Pope sends greeting to Rimini meeting

The Bishop of Rimini, Francesco Lambiasi, celebrated Mass in the morning yesterday (Aug.18th) for the opening of the 34th edition of the Meeting for Friendship among Peoples, in Rimini under the theme "Emergency Man."

Pope Francis sent a greeting to the meeting signed by Cardinal Secretary of StateTarcisio Bertone.

The Pope writes in his message, the masses are so often manipulated, to induce desires, to remove what is most precious to what man possesses: the relationship with the power of God.

There is a fear of people who are in dialogue with God because that makes us free and not comparable.

The Pope writes we must go back to seeing the sacredness of man and at the same time say emphatically that it is only in relationship with God, that man can attain his true stature.

For this reason, the Pope adds the Church has a great responsibility.

Let’s go with courage to encounter the men and women of our time, urges Pope Francis, children, the elderly, the "learned" and people with no education, youth and families.

Let's meet not only in the churches and parishes, but in schools, universities, workplaces, hospitals, prisons, but also in the streets, on the roads, sports centers and in places where people gather.

Follow the example of Christ, who left his heaven to become man and to be close to each one, which is the task of the Church and of every Christian.

"Emergency man", says the Pope means the emergence of return to Christ.

Poverty, the Pope also adds, is not only the material. There is a spiritual poverty that grips contemporary man. We are poor in love, thirsting for truth and justice, beggars of God's greatest poverty, the lack of Christ.

Vatican Radio
Source: news.va (Aug. 18, 2013)