Pope’s ‘Angelus’ of Sunday, Jan. 30

(Jan 31, 2011) Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is not something of the past, but still strikes "many people in conditions of great misery." Pope Benedict XVI said on Sunday, the annual day dedicated to those affected by the disease. He made the comment after reciting his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with a large crowd in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. World Leprosy Day that is marked on the last Sunday of January, was started in 1954 by French writer and philosopher, Raoul Follereau. The day is recognized by the United Nations. "I assure all the sick of a special prayer, which I extend to those who care for them and who in various ways work to eliminate Hansen's Disease," the Holy Father said and particularly greeted A.I.F.O. the Italian Association of the Friends of Raoul Follereau, that is marking its 50 years. Although in decline, leprosy unfortunately affects many people who live in conditions of severe poverty.
Pope Benedict also extended his wishes to those who will be marking the Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year, that occurs this year on Thursday, Feb. 3. The Holy Father conveyed his heartfelt wishes of serenity and prosperity to all the nations of the Far East, where the Year of the Rabbit will be celebrated in the closeness of the family.
Another event that the Pope recalled after Sunday’s ‘Angelus’ is the International Day of Intercession for peace in the Holy Land, also observed on Sunday. "May the Lord make hearts and minds converge on concrete proposals for peace in the Holy Land,” the Pope said adding his support to the observance. Two young people belonging to the Rome branch of the Catholic lay movement called Catholic Action, who flanked the Pope at his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, released two doves, symbolizing peace. The traditional gesture takes place every year in St Peter's Square at the end of Catholic Action’s "Caravan of Peace."
However, before the ‘Angelus’ prayer, Pope Benedict XVI reflected on Sunday’s Gospel of the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. He said "the Church does not fear poverty, contempt, persecution in a society often attracted to material wealth and worldly power," because as St. Paul writes, God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something. When Jesus proclaimed "blessed" the poor in spirit, the afflicted, the merciful, those who hunger for justice, the pure in heart, the persecuted," he did not present "a new ideology," but "a teaching that comes from above and touches the human condition". The Beatitudes, in fact, "are a new way of life, to free us from the false values of the world and open us up to true good, present and future," the Pope added.