Pope Francis met with hundreds of seminarians, and religious in Madagascar. It was his last large meeting on the island.
He wanted to thank them because many work in extreme conditions, without water, electricity or paved roads.
He was greeted on everyone's behalf by this nun, the president of the Religious Conference.
The pope started with a joke...
POPE FRANCIS
I thought they were bringing me this table to eat... But no, it's to talk.
Pope Francis reminded them of Jesus' words to His disciples that when they acted, they were able to defeat the power of Satan.
POPE FRANCIS
You triumph over evil whenever you teach people to praise our heavenly Father, or simply teach the Gospel and the catechism, or visit the sick and bring the consolation of reconciliation. In Jesus' name, you triumph whenever you give a child something to eat, or save a mother from despair at being alone in the face of everything, or provide work to the father of a family.
Before saying goodbye, the pope joked with the priest who had translated his speeches.
I will make you embarrassed, because you will have to translate this. But I would like to thank the translator, Fr. Marcel, for the work he has done.
I won't translate anymore, because...
It makes him a little embarrassed.
The pope was dismissed with a musical version of the Magnificat prayer, with rhythms from Madagascar.
The meeting was held at the College of Saint Michel, a prestigious educational institution run by the Jesuits. For this reason, the pope felt right at home.
