Pope's 'Angelus' on leprosy, holocaust, Holy Land, Lord's Day

January 28, 2013 - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday expressed his closeness with those suffering from leprosy or Hansens’s disease and urged for eliminating racism on a day with three annual recurrences. After reciting the weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with the faithful in St. Peter’s Square the Pope recalled the 60th World Day of Leprosy, the International Holocaust Remembrance Day as well as the 5th International Day of Intercession for Peace in the Holy Land, all observed on Jan. 27. Addressing those suffering from Hansen’s disease the Pope expressed his closeness to them and encouraged researchers, health professionals and volunteers, particularly those who are part of Catholic organizations and the Association of Friends of Raoul Follereau.” Follereau, a practising French Catholic journalist and philosopher, was instrumental in the institution of World Day of Leprosy. Pope Benedict also invoked the intercession of St. Damien de Veuster, “who gave his life” for those afflicted with the disease, as well as St. Marianne Cope, who was canonized in Rome in October last year. Both worked with leprosy sufferers in a colony in Hawaii in the 19th century.
With regard to the United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day in honour of the victims of Nazism, especially Jews, the Pope said, “It must be a constant reminder to all so that the horrors of the past, which exceeds all forms of hatred and racism, are not repeated, and that respect and the dignity of the human person be promoted.” Pope Benedict also made it an occasion to thank those who promote the International Day of Intercession for Peace in the Holy Land. During the “Angelus” a young boy and a girl from the Catholic Action movement of Rome Diocese (ACR), standing with the Pope at his studio window, released two doves, as symbols of peace. The traditional gesture takes place every year in St Peter's Square at the end of Catholic Action’s "Caravan of Peace," campaign.
Earlier, before praying the ‘Angelus’, Pope Benedict reflected on Sunday’s Gospel about Jesus going to the synagogue in Nazareth and reading the prophecy about Him coming true that day. He said, like a good believer, Jesus does not avoid the weekly liturgical rhythm but joins the assembly of his fellow citizens in prayer and in listening to the Scriptures. It makes us think about our way of life on Sunday as a day of rest and for the family, engaging in the liturgy that can teach us to listen to the voice of God. “Before we can speak of God and with God, we need to listen, and the liturgy of the Church is the 'school' of this listening to the Lord who speaks to us,” the Pope said. “In our scattered and distracted era, this Gospel invites us to ask ourselves about our ability to listen,” he emphasized. “Every moment can be a 'today' moment for our conversion and become a day of salvation because salvation is a story that continues for the Church and for every disciple of Christ,” he said, adding that the “the Christian meaning of 'carpe diem' is to seize the day in which God is calling you to give you salvation.”