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THE POPE IN ROVERETO:
Address to earthquake victims
The Vatican bulletin does not say so, but the text reads to me like it was extemporaneous. The Holy Father knows exactly what to say and what tone to use, in this very human and down-to-earth message of encouragement to a stricken people. His citation of a Psalm he providentially came across in the daily course of the Breviary is one that only a conscientious priest or religious could do. Here is a translation:
Dear brothers and sisters:
Thank you for your welcome!
From the first days of the earthquakes that have struck your territory, I have always been close to you in prayer and concern. But when I learned that your trials have become even more difficult, I felt ever more strongly the need to come in person among you. I thank the Lord that he has granted me this opportunity.
And so, with great affection, I am here with you who are gathered here today, and with mind and heart, I embrace all the towns and villages, all the people who have suffered great loss from the earthquakes, especially those families and communities who mourn departed dear ones. May the Lord receive them into his peace.
I would have wanted to visit all the communities to be able to make myself present in a personal and concrete manner, but you know that it would have been difficult to do.
At this time, however, I wish that everyone, in every village, will feel how the Pope's heart is close to you to comfort you, but above all, to encourage and to sustain you.
I greet the Honorable Minister representing the Government - the head of the Department of Civil Protection, and the Honorable Vasco Errani, president of the Emilia-Romagna region, whom I thank from the heart for the words he addressed to me in the name of the civilian institutions and communities of the region.
I greet and thank my brother bishops and priests, the representatives of various religious and social organizations, the forces of law and order, and the volunteers. How important it is to to offer concrete proof of solidarity and unity! I thank you for this great testimonial, especially from the volunteers.
As I said earlier, I felt the need to come here to be with you even for a brief time. When I was in Milan, at the start of this month, for the World Meeting of Families, I would have wanted to drop in for a visit, and my thoughts were often of you.
I knew, in fact, that beyond suffering material consequences, you were also put to a trial of the spirit because of the prolonged aftershocks which were often strong; and by the loss of some buildings that are symbolic of your land, among them, many churches.
Here in Rovereto di Novi, in the collapse of a church which I just visited, don Ivan Martini lost his life. Paying tribute to his memory, I address a special greeting to you, dear priests, and all our brothers who are showing, as you have in other difficult times throughout history, your generous love for the people of God.
As you know, we priests - but also the religious, and not a few laymen - pray every day with what we call the Breviary which contains the Liturgy of the Hours, the prayers of the Church to mark the passage of the day.
We pray with the Psalms, according to an order that is identical throughout the Catholic Church throughout the world. Why do I tell you this? Because these days, I found, in praying Psalm 46, these words which touched me deeply: "God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea" (vv 2-3).
How many times have I read these words? Countless times - because I have been a priest now for 61 years. And yet, at certain moments, like now, the words strike very powerfully, because they touch a raw nerve - they give words to an experience that you have been living through, words that all who pray can share.
But the words of the Psalm do not just strike me because they use the image of an earthquake, but above all for what they say about the interior attitude we must have in the face of a great natural calamity: an attitude of great certainty, based on the stable, immovable rock who is God.
"We do not fear if the earth is shaken," says the Psalmist, because "God is our refuge and our strength" and is "an ever-present help in distress".
Dear brothers and sisters, these words seem to be contradictory to the fear that one inevitably has after an experience such as that which you underwent. That is the immediate reaction, which can imprint itself more deeply as the fear continues and is prlonged. In fact, the psalm does not refer to this kind of fear, which is natural, and the certainty that it affirms is not that of superhumans who are not touched by normal sentiments.
The certainty it speaks of is that of the faith, in which, yes, one may have fear and anguish - Jesus himself expereinced these, as we know - but above all, one has the certainty that God is with us: We are sure of this like the child who knows he can always count on his mamma and papa, because he knows he is loved by them and wanted, whatever happens.
Thus we are, with respect to God: small and frail, but secure in his hands, that is, trusting in his love which is as solid as a rock. We see this love in the Crucified Christ, who is also the sign of pain, of suffering, and of love. He is the revelation of God-Love, who is one with us even in the most extreme humiliation.
On this rock, with this firm hope, we can build, we can rebuild. On the ruins of the last world war - not just materially - Italy was rebuilt, thanks of course to aid that was received, but above all, to the faith of so many people inspired by the spirit of true solidarity, by the desire to give a future to their families, a future of fredom and peace.
You are people esteemed by all Italians for your humanity and sociability, for industriousness combined with good cheer. All this is now being put to a hard test by this situation, but it should not and cannot erode that which you are as a people, with your history and your culture.
Remain faithful to your calling to be fraternal and mutually supportive of each other, face everything with patience and determination, rejecting the temptations that are unfortunately often bound to moments of weakness and need.
The situation you are going through has brought to light an aspect that I want you to always keep present in your heart: you are not and you will never be alone. In these days, amidst so much destruction and sorrow, you have seen and felt how so many people have mobilized themselves to express their closeness, solidarity and affection for you, and they have done this through so many signs of concrete assistance.
My presence among you is one such sign of love and hope. Looking at the devastated zones, I felt profound emotion at so much damage, but I have also seen many hands which want to remedy this with you.
And I see that life has 'begun' again, and that it will start again with strength and courage, which is the most beautiful and brightest sign.
From this place, I wish to launch a strong appeal to all institutions and to every citizen to be - despite the difficulties of the present - like the Good Samaritan in the Gospel who does not pass through, indifferent to anyone in need, but with love, he bends down, he helps, he stays close, and takes responsibility to the very end for the needs of the other (cfr Lk 10,29-37).
The Church is close to you and will continue to be close in prayer and with concrete help from her organizations, especially from Caritas, which will also be involved in restoring the community fabric of your parishes.
Dear friends, I bless you all, each and everyone, and I carry you all with great affection in my heart.
After the address, the Holy Father greeted representatives of the various groups present. He then travelled by car back to the sports field in San Marino di Carpi, to board the helicopter for the return trip to Rome. He reached the Vatican around 1:30 pm.
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