Pope Francis met with reporters on his way back to Rome from Bahrain and responded to a number of hot topics about the Church and the world from accompanying journalists.
(Vatican News Network)On the way back to Rome from Bahrain, Pope Francis, as usual, met the journalists accompanying the plane and answered their questions one by one.
A reporter from the Bahrain News Agency asked the Pope for the first time how to evaluate this historic visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain? The Pope replied: “This is a path of encounter, because its purpose is to engage in interreligious dialogue with Islam and in ecumenical dialogue with Patriarch Bartholomew. The idea proposed by the Great Imam of Azhar is that to seek the unity, seeking unity in Islam, but at the same time respecting the nuances and unity with Christians and other religions. ” “In your country everyone has a seat, and I see it. The king said to me: Everyone here can do what he wants, and if a woman wants to work, she can. Completely open.”
Subsequently, the Pope spoke about the situation in Lebanon, expressing his sorrow for the suffering of the Lebanese people. The Pope said: “I take this opportunity to appeal to Lebanese politicians to put aside personal interests and look to the country to find an agreement; first God, then the country, and finally interests. Right now, I don’t want to to say ‘save Lebanon’ because we are not saviors, but we ask the world to support Lebanon, help Lebanon to stop its continuous decline and make Lebanon great again “.
In response to a question from a CNS journalist on women’s rights, the Pope said: “We must tell the truth that the battle for women’s rights is a constant battle. Because in some places there is equality between men and women. ., but nowhere else Rights are fundamental, but equality between men and women is not yet universal. “If a society cannot give women equal status, then society will not move forward.”
Therefore, the Pope cited some examples of women in social life such as the economic and political field, especially in the ministry of the Holy See, the participation of many women has produced a revolutionary effect. The Pope said: “To solve problems women have their own way, not that of men, and the two ways must work together, in other words, women who are equal to men use their intuitive power to contribute to the common well. I’m in the Vatican. You see, every time a woman comes to work in the Vatican, things get better. “” Women know how to find the right path, they know how to go forward. A society that takes women away from public life is a society that goes into poverty “.
Responding to a question from a reporter from the Spanish magazine “New Life” about the Russian-Ukrainian war, the Pope briefly reviewed the relentless efforts made by the Pope and the Vatican to end the war and promote peace since the beginning of the war. al the current situation. The Pope also recalled other countries and regions of the world in war and violence: Yemen, the Rohingya in Myanmar, Syria and Lebanon. The Pope said: “At the beginning of the war people will be very brave, but then they will feel tired and hurt. We see the evil that war brings.” The Pope sadly said that three world wars have occurred in one century! Namely World War I from 1914 to 1918, World War II from 1939 to 1945 and today’s war! This is a world war.
Then, the Pope told the accompanying journalists: “For this I implore you journalists, to be pacifists and to speak out against the war. As your brother I make this request. Thank you”.
Later, a reporter asked a question about sexual violence in the church, the Pope thanked the reporter for the question, saying that the “problem of sexual violence” has always existed, not only in the church, but everywhere. 42-46% of sexual assaults occur at home and in the community, according to UNICEF statistics, with percentages ranging from top to bottom: home, community, school and sports facilities, and careful research also includes churches . “Some people say the church is still a minority when it comes to sexual assaults, but I say even if there was a case, it would still be a disaster.”
Because the priest’s vocation is to help people grow, and sexual violence is to destroy them. As a priest, the crime of sexual violence goes against his original priestly vocation and against his social nature. The Pope said: “Let’s do our best, aren’t we all sinners? First of all we must be ashamed, deeply ashamed. I believe that the knowledge of shame is a grace; I am sure that the Church cannot be ‘a shameless’ The church, the church must be ashamed of bad things done. “
Responding to a question on immigration, the Pope stressed that immigration is a challenge and that the principles for dealing with immigrants are: welcome, companionship, promotion and integration.If these four steps cannot be achieved, then work immigration will not be done well. . The Pope said: “The immigration policy must be agreed between all countries, a policy cannot be implemented without consent and the EU must adopt a policy of cooperation and assistance”. the problem of migration must be solved within Africa and Europe must work to develop a development plan for Africa.
Finally, a German Catholic News Center reporter asked, what can Germany learn from the small church flock in Bahrain? The Pope replied: “Germany has a long religious history. I tell German Catholics: Germany already has a great and beautiful Evangelical Church; I do not want another one, I want brotherhood between Catholics and the Evangelical community. Go d ‘agreement”. “Sometimes we lose the religious conscience of the people, the religious conscience of the holy and faithful people of God, and we get involved in debates about the ethics of the church, the conditions, the theological conclusions, but these are not the core of theology. The Son holy and faithful of God What do people think? How do they feel? Go to your grandparents to find their feelings, that simple faith. The root of religious belief is the strong push that the Gospel gives you, meet Jesus alive, find the answer in Jesus.
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