Medellin (Colombia), 09/18/2017, Sr. Ana Cecilia Villegas Cadavid.- Review of some key moments of the visit of Pope Francis to Colombia.
COLOMBIA HAS TWO NEW BLESSED
During the celebration of the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Pope Francis, during his visit to Villavicencio, beatified two Colombian martyrs, victims of the violence suffered for many years in the country. They are Monsignor Jesus Emilio Jaramillo, Xaverian Missionary, Bishop of Arauca, and Father Pedro Ramirez, Martyr of Armero. He also met the victims of violence, whom he encouraged with words of mercy and asked them insistently not to fall into the understandable temptation of revenge: "When the victims overcome the understandable temptation of revenge, they become the protagonists more credible in the process of peace building. "
THE POPE FRANCIS IN MEDELLIN
One rainy morning and all Antioquia welcomed Pope Francisco with joy.... The streets were filled with people to watch this announcer of passing that in its simplicity and human warmth, filled with emotion and hope to the whole people. The airport Olaya Herrera was the scene where more than one million people participated in the Eucharistic celebration. The place was prepared with flowers and filled with polyphonic voices that sang "Close to your altar Lord" ... (Text written by Sr. Margarita de la Encarnación and music of Fr. Juan José Briceño, S.J.).
In his homily, the Holy Father highlighted key aspects of freedom and peace: "Jesus does not remain in an apparently" correct "fulfillment. He carries the law to its fullness and therefore wants to put us in that direction, in that style of follow-up that means going to the essential, renewing, getting involved. These are three attitudes that we need to capture in our lives as disciples." He ended by saying: "I have come here to confirm you in faith and hope of the Gospel: stand firm and free in Christ, because all firmness in Christ gives us freedom, so that you reflect it in everything you do. Assume with all your strength the following of Jesus, know him, let him summon and instruct you, seek him in prayer and let him search for you in prayer, announce it with the greatest joy possible.
NEARBY MEETING... CHILDREN'S HOME "SAN JOSÉ"
El papa Francisco y Hna. Noemí CadavidThe neighbors of the San José Children's House, the girls, the girls' instructors and the Sisters, did not believe that the promise would be fulfilled ... the Pope was to arrive soon! The crowd of people arrives and the white figure of the man of God appears. He is full of mercy and wants to share it with the hundreds of children who live in these homes, which are run by sisters from different religious communities, and this one called the San José Children's Home, has been taken care of 1915 by the Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin.
Everyone here, wanted to greet Pope Francisco... a task that seemed impossible, but he had a smile, a hug, a gesture of his hands to meet the expectations of all. First, the protocol greeting, then Claudia Yesenia, one of the girls, told the Pope her life and the sufferings of his early childhood; He called her courageous! And he added, "Jesus does not leave the people who are suffering, and even less, the boys and girls, who are his favorites." He told her, "Claudia Yesenia, beside so much horror, God has given you an aunt who took care of you, a hospital that assisted you, and finally a community that received you. This "home" is a proof of Jesus' love for you and his desire to be very close to you, and he does it through the care of the people who take care of you, who accompany you, love you and educate you, I think of the people in charge of this house, the sisters, the staff and so many people who are already part of the family, because they come, integrate, and know, because that's what makes this place a "home": the warmth of a family where you feel loved, protected , accepted, cared for and accompanied".
The flower that each girl carried in her hands became a fine offer for the pope. He then approached the mobile Pope and began the pilgrimage that would reach La Macarena where 22,000 priests and religious awaited him.
MEETING WITH THE PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS IN THE MACARENA
After greeting and being applauded by more than one million people who along the streets that took him to the Center of spectacles the Macarena, the Pope descended from the Pope mobile to encounter another reality, that is very close to his heart, the one that fills him with hope. It is so telling and rich the message that I attach the link to read it in its entirety.
After speaking with such spontaneity and affection, he developed three fundamental themes:
- We remain in Jesus touching the humanity of Jesus
- We remain contemplating his divinity
- Finally, we must remain in Christ to live in joy.
At the end of these emotional encounters in the city of Medellin, he said goodbye: "May God bless you; bless the consecrated life in Colombia. And do not forget to pray for me, so you can bless me too, thank you.” Then he traveled to Bogotá.
CARTAGENA RECEIVES THE POPE AND AT THE END OF THE AFTERNOON SAYS GOODBYE
The warm Atlantic Coast meeting in the Heroic City, Cartagena, filled the streets adjacent to the airport to see Francisco. The simplest people had the privilege of seeing him in his neighborhood, when he blessed the first stones of the houses that will house the social works "Talita Kumi" and "Maria revive". From there, he went to the house of Lorenza, an elderly woman, the protagonist of charity in his neighborhood. The Angelus in the Church of San Pedro Claver, was the opportunity to unite two great of the faith in Colombia: the Virgin of Chiquinquirá and San Pedro Claver.
He reserved for his homily in "Contecar" one of the most pressing themes: "Dignity of the Person and human rights". They all listened with attention and they did not stop responding with the voice of the heart to what it meant that communion of the pastor and of a town that could not fit in a single glance. There, Pope Benedict said: "Let us not" take the first step ", but let us continue walking together every day to meet the other, in search of harmony and fraternity. We can not stand still. On September 8, 1654, St. Peter Claver died here; it did so after forty years of voluntary slavery, of untiring labor in favor of the poorest. He did not stand still, after the first step followed others, and others, and others. His example makes us leave ourselves and go to meet our neighbors. Colombia, your brother needs you, go to his meeting and take the embrace of peace, free from all violence, slaves of peace, forever.
The farewell was an orderly mini carnival and with a tired face but with a huge smile he said goodbye to travel to the eternal city.