Pope Benedict XVI, with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala, talk to children upon his arrival at Silao's international airport in Guanajuato, Mexico, on Friday
GUANAJUATO, Mexico, MARCH 23, 2012 (Zenit.org).-
Benedict XVI arrived in Mexico today to the sounds and scenes of an
exuberant welcome, as wildly enthusiastic crowds cheered and chanted,
"Se ve, se siente, el Papa está presente!" (we can see it, we can feel
it, the Pope is here!).
Considering the time change and the 14-hour trip, it must have felt
like a never-ending day for the elderly Pontiff, but he seemed to soak
up the enthusiasm of the crowds, responding to President Felipe
Calderón's welcome address with his own discourse on his hopes for
Mexico.
Following his speech and individual greetings to Calderon's cabinet
and local Church officials, the Pope took his time blessing, embracing
and encouraging a long line of young people, some of them with
disabilities, as Calderón's wife accompanied him, helping some of the
children to reach the Holy Father. That was followed by a slow drive to
the city in the Popemobile, more than 30 kilometers (some 20 miles) from
the airport, as more cheering, flag-waving crowds lined virtually the
entire path. By the time Benedict XVI was finally installed for the
night, it was the wee hours of the morning in Rome.
First speech
Delivered in clear Spanish, though with his voice sounding a little
dry, his discourse at the airport indicated some of the salient points
of the message the Pontiff will leave in Mexico.
"I come as a pilgrim of faith, of hope, and of love," the Holy Father
said. "I wish to confirm those who believe in Christ in their faith, by
strengthening and encouraging them to revitalize their faith by
listening to the Word of God, celebrating the sacraments and living
coherently. In this way, they will be able to share their faith with
others as missionaries to their brothers and sisters and to act as a
leaven in society, contributing to a respectful and peaceful coexistence
based on the incomparable dignity of every human being, created by God,
which no one has the right to forget or disregard. This dignity is
expressed especially in the fundamental right to freedom of religion, in
its full meaning and integrity."
Though Mexico's population is more than 80% Catholic, religious
liberty in the country continues to face an echo of the restrictions
that brought about the Cristero War in the 1920s.
Regarding the three-fold recipe for revitalizing the faith
(coherence, sacraments and the Word of God), the Pope might have alluded
in part to Mexico's cultural religiosity, which creates the phenomenon
of many Catholics who celebrate popular religious feast days, such as
Epiphany or All Souls' Day, but are irregular attendees of Sunday Mass,
and poorly catechized.
Changing the world
Benedict XVI also spoke to Mexico, suffering the violent war on drugs, about hope.
"Confidence in God offers the certainty of meeting him, of receiving
his grace; the believer’s hope is based on this. And, aware of this, we
strive to transform the present structures and events which are less
than satisfactory and seem immovable or insurmountable, while also
helping those who do not see meaning or a future in life," he said.
"Yes, hope changes the practical existence of each man and woman in a
real way. [...] This country and the entire continent are called to live
their hope in God as a profound conviction, transforming it into an
attitude of the heart and a practical commitment to walk together in the
building of a better world."
The Pope concluded with the promise of prayers to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
"I know that I am in a country which is proud of its hospitality and
wishes no one to feel unwelcome. I already knew this, and now I can see
it and feel it in my heart," he said, as the crowd broke out in cheers.
"I sincerely hope that many Mexicans who live far from their homeland
will feel the same way and that nothing will cause them to forget it or
to lose the wish to see it grow in harmony and in authentic integral
development. Thank you!"
