Pope appeals for calm in Venezuela, relief for China’s earthquake victims
(Vatican Radio) On Sunday Pope Francis made a series of appeals following the midday
recitation of the Marian prayer, Regina Caeli, with thousands of faithful in St Peter’s
Square.
The Holy Father appealed for calm in Venezuela following hotly contested
presidential elections and for relief for the suffering victims of a devastating earthquake
in Sichuan province, mainland China:
“I am closely following the events currently
taking place in Venezuela. I accompany them with deep concern, with intense prayer
and with the hope that just and peaceful ways are sought and found to overcome the
serious difficulties the country is going through. I call the beloved Venezuelan people,
especially institutional authorities and politicians to firmly reject any type of
violence, and to establish a dialogue based on truth, in mutual recognition, in the
search for the common good and love for the nation. I ask believers to pray and work
for reconciliation and peace. Let us join together in a prayer full of hope for Venezuela,
placing it in the hands of Our Lady of Coromoto.
***** My thoughts also
go to those who were affected by the earthquake that struck an area south-west of
mainland China. We pray for the victims and for those who are suffering because of
the violent earthquake.
***** This afternoon, in Sondrio, Don Nicolò Rusca,
Valtellina priest who lived between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries will be
beatified. He was a long serving and exemplary pastor in Sondrio and was killed in
the political and religious struggles that afflicted Europe at that time. We praise
the Lord for his witness!
I affectionately greet all the pilgrims who have
come from different countries: the families, the many church groups, associations,
candidates for confirmation, schools. I greet in particular the numerous children
of the Diocese of Venice, the catechists of the Diocese of Gubbio led by their Pastor,
and the seminary community of Lecce with the ministers of the diocese, and the representation
from the Lions Club of Italy. In this "World Day of Prayer for Vocations", founded
fifty years ago thanks to the happy intuition of Pope Paul VI, I invite everyone to
a special prayer that the Lord will send many laborers for His harvest. May Saint
Hannibal Mary Di Francia, an apostle of prayer for vocations, remind us of this important
commitment. I wish you all a good Sunday, have a good lunch!”