杏MAP导航

By Alessandro De Carolis

There was more than one aspect to the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 Apostolic Journey to the Baltics鈥攐r rather, the experience that has just been lived quickly branches into interwoven themes upon which 杏MAP导航 Francis wanted to express himself, themes that are the keystones of his Magisterium. And so there was a reversal of roles during the press conference. At one point the 杏MAP导航 was prodding the reporters on the flight back from Talinn to ask 鈥渜uestions about the trip,鈥� holding back others who were fluttering over their notebooks. Because the three questions asked by reporters from the Baltic countries were not enough for the 杏MAP导航 to fully express himself, he took it upon himself to immerse himself in the reality of the 鈥渢hree sisters,鈥� Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, united in the wounds that remain etched in their collective memory. The Baltic nations are currently looking to the west, while rooted in the east, with a future that the 杏MAP导航 has looked forward to with hope.

An identity to be preserved

It is as if Francis were composing a mosaic. First, he insisted, as he has on practically every day of the journey, on the preservation of the respective identities of the Baltic countries, too often trampled on by cruel invaders. The identity of a nation guarded by those who yesterday used it as a shield against dictatorships, and today, by the elderly, who have a duty to transmit to the young the entire heritage of culture, faith, and art. Then, he recalled his visit to the torture chambers in the Museum in Vilnius dedicated to victims, in order to condemn the violence and the 鈥渟candal鈥� of the legal and illegal arms trade. It is 鈥渓icit鈥� and honourable, he maintained, to defend the homeland, but States should provide themselves with a rational, and non-aggressive, defensive army. And finally, he recalled once again the principle of 鈥減rudence鈥� with regard to immigration, which in the Baltic nations involves people coming and going; and he noted how the newly appointed heads of state recognized the value of 鈥渨elcome.鈥�

China: the 鈥淲isdom鈥� of the Agreement

The Holy Father then submitted to the duty of responding to current events. The Provisional Agreement with China, coming shortly after his arrival in Lithuania, is the topic that has moved the attention of Vatican experts far to the east. The criticisms of the events that matured last weekend, are well known: some have accused the Vatican of 鈥渟elling out鈥� the Church to China. 杏MAP导航 Francis replied calmly, saying of the Agreement, 鈥淚 signed it myself,鈥� explaining 鈥淚 am responsible鈥� for it. He asked for prayers for those who have lived 鈥渇or years under clandestinity,鈥� who today do not understand the import of the deal. In every peace accord, he recalled, 鈥渂oth sides lose something.鈥� Yet now, he points out, 鈥渋t is the 杏MAP导航 who names鈥� the Chinese Bishops. Francis praised the 鈥減atience鈥� and 鈥渨isdom鈥� of the Vatican negotiators鈥攊ncluding Cardinal Parolin, Monsignor Celli, and Father Rota Graziosi鈥攕aying he himself had evaluated all the materials on the Bishops who had not yet received papal approval, and pointing out that the appointment of Bishops would become the exclusive concern of the papacy in the not too distant future.

The 鈥済reat faith鈥� of the Chinese people

Remaining on the topic of China, 杏MAP导航 Francis paid tribute to the 鈥済reat faith鈥� of Chinese Catholics who have lived under trying circumstances for a long time. 鈥淭here is always suffering with an agreement,鈥� he noted, and related an anecdote: on the occasion of the 鈥渇amous statement of a former apostolic nuncio鈥� 鈥� which had led many episcopates to express their closeness to the 杏MAP导航 鈥� the Chinese faithful, too, whether of the traditional Church or not, had signed a letter to tell the 杏MAP导航 of their solidarity. And for him, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥渢hat was the sign.鈥�

Abuses are monstrous

The 杏MAP导航 answered a question by a German journalist inspired by the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 words to young people in Estonia. It would be 鈥渕onstrous鈥� even if only a single priest had committed such crimes. Sexual abuse can be found everywhere, but in the Church, he insisted, they are much worse because priests should 鈥渂ring children to God.鈥� And on this point there can be no negotiation. However, 杏MAP导航 Francis observed, one should not commit the error of interpreting the past with the standard of justice, with the 鈥渉ermeneutic鈥� of today, when we have different sensibilities. Once these crimes 鈥渨ere covered up,鈥� but once the 鈥渢he Church became aware of this鈥� she responded.