Pope in Uruguay: 'We cannot turn a blind eye in the face of injustice'

Meeting with the disadvantaged Casavalle Community in Uruguay, Pope Leo XIV says Christians cannot turn a blind eye or silence our consciences in the face of injustice, and calls for the Church and civil society to work together to promote the common good.

'Being here with you makes me feel at home, and brings back memories of the visits I made to various communities as a missionary.'

This is how Pope Leo began his remarks when meeting with the social community of Casavalle at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Saturday afternoon.

The Pope said it brought him joy to visit the parish, walk through the streets of the neighborhood, and see the projects that had been carried out through such hard work.

After listening to testimonies from members of the community who had experienced different types of hardship, the Pope reflected on the need to care properly for others.

'We need to continue to commit ourselves to the charity and closeness of the Good Samaritan who did not remain indifferent upon seeing misfortune, but took responsibility for his brother’s life,' he said.

We cannot turn a blind eye or silence our consciences

'We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that there are children in Uruguay who do not go to school for fear of never returning home. We cannot silence our conscience when we see a mother lacking the means to feed her children. We cannot ignore the many people around us who are suffering, alone and vulnerable,' Pope Leo underscored.

'In a country as rich in resources as this,' he insisted, 'children should never have to go to bed hungry or be denied the chance of a decent education and a dignified future because of the insecurity that reigns in the streets. Much less should they have to suffer violence to the point of losing their lives.'

In this context, the Pope said that the Church, civil society, and the State must work together.

'We need to shake off our apathy and advocate for the common good,' the Pope said.

He said it is up to us to decide whether to build a new city where no one is excluded or to remain comfortably immersed in our own affairs.

Church draws near to the wounds of humanity

The Pope explained that the Church’s mission stems from evangelical charity, which impels her 'to draw near to the wounds of humanity whenever they surface with greater severity.'

'When the Church intervenes,' he continued, 'she does so following the example of the Good Samaritan, with discretion and closeness, aware that what arises from urgent necessity cannot become the norm, nor replace the institutional responsibilities proper to the civil community.'

The Holy Father therefore called on everyone to unite their efforts and respond generously to the call to build together a homeland of brothers and sisters.

Recalling that the parable of the Good Samaritan concludes with Jesus’ command, 'Go and do likewise' (Lk 10:37), Pope Leo reminded the faithful that 'Every Christian should hear this commandment echoing in their heart every day.'

In his remarks, the Pope recalled that a project had been carried out in the parish community to build several homes for families with limited means. He said he was pleased to have been able to contribute to this beautiful initiative through the benefactors of The Papal Foundation.

Thanking the Foundation for its generosity, Pope Leo expressed his hope that these homes 'be for your families much more than simply a roof over their heads: may they be a true home where you can grow in dignity, peace and hope, always experiencing God’s love and closeness.'

Blessed Virgin Mary invites us to lift our gaze

The Pope also recalled that the parish is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whom his predecessors declared 'Patroness of Latin America' and 'Empress of the Americas.'

He said the loving presence of our heavenly Mother on this continent 'invites us to look beyond the reality around us, to see beyond borders and to open our hearts to eternal realities by lifting our gaze.'

Pope Leo recalled that Mary teaches us to do whatever her Son Jesus tells us, and said that this is likewise the mission of parishes, namely, 'to be a lighthouse that points to the presence of Jesus Christ, offering to all the light of God’s Word, the help of the sacraments, the support of prayer and the balm of fraternal charity.'

'May God bless you, and may our Mother of Guadalupe — for whom I have a special affection and veneration, as I received my episcopal ordination on her feast day — shelter you under her heavenly mantle,' he said.

Deborah Castellano Lubov
Source: vaticannews.va/en