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Pope's in-flight press conference on return from Armenia


Pope Francis spoke on the Armenian genocide, the relation of the Catholic Church to the gay community, and Britain's vote to leave the European Union, as well as a host of other topics in a wide-ranging press conference on his flight back to Rome following his visit to Armenia.

Sunday's in-flight press conference began with questions about the Apostolic Voyage to Armenia that Pope Francis had just concluded. Asked about his message for Armenia for the future, the Holy Father spoke about his hopes and prayers for justice and peace, and his encouragement that leaders are working to that end. In particular, he talked of the work of reconciliation with Turkey and with Azerbaijan. The Pope will be travelling to Azerbaijani later this year.

Pope Francis also spoke about his use of the word 'genocide,' acknowledging the legal import of the expression, but explaining that this was the term commonly in use in Argentina for the massacre of Armenians during the first World War.

During the press conference, Pope Francis also addressed a number of religious and ecumenical issues. Speaking about the controversy that arose from remarks by the Prefect of the Pontifical Household, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, who in a speech earlier this month had spoken of a shared "Petrine ministry," Pope Francis insisted there was only one Pope, while praising the pope emeritus as a "great man of God."

About the Pan-Orthodox Council, which concluded Sunday in Crete, the Pope said, "A step was made forward . . . I think the result was positive." In response to a question about upcoming commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant "Reformation," Pope Francis said, "I think perhaps this is also the right moment for us not only to remember the wounds on both sides, but also to recognize the gifts of the Reformation." He also had words of praise for Martin Luther. The Pope praying and working together are important for fostering unity.

Pope Francis also answered a question about women deacons, and his decision to form a commission to study the issue. He said he was surprised and annoyed to hear that his remarks were interpreted to mean that the Church had opened the door to deaconesses. "This is not telling the truth of things," he said. But, he continued, "women's thought is important," because they approach questions differently from men. "One cannot make a good decision without listening to women.

Reporters also questioned the Pope about recent events, including the recent "Brexit" vote in Britain. He said he had not had time to study the reasons for the British vote to leave the European Union, but noted that the vote showed "divisions," which could also be seen in other countries. "Fraternity is better, and bridges are better than walls," he said, but he acknowledged that there are "different ways of unity." Creativity and fruitfulness are two key words for the European Union as it faces new challenges.

The secular press, meanwhile, latched onto remarks Pope Francis made concerning the Church's relationship to the gay community. The Holy Father said: "I will repeat what I said on my first trip. I repeat what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: that they must not be discriminated against, that they must be respected and accompanied pastorally....The problem is a person that has a condition, that has good will and who seeks God, who are we to judge? And we must accompany them well...this is what the catechism says, a clear catechism. Then there are traditions in some countries, in some cultures that have a different mentality on this problem.

"I think that the Church must not only ask forgiveness - like that 'Marxist Cardinal' said - must not only ask forgiveness to the gay person who is offended. But she must ask forgiveness from the poor too, to women who are exploited, to children who are exploited for labour. She must ask forgiveness for having blessed so many weapons. The Church must ask forgiveness for not behaving many times - when I say the Church, I mean Christians!

The Church is holy, we are sinners! - Christians must ask forgiveness for having not accompanied so many choices, so many families...I remember from my childhood the culture in Buenos Aires, the closed Catholic culture. I go over there, eh! A divorced family couldn't enter the house, and I'm speaking of 80 years ago. The culture has changed, thanks be to God. Christians must ask forgiveness for many things, not just these. Forgiveness, not just apologies.

Forgive, Lord. It's a word that many times we forget. Now I'm a pastor and I'm giving a sermon. No, this is true, many times. Many times ... but the priest who is a master and not a father, the priest who beats and not the priest who embraces, forgives and consoles. But there are many. There are many hospital chaplains, prison chaplains, many saints. But these ones aren't seen. Because holiness is modest, it's hidden. Instead it's a little bit of blatant shamelessness, it's blatant and you see so many organizations of good people and people who aren't as good and people who ... because you give a purse that's a little big and look at you from the other side like the international powers with three genocides.

"We Christians - priests, bishops - we have done this. But also we Christians have Teresa of Calcutta and many Teresa of Calcuttas. We have many servants in Africa, many laity, many holy marriages. The wheat and the weeds. And so Jesus says that the Kingdom ... we must not be scandalized for being like this. We must pray so that the Lord makes these weeds end and there is more grain. But this is the life of the Church. We can't put limits. All of us are saints, because all of us have the Holy Spirit. But we are all sinners, me first of all!"

Source: Vatican Radio

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