In Private Meeting with Jesuits in Canada Pope Francis says "Miracles" can Happen when "the Church is united"
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On July 29th, Pope Francis met privately with some Jesuits in the Archbishop's Residence of Québec City on his penitential pilgrimage to Canada. The conversation was recently published by Jesuit review 'La Civilta Cattolica.
The full text was written and published by Fr. Antonio Spadaro, the Editor-in-Chief of La Civiltà Cattolica.
Prominent among the Jesuits was the Prefect of the Vatican's Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny.
According to Vatican News, the main themes which emerged were synodality, great concern for Haiti, love for family and the liturgy.
"The synod," Pope Francis said, does not refer to "a political meeting," nor "a committee for parliamentary decisions."
Rather, he explained, "it is the expression of the Church where the protagonist is the Holy Spirit."
Prominent among the Jesuits was the Prefect of the Vatican's Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny.
According to Vatican News, the main themes which emerged were synodality, great concern for Haiti, love for family and the liturgy.
"The synod," Pope Francis said, does not refer to "a political meeting," nor "a committee for parliamentary decisions."
Rather, he explained, "it is the expression of the Church where the protagonist is the Holy Spirit."
“There may be democracy, parliament, debate, but there is no 'synod.' If you want to read the best book of theology on the synod, then re-read the Acts of the Apostles. There you can clearly see that the protagonist is the Holy Spirit. The action of the Spirit is experienced in the synod. The dynamic of discernment happens.”
The Pope said recalled the saying: 'If you want to go fast, go alone; if instead you want to go surely, go together.'
The Holy Father acknowledged that the process of reconciliation with the indigenous peoples is not complete, but observed that "the most important thing is precisely the fact that the episcopate came together in agreement, took up the challenge, and moved ahead." He called what he observed in Canada, "an example of a united episcopate."
"When an episcopate is united," the Pope stressed, "then it can deal with the challenges that arise."
If the reconciliation is going well, the Pope elaborated, "it is not because of my visit. I am just the icing on the cake. It is the bishops who have done everything with their unity."
The Holy Father applauded how the indigenous peoples, with humility, are "very capable of dealing with the question and committing themselves," and praised the fruitful relationship between the indigenous and the bishops.
“These are the miracles that can happen when the Church is united.”
Later the Pope said, “Haiti is currently in a critical situation. It is going through an ordeal, as if it cannot find the right way forward. It does not seem to me that the international organizations have understood what to do.”
"I feel very close to Haiti," the Pope said, "not least because I am constantly updated on the situation by some priest friends of mine. I fear that it is falling into a pit of despair."
He called for concrete solutions to get out of the crisis.
The Pope said we must ask ourselves how we can help. Stressing "the people of Haiti are a noble people," the Pope said we must help them grow in hope, and encouraged doing so through prayer and penance.
'The liturgy is the people of God’s public praise!'
Another question was centred by liturgy and the unity of the Church and was asked by a student of liturgy.
"When there is conflict, the liturgy is always mistreated," the Pope said.
"In Latin America thirty years ago, there were monstrous liturgical deformations. Then they moved to the opposite side with a backward-looking [indietrista] intoxication with the old. A division was established in the Church. My action in this field has aimed to follow the line taken by John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who had allowed the ancient rite and had asked for subsequent verification.
"The most recent verification made it clear that there was a need to regulate the practice, and above all to avoid it becoming a matter, let us say, of 'fashion' and remaining instead a pastoral question. I look forward to the studies that will refine the reflection on the theme that is important: the liturgy is the people of God’s public praise!"
As the meeting concluded, the Pope invited everyone to pray a Hail Mary together.
Edited from Vatican News
The Holy Father acknowledged that the process of reconciliation with the indigenous peoples is not complete, but observed that "the most important thing is precisely the fact that the episcopate came together in agreement, took up the challenge, and moved ahead." He called what he observed in Canada, "an example of a united episcopate."
"When an episcopate is united," the Pope stressed, "then it can deal with the challenges that arise."
If the reconciliation is going well, the Pope elaborated, "it is not because of my visit. I am just the icing on the cake. It is the bishops who have done everything with their unity."
The Holy Father applauded how the indigenous peoples, with humility, are "very capable of dealing with the question and committing themselves," and praised the fruitful relationship between the indigenous and the bishops.
“These are the miracles that can happen when the Church is united.”
Later the Pope said, “Haiti is currently in a critical situation. It is going through an ordeal, as if it cannot find the right way forward. It does not seem to me that the international organizations have understood what to do.”
"I feel very close to Haiti," the Pope said, "not least because I am constantly updated on the situation by some priest friends of mine. I fear that it is falling into a pit of despair."
He called for concrete solutions to get out of the crisis.
The Pope said we must ask ourselves how we can help. Stressing "the people of Haiti are a noble people," the Pope said we must help them grow in hope, and encouraged doing so through prayer and penance.
'The liturgy is the people of God’s public praise!'
Another question was centred by liturgy and the unity of the Church and was asked by a student of liturgy.
"When there is conflict, the liturgy is always mistreated," the Pope said.
"In Latin America thirty years ago, there were monstrous liturgical deformations. Then they moved to the opposite side with a backward-looking [indietrista] intoxication with the old. A division was established in the Church. My action in this field has aimed to follow the line taken by John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who had allowed the ancient rite and had asked for subsequent verification.
"The most recent verification made it clear that there was a need to regulate the practice, and above all to avoid it becoming a matter, let us say, of 'fashion' and remaining instead a pastoral question. I look forward to the studies that will refine the reflection on the theme that is important: the liturgy is the people of God’s public praise!"
As the meeting concluded, the Pope invited everyone to pray a Hail Mary together.
Edited from Vatican News
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