Pope urges airport chaplains to be signs of Christ’s love

(June 11, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Monday urged airport chaplains to be radiant signs of the charity of Christ in the field of civil aviation, saying the globalized world of airports also needs to be evangelized. He was addressing some 100 civil aviation chaplains and chaplaincy members who on Monday began their world seminar in Rome on the theme, “The New Evangelization in the Field of Civil Aviation”. The Pope observed that with people of a wide variety of nationalities, cultures, religions, social status and age passing through air terminals, airports increasingly reflect the globalized reality of our time. Noting difficult human situations such as those of immigrants and asylum seekers without proper documents, the inconvenience of anti-terrorism security measures and the crisis of faith, the Holy Father told chaplains, “Be assured that even in chance encounters, people are able to recognize a man of God, and that often a small seed falling on good soil can bring forth abundant fruit. He also noted that among airport staff, “often more attention is paid to efficiency and productivity than to the love of neighbour and the solidarity that should always characterize human relations.” The Holy Father said the presence of chaplains should be “a living witness to a God who is close to human beings…” “I encourage you to be radiant signs of this charity of Christ which brings serenity and peace,” he added.