On October 10, Pope Francis met with the Scalabrinian missionaries who had come to Rome to participate in the canonization of their church founder, Giovanni Battista Scalabrini. They were asked to promote the message of humanity and reconciliation, never hesitating to be creative in their message on the occasion.
C. Rubini CTC, Vatican News
V. Addressing the Scalabrinian missionaries who came to Rome to attend the canonization of Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, Pope Francis spoke of the diversity of their congregation.
“You represent the breadth of work of the Bishop of Scalabrini,” said the Pope, “for the breadth of his heart, one diocese was not enough, if you want to say.”
Speaking about the work of Bishop Scalabrini during the meeting on Monday, the Pope said his apostolic work in favor of Italian immigrants was “very significant”. During his ministry, thousands of Italians immigrated to America in the late 1800s, the pope explained. “Bishop Scalabrini looked at them with the gaze of Christ…he took care with great care and pastoral wisdom to give them the material and spiritual help they needed.” Papa reminded me.
Today’s migration is like the migration of the past
Turning to the realities surrounding migration today, Pope Francis noted that, as in the time of St. Scalabrini, “migration is a very important challenge.”
“They highlight the urgent need to establish fraternity before rejection and solidarity before indifference,” the Pope explained. “Each baptized person is called to reflect God’s gaze on his brothers and sisters, immigrants and refugees; With mankind in motion
Following the example of Bishop Scalabrini, the Pope shared, “May his gaze broaden ours through an encounter that brings true closeness.” Speaking about the plight of migrants, the Pope emphasized the importance of encounter and humanity, “Today we are called to live and spread the culture of encounter, the encounter on equal footing between migrants and the people of the countries that receive them,” the Pope reminded those present.
The experience was nurturing and fruitful because it revealed the beauty of diversity and underscored that “the faith, hope and perseverance of immigrants can be an example and inspiration for all who want to build a world of peace and well-being.” If the world is to be better for all, the pope added, “we must start with the last.”
Think outside the box
Pope Francis reminded those present that we are called to think creatively and to think “outside the box” in order to foster fraternity and social friendship. “We are called to open new spaces where the richness of the meeting of diversities can be enjoyed, where art and music can be together and become instruments of intercultural dynamism,” the Pope said.
Concluding his homily, the Pope remarked that it is for this reason that he appeals to every Scalabrinian missionary to “allow themselves to be inspired by their Founder, the Father of the Immigrants.”
“May his accomplishment renew in you the joy of being with immigrants and serving them, inspired by the Holy Spirit, with faith, in the conviction that in each of them we meet the Lord Jesus,” Pope Francis wished them.
“As God’s infinite imagination created us and wants us to be, the desire to be holy, each of us in our unique and unique way, is instilled in us by the sanctity of Giovanni Battista Scalabrini. ‘let it pass’ “Papa wished.