospitable place for man.

Pope Benedict said it was touching to see how God not only respected human freedom but that he almost seemed to require it.

"This obedience to God is what opens the doors of the world to the truth, to salvation," he said.

Pope Benedict said in staying apart from God, man alienated himself and was hurled into the void.

"Dear brothers and sisters, I know with what effort, boldness and self-sacrifice you work every day so that in the concrete circumstances of your country and at this moment in history the church will better present her true face as a place in which God draws near and encounters humanity," he said.

Pope Benedict said the Church as the living body of Christ had the mission of prolonging on earth the salvific presence of God, of opening the world to something greater than itself, to the love and the light of God.

He said as Easter was approaching, all people should be determined to follow Jesus without fear or doubts on his journey to the cross.

"May we accept with patience and faith whatever opposition or affliction may come with the conviction that in his resurrection he has crushed the power of evil which darkens everything and has brought the dawn of a new world, the world of God, of light, of truth and happiness," he said.

Pope Benedict appealed to all to reinvigorate their faith and live in Christ and for Christ and that "armed with peace, forgiveness and understanding, you may strive to build a renewed and open society, a better society, one more worthy of humanity and which better reflects the goodness of God".

Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH

posted by MrK @ 5:31 PM