At Rehabilitation Centre, Hope is Sown and Souls are Harvested

(12 May, 2007 -RV-) Emer McCarthy reports on the Facaenda de Esperanca, where Pope Benedict visited on Saturday...

At last I am here with you at “Fazenda da Esperança”!
Speaking to the over 2,000 young people who had gathered at the Guarentin-geta farm from fazenda’s across the world, from Asia, Africa, Central and Latin America and of course Brazil, Pope Benedict XVI told them to be ambassadors of hope!

They are the children of Franciscan Bother Hans Stappel and Nelson Giovanelli Ros, the founders of these farms, these rehabilitation centres were young people who have lost all hope are given a second chance to win back their lives.

On his arrival the Holy Father paused to address the cloistered community of the Poor Clares, an essential part of the Farms spiritual life, in the newly built Fazenda chapel.

He reflected that in places where society no longer sees any future or hope, Christians are called to proclaim the power of the Resurrection: it is here, in this “Fazenda da Esperança” – home to so many, especially young people, who are seeking to overcome drug addiction, alcoholism, and chemical dependency – that a clear witness is given to the Gospel of Christ amid a consumer society far removed from God.

After a brief prayer Pope Benedict XVI then left the Chapel and on foot made his through the Gardens to where the young people were waiting anxiously for him. The greeted him enthusiastically, joyfully with song and dance. They presented him with gifts including a ring of solidarity the same ring that is given to all those who enter the community of hope.

The Pope watched and applauded these young men and women’s performance, he thanked them for their gifts smiling and waving, from the tribal throne that the Fazendero’s from Aparecida had built for him.

Some of the young people visibly moved spoke to the Pope, telling their stories of their hardships of their encounter with God at the fazenda and of their regained hope.

Pope Benedict listened, embracing them with great affection and then he spoke to them.

He noted that Brazil’s statistics concerning drug abuse and other forms of chemical dependency are very high. The same is true of Latin America in general. In unreserved tones he urged the drug-dealers to reflect on the grave harm they are inflicting on countless young people and on adults from every level of society:

God will call you to account for your deeds, he said. Human dignity cannot be trampled upon in this way. The harm done will receive the same censure that Jesus reserved for those who gave scandal to the “little ones”, the favourites of God
He then turned to the work of the fazenda and the other thousands of communities throughout the world which dedicate their lives to recovering those who have lost themselves to addiction,

He said through treatment, which includes medical, psychological and educational assistance, and through much prayer, manual work and discipline, many people— especially young people—have already succeeded in freeing themselves from alcohol and drug dependency, thereby recovering meaning in their lives.

He expressed his profound appreciation for this work, which has the charism of Saint Francis and the spirituality of the Focolare Movement as its spiritual foundation.

The Pope said that reintegration in society undoubtedly demonstrates the effectiveness of the Fazenda’s initiative. Yet it is the conversions, the rediscovery of God and active participation in the life of the Church which attract even greater attention and which confirm the importance of this work. He said it is not enough to care for the body, we must adorn the soul with the most precious divine gifts acquired through Baptism.
Before taking his leave of the fazenda the Pope blessed both Brother Hans Stapel and Nelson Giovanelli Ros for having answered God’s call to devote their lives to these young people. He blessed all those young men and women and urged them to have hope in a better life, to be apostles of hope, and to bring their renewed hope to other lost youth throughout the world.


From Sao Paolo Brazil I’M Emer Mccarthy.