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Vatican City, Aug 3, 2016 / 09:30 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Just two days before the Opening Ceremonies for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Pope Francis offered a message to those who will be competing in the international games.

“In a world thirsting for peace, tolerance, and reconciliation, I hope that the spirit of the Olympic Games inspires all – participants and spectators – to ‘fight the good fight’ and finish the race together,” he said.

The Holy Father voiced hope that in competing this year, the Olympic athletes will desire “to obtain as a prize, not a medal, but something much more precious: the construction of a civilization in which solidarity reigns and is based upon the recognition that we are all members of the same human family, regardless of the differences of culture, skin color, or religion.”

Pope Francis offered these words at the conclusion of his general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Aug. 3

He offered a warm greeting to the people of Brazil saying, “I hope that this will be an opportunity to overcome difficult moments and commit…to working as a team to build a more just and safe country, betting all on a future full of hope and joy.”

During his general audience, the Pope also reflected on his recent trip for Poland, where he attended World Youth Day with some one million international pilgrims last week.

As part of the trip, he visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, where approximately one million people – primarily Jews – were killed during the Holocaust.

Pope Francis reflected on “the great silence” of his time at the concentration camp, saying that it “was more eloquent than any word spoken could have been. In that silence I listened: I felt the presence of all the souls who passed through that place; I felt the compassion, the mercy of God, which a few holy souls were able to bring even into that abyss.”

“In that great silence, I prayed for all the victims of violence and war: and there, in that place, I realized more than ever how precious is memory; not only as a record of past events, but as a warning, and a responsibility for today and tomorrow, that the seed of hatred and violence not be allowed to take root in the furrows of history.”

He noted the cruelties that still exist in today’s world and offered a prayer for peace.

But despite the pain and suffering faced by many today, there is hope in the youth, Pope Francis said, pointing to his experience with the young people at World Youth Day.

“Poland, with its rich cultural and spiritual heritage today reminds us that Europe has no future apart from its founding values, centered on the Christian vision of man and including the message of mercy expressed so eloquently in the last century by Saints John Paul and Faustina Kowalska,” he said.

 

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IMAGE: CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters

By Junno Arocho Esteves

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a world traumatized by war, young people gathered for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, gave strong signs of hope and brotherhood, Pope Francis said.

World Youth Day was a "prophetic sign for Poland and Europe" and took on a "global dimension" in a world threatened by a war fought in pieces, the pope said Aug. 3 at his weekly general audience.

"Precisely in this world at war, we need brotherhood, we need closeness, we need dialogue, and we need friendship. And this is the sign of hope: when there is brotherhood," he said.

The pope entered the Paul VI audience hall greeted by thousands of pilgrims reaching out to him, asking him to bless their religious articles, kiss their babies or receive their gifts. But one gift stopped the pope in his tracks: a pope doll.

Pope Francis pointed to the doll and to himself, not completely convinced of the similarity, and then laughed, thanking the pilgrim for her present.

Before taking his place on the stage, the pope greeted Rabbi Alejandro Avruj, an old friend from Argentina seated in the front row. Also present were bishops and pilgrims from Panama, the country Pope Francis announced would host World Youth Day 2019.

In addition, a group of 65 young refugees from Eritrea and Syria came to see the pope. According to the Vatican, the children are from the Center for Asylum Seekers at Castelnuovo di Porto, about 15 miles north of Rome. The pope greeted them and posed for a group photo after the audience.

In his main audience talk, Pope Francis reflected on his visit to Krakow July 27-31 to join hundreds of thousands of young people from across the globe who met to celebrate their faith and who answered the call to "go forth together, to build bridges of brotherhood," he said.

"They also came with their wounds, with their questions but, above all, with the joy of meeting each other," the pope said.

Despite language barriers, he said, the youths were able to understand each other, creating a "mosaic of brotherhood" that is "emblematic of World Youth Day."

Recalling his visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp, the pope said the great silence there "was more eloquent than any spoken word."

"In that silence I heard, I felt the presence of all the souls that have passed there; I felt the compassion, the mercy of God that several holy souls brought there to that great abyss," Pope Francis said. "In that great silence, I prayed for all the victims of violence and war."

At Auschwitz, he said, he learned the "value of memory" not only as a remembrance of past tragedies, but also as a warning and call to responsibility today "so that the seed of hate and violence does not take root in the furrows of history."

"Looking at that cruelty, at that concentration camp, I immediately thought of today's cruelty, which is very similar. Not as concentrated as in that place, but around the world. This world that is sick with cruelty, pain, war, hate and sadness. And for this I ask you to pray so that the Lord may give us peace," he said.

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Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju.

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(Vatican Radio)  The Chargé d’Affaires of the Holy See's Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, Msgr. Simon Kassas, urged the Security Council on Tuesday to 'affirm and support families of children who are victimized in armed conflict'.

Msgr. Kassas said Catholic Church has constantly advocated the role of families in the prevention of child victimization in armed conflict zones and in the reintegration of children into society.

He said families "must be assisted in overcoming prejudices against child survivors of armed conflicts, in particular against women and girls who are victims of rape, and in welcoming back children into the family fold". He added that while the reintegration of child survivors "into society requires that we recognize the atrocities they may have committed, we must also build pathways for counseling and reconciliation with a view to accomplishing fully that reintegration."

His words came in an address to the UN Security Council's Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict.

Msgr. Kassas also affirmed the Catholic Church's role in the cessation of violence against children caught in armed conflict.

"The Holy See has been a constant partner of the United Nations in opposing not only the use of children as combatants, but the many other forms of violence against children caught in armed conflict. Through its various structures operating in most of the conflict zones, the Catholic Church is actively engaged in taking care of the victims of such violence. Over the years, Holy See structures and numerous Catholic institutions have collaborated with UN Peacekeeping Missions and Agencies to help alleviate the sufferings of children in armed conflict and to share best practices to address this ongoing scourge."

The full text of Msgr. Kassas' statement is below:

2 August 2016

Mr. President,

My  Delegation  wishes  to  thank  the  Malaysian  Presidency  for  convening  this  particularly important  Open  Debate  on  Children  and  Armed  Conflict,  and  conveys  to  Malaysia  its appreciation for all that it has done and will continue to do as Chair of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.

The year 2014 was described as the worst year for children affected by armed conflict. But as the  Secretary-General’s  Report  on  Children  and  Armed  Conflict  covering  the  year  2015 illustrates, the 2014 horror-list has been surpassed by the number of children caught in armed conflicts and the scale and severity of violations in 2015. As the Secretary-General states in his  Report, “The impact on children of our collective failure to prevent and end conflict is severe,  and  the  present  Report  highlights  the  increased  intensity  of  grave  violations  in  a number of situations of armed conflict.”

No one can ignore this damning observation. Never in recent memory have so many children been subjected to such violent brutality: children used as soldiers, suicide bombers, sex slaves, and  disposable intelligence-gatherers  in  the  most  dangerous  military  operations.  The deliberate  destruction  of  their  schools  and  hospitals  in  total  disregard  of  international humanitarian  law  has  become  a  strategy  of  war.  These  crimes  must  be  condemned  in  the strongest possible terms. 

As the Report  of the Secretary-General points out, while there has been progress in the overall protection of children caught in armed conflict, much more must be done. Governments must be  held  accountable  for  the  full  and  complete  implementation  of  action  plans  and commitments they have taken to end and prevent all recruitment of child-soldiers. In the fight against non-State armed groups and terrorism, States are urged to ensure that their responses to all threats  against  peace and security are conducted in full compliance with international humanitarian law,  to ensure that children are not victimized twice. My Delegation fully agrees with the  Report  that the use of airstrikes and explosive weapons  with wide-area effects in populated  areas  exacerbates  the  dangers  to  which  children  caught  in  armed  conflict  are exposed. 

Moreover, double standards, or even a perception of double standards, in listing and delisting perpetrators must be avoided, since it encourages disregard for international humanitarian law, frustrates the implementation  of  commitments and action plans, and discourages Governments and other concerned  institutions from making stronger commitments and action plans.

Mr. President,

The Holy See has been a constant partner of the United Nations in opposing not only the use of children as combatants, but the many other forms of violence against children caught in armed conflict. Through  its  various  structures operating in most of the conflict zones, the Catholic Church is actively engaged in taking care of the victims of such violence.  Over  the years,  Holy  See  structures  and  numerous  Catholic  institutions  have  collaborated  with  UN Peacekeeping  Missions  and  Agencies  to  help  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  children  in  armed conflict  and  to  share  best  practices  to  address  this  ongoing  scourge.  Expressing  deep appreciation for all those who work in this area, the Holy See hopes that the plight of children caught in armed conflict  will awaken consciences, lead to a change of heart, and inspire all parties to lay down their arms and take up the path of dialogue. 

Considering the best interest of children and the fundamental role of parents, my Delegation encourages  Governments to affirm and support families of  children who  are victimized in armed  conflict.  They  must  be  assisted  in  overcoming  prejudices  against  child  survivors  of armed  conflicts,  in  particular  against  women  and  girls  who  are  victims  of  rape,  and  in welcoming back children into the family fold.

Moreover, while the International Community plays an important role in supporting States in their primary responsibility to protect their citizens, it must  also interact with the local communities  affected  by  violence  against  children  in  armed  conflict  so  that  solutions  and programs can emerge organically, while fostering local ownership. A solution to the plight of children caught in armed conflict, in particular of child soldiers, requires sensitivity to  finding ways  to  reintegrate  these  children  back  into  their  own  communities.  While  we  witness barbaric  acts  beyond  anyone’s  imagination  committed  also  by  child  soldiers,  we  must remember that these children are exploited and manipulated into what they have  become.

Thus, while their reintegration into society requires that we recognize the atrocities they may have committed, we must  also  build pathways for counseling and reconciliation with a view to accomplishing fully that reintegration.

Mr. President,

The  obligation  to  put  an  end  to  barbaric  acts  against  children  caught  in  armed  conflict  is incumbent upon every one of us. In a particular way, it is incumbent upon this Council, as it calls  on  all  States  to  put  in  place  and  implement  stronger  measures  for  the  protection  of children in armed conflict, and as it ensures that UN peacekeeping operations strictly adhere to all laws and measures in this regard.

Thank you, Mr. President

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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday remembered Italian journalist Anna Maria Jacobini, who was discovered having died in her bed in Krakow on Friday. The 58-year-old was covering World Youth Day for RAI, the Italian state broadcaster. She is believed to have died of natural causes.

“ I cannot forget Anna Maria Jacobini, an Italian journalist who died suddenly [in Krakow],” Pope Francis said during his General Audience.

He asked those at the Audience to pray for her, noting she passed away while in the service of her profession.

Jacobini was an expert on the Vatican, and served as a correspondent for RAI’s “A sua immagine,” a weekly Catholic affairs programme.

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