Pope Francis in Cyprus - day two

Source: Vatican News

On his second day in Cyprus, Pope Francis visited the Orthodox Archbishop of Cyprus, Chrysostomos II, met with the Holy Synod; celebrated Mass for thousands of faithful in GSP Stadium in Nicosia; and prayed with migrants in the Catholic parish of Holy Cross.

Greeting the Bishops of the Holy Synod at the Orthodox Cathedral of Cyprus on Friday morning, Pope Francis told them that being in Cyprus reminded him of the "common apostolic origin" they share.

"Paul travelled across Cyprus and went on to Rome," he said. "We are thus heirs of the same apostolic zeal, and a single path joins us, that of the Gospel. I like to see us advancing on that same path, seeking ever greater fraternity and full unity."

Reflecting on St Barnabas, Pope Francis noted that his name means both "son of consolation" and "son of exhortation...It is fitting that he combines both these characteristics, which are indispensable for the proclamation of the Gospel."

"If we are to be sons of consolation, even before we say a word, we need to listen, to let ourselves be questioned, to discover others, to share. Because the Gospel is not handed on by communication, but by communion."

The Pope added that it is this that Catholics want to experience in the next few years, through the Synod of Bishops.

During his address, Pope Francis assured those present of his prayers and closeness, and that of the Catholic Church, in the most troubling problems that beset them and "in the best and boldest hopes that spur you on."

"Your sorrows and your joys are also ours; we sense them as our own. At the same time, we feel great need of your prayers." He also spoke of how moved he was by his Beatitude Chrysostomos II's words on the Mother Church during their dialogue.

Another aspect the Pope dwelt on in the life of St Barnabas was his bold and selfless gestures.

"Let us not become paralyzed by fear of openness or bold gestures, or give in to talk of 'irreconcilable differences' that in fact have nothing to do with the Gospel," said the Pope.

Pope Francis noted that by laying all he had at the feet of the apostles, St Barnabas entered into their hearts. "He invites us not to grow resigned to our past divisions and to cultivate together the field of the kingdom with patience, perseverance, and concrete gestures."

One good example of this, highlighted by the Pope, is Panaghia Chryssopolitissa, "Our Lady of the Golden City," today a place of worship for the various Christian confessions, much loved by the people and often chosen for celebrations of marriage. "It is thus a sign of communion in faith and life under the gaze of the Mother of God who gathers her children together," he said.

Another aspect Pope Francis drew from in the life of St Barnabas was the trials he suffered, especially around falsehoods and malicious behaviour.

"Today, too, there is no lack of falsehood and deception that the past can set before us to hinder our journey," he said. "Let us ask the Lord to grant us the wisdom and courage to follow His ways, not our own."

In conclusion, the Pope noted that there are many Saints, like St Barnabas, who "urges us to sail together towards that harbour to which we all aspire. From on high, they encourage us to make of Cyprus, already a bridge between East and West, a bridge between heaven and earth."

Later, addressing the faithful gathered in Nicosia's GSP Stadium during his homily at Mass, Pope Francis recalled a passage from Matthew's Gospel, in which as Jesus passed by, two blind men cried out "Have mercy on us, Son of David". The Pope noted that the two men are blind, yet they realise that Jesus is the Messiah who has come into the world. They can help us, during this advent season, "to welcome the Lord when he comes", said the Pope.

Pope Francis noted that the first step is that the two "went to Jesus for healing". Although they cannot see him, he said, "they hear his voice and follow his footsteps". The two men in the Gospel trusted in Jesus, he continued, and so "they followed him in search of light for their eyes".

The Pope noted that the two trusted in Jesus because "they realise that, within the darkness of history, he is the light that brightens the "nights" of the heart and the world". He stressed that we too have a kind of "blindness" in our hearts, and like the two blind men are often immersed in the darkness of life. Often we would rather remain closed in on ourselves, alone in the darkness, feeling sorry for ourselves and content to have sadness as our companion, but instead we must go to Jesus, said the Pope. Let us give Jesus the chance to heal our hearts.

The next step, continued the Pope, is that "they shared their pain - they ask for help together. This is an eloquent sign of the Christian life and the distinctive trait of the ecclesial spirit: to think, to speak and to act as "we", renouncing the individualism and the sense of self-sufficiency that infect the heart".

These two blind men have much to teach us, the Pope said. "Each of us is blind in some way as a result of sin. This prevents us from "seeing" God as our Father and one another as brothers and sisters". This sin distorts reality, continued the Pope, but if we bear our inner blindness alone, we can become overwhelmed. "We need to stand beside one another, to share our pain and to face the road ahead together", he said.

Pope Francis concluded his visit to Cyprus with an Ecumenical Prayer service with migrants, where he reflected on God's dream for a "world of peace, in which all His children live as brothers and sisters."

Four migrants from different parts of the world shared their stories, bearing witness to their own identity, to the wounds of hate they have suffered, to their journeys, and to their dreams. Listening to them, Pope Francis said, "we better understand the prophetic power of the word of God, who tells us… 'You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God'."

The Pope said the migrants' stories "are like a 'mirror' held up to us, to our Christian communities, reminding us that we too are asked about our identity. They remind us "that hate has also poisoned relations between us Christians… that we are journeying from conflict to communion… that God speaks to us through our dreams."

God "asks us not to be content with a divided world, divided Christian communities," the Pope said, "but to journey through history drawn by His own dream: the dream of a humanity freed of walls of division, freed of hostility, where there are no longer strangers, but only fellow citizens."

Pope Francis expressed his hope that Cyprus, an island "marked by a painful division," might become "by God's grace, a workshop of fraternity." For this to happen, he said, two things are necessary: "an effective recognition of the dignity of every person," and a trusting openness to God the Father of all."

The Holy Father said, "If these two things can happen, the dream can translate into daily journey, made up of concrete steps from conflict to communion, from hate to love." It is, he said, "A patient journey, which day by day leads us to the land God has prepared for us: The land where, if people ask, 'Who are you?' you can readily respond, 'I am your brother', 'I am your sister'."

Pope Francis concluded his address with an impassioned plea to overcome the modern indifference to the suffering experienced by migrants. He deplored the fact that we have got used to reading about the tragedies that occur every day.

"I'm sorry, but I want to say what is in my heart!" the Pope said. He lamented that people seeking food, help, freedom, and brotherhood encounter only barbed wire. "May the Lord awaken the conscience of all us in the face of such things, Pope Francis said. "Please forgive me for telling things as they are, but we cannot remain silent and look the other way in this culture of indifference!"

Watch a summary of the day here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=da5uRsNUbHY