14:59 | Temuco (Chile), Jan. 17.
His Holiness Pope Francis called for unity and warned against enforcing it through violence Wednesday while celebrating a mass in Temuco —the heartland of Chile's indigenous peoples.
According to the
Vatican News, the Pope invited the indigenous peoples to seek the unity of which Jesus spoke: "That they all be one (Jn 17:21)."
The Vicar of Christ thanked God for allowing him to visit this beautiful part of the continent, the Araucania.
"This landscape lifts us up to God, and it is easy to see His hand in every creature. Many generations of men and women have loved this land with fervent gratitude," he said.
Greeting Chilean indigenous people
He took a pause to greet —in a special way— the members of the Mapuche people, as well as the other indigenous peoples who dwell in these southern lands: the Rapanui (from Easter Island), the Aymara, the Quechua, the Atacameños, and many others.
According to him, this Eucharist was celebrated in the context of thanksgiving for this land and its people, but also of sorrow and pain.
"We do so in this Maqueue aerodrome, which was the site of grave violations of human rights. We offer this Mass for all those who suffered and died, and for those who daily bear the burden of those many injustices. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross bears all the sin and pain of our peoples, in order to redeem it," he stated.
Confusion between unity and uniformity
The Holy Father explained that one of the main temptations we need to resist is that of confusing unity with uniformity. Additionally, enforcing unity through violence is another.
He said, "Jesus does not ask his Father that all may be equal or identical, for unity is not meant to neutralize or silence differences."
Unity, he explained, "is not an idol or the result of forced integration; it is not a harmony bought at the price of leaving some people on the fringes."
The said the unity sought and offered by Jesus acknowledges what each people and each culture are called to contribute to this land of blessings.
"Unity is a reconciled diversity, for it will not allow personal or community wrongs to be perpetrated in its name," he added.
Violence threatens unity
The Supreme Pontiff said unity is to be built on esteem and solidarity and that we cannot accept any means of attaining it.
There are two types of violence that threaten unity. One of them frustrates hope.
"First, we have to be on our guard against coming up with 'elegant' agreements that will never be put into practice. Nice words, detailed plans –necessary as these are– but, when unimplemented, end up erasing with the elbow what was written by the hand," he explained on this one kind of violence.
In the second place, he insisted that a culture of mutual esteem may not be based on acts of violence and destruction that end up taking human lives.
"Violence eventually makes a most just cause into a lie," he said.
Francis said those two approaches are like the lava of a volcano that wipes out and burns everything in its path, leaving in its wake only barrenness and desolation.
Finally, he encouraged all to say "may we too be one, make us artisans of unity" to the Father.
(END) NDP/RMB/MVB
Publicado: 17/1/2018