During his Tuesday morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis discussed how some immigrants are forced from their homes and must deal with difficult farewells.
POPE FRANCIS
'We think today of the poor Rohingya people of Myanmar. They did not know what would happen to them when they left their homeland to escape persecution. And for months they are there in a boat ... They arrive in a city, where people give them water and food, and say, 'Go away away.' This is happening and it leaves a great existential farewell. Think of the dismissal of Christians and Yazidis, who think not to return to their land, because they are chased away from their homes. Today.â?
He encouraged people to consider whether they are ready for their own final farewell, and if they are prepared to entrust themselves to God
SUMMARY OF POPE'S HOMILY
(Source: Vatican Radio)
'Letâ??s think nowadays of those poor Rohingya from Myanmar. When they left their lands to flee from persecution, they didnâ??t know what would happen to them. And theyâ??ve been in boats for months over there. They arrive in a town where people give them water and food and tell them to go away. Thatâ??s a farewell. In addition, this great existential farewell is taking place in our times. Think about the farewell for the Christians and Yazidis (in Iraq) who believe they can no longer return to their lands because they were chased out of their homes. This is happening now.â?
'Iâ??m thinking of one, of the Italian 'Alpiniâ? regiment, when the captain bids farewell to his soldiers: the captainâ??s Will. Iâ??m thinking of the great farewell, my great farewell, not when I must say â??see you then,â?? â??see you later,â?? â??bye for now,â?? but â??farewell.â?? These two readings use the word â??addioâ?? (farewell in a final sense.) Paul entrusts everything of his to God and Jesus entrusts to God his disciples who remain on this earth. â??They are not of this world but look after them.â?? We only say â??addioâ?? at a time of final farewells, be they of this life or be they our final farewell.â?
'What will I leave behind? Both St Paul and Jesus in these two readings carry out a kind of examination of conscience: â??Iâ??ve done this, this and this â?¦ And what have I done? Itâ??s good for me to imagine myself at that moment. We donâ??t know when it will happen, but it will be that moment when expressions like â??see you later,â?? â??see you soon,â?? â??see you tomorrow,â?? â??goodbye for now,â?? will become â??farewell.â?? Am I prepared to entrust to God all that I have? To entrust myself to God? To say that word which is the word of the son entrusting himself to his Father.â?
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