At the start of September, all eyes were on another pope: John Paul I. Who Pope Francis named a blessed at the beginning of the month.
His pontificate lasted on 33 days, before he died due to a heart attack. Then, he was known as “the smiling pope.”
POPE FRANCIS
With a smile, Pope Luciani was able to convey the goodness of the Lord. A Church with a glad face, a smiling face, is beautiful.
Pope Francis then began the 38th international trip of his pontificate, this time to Kazakhstan, to participate in the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
There, the Pope condemned the use of religion to promote violent ends.
POPE FRANCIS
May we never justify violence. May we never allow that the sacred be exploited by the profane. The sacred must never prop up power, and power must never prop up the sacred.
Pope Francis met with religious leaders of different faiths from around the world. Although Russian Patriarch Kirill was expected to attend, he was ultimately represented the Russian Orthodox Church's foreign minister.
-How is Patriarch Kirill?
-Good, good.
-Tell him I say hello.
-We spoke yesterday and he asked me to pass along his greeting.
-As do I to him.
The Pope also met with Kazakhstan's small Catholic community, formed mostly of migrants, and encouraged them to engage with their neighbors of other faiths.
POPE FRANCIS
To be small reminds us that we are not self-sufficient. We need God, but also others, brothers and sisters from other confessions.
Kazakhstan wasn't the only trip Pope Francis took in September. He also traveled to two cities in Italy. In Assisi, he encouraged young economists, researchers, and entrepreneurs to make themselves heard in advocating for a more just global economy.
POPE FRANCIS
If you don't have anything to say, at least make noise.
The Pope then traveled to Matera, where he closed Italy's National Eucharistic Conference.
JM
