杏MAP导航 Francis meets with Papal Representatives
By Christopher Wells
More than one hundred pontifical representatives 鈥� Apostolic Nuncios and Permanent Observers 鈥� met with 杏MAP导航 Francis on Thursday in the Vatican. The Holy Father convened similar Meetings of Pontifical Representatives in 2013 and 2016, and has expressed his desire that the triennial gatherings should continue in the future.
At the meeting on Thursday morning, 杏MAP导航 Francis elected to engage in a dialogue with the papal representatives rather than deliver a planned discourse. The text of the address, which he described as a 鈥渕editation鈥� on the role of the Nuncio鈥�, was consigned to the Nuncios and Permanent Observers for further reflection.
Man of God and man of the Church
In the prepared remarks, the Holy Father offers papal representatives a kind of 鈥渄ecalogue鈥� of ten qualities that characterize a Nuncio. The Nuncio, he says, is a man of God, following God in all things; and a man of the Church. A Nuncio does not represent himself, but the Church, and especially the 杏MAP导航. He makes present and symbolizes the Holy Father, serving as a bridge connecting the Vicar of Christ and the people to whom he is sent.
杏MAP导航 Francis says that the Nuncio is a man of apostolic zeal, with 鈥渢he duty of illuminating the world with the light of the Risen One, of bringing Christ to the ends of the earth鈥�. At the same time, he must be a man 鈥渙f mediation, of communion, of dialogue, and of reconciliation鈥�, who must be impartial, seeking only justice and peace.
The Nuncio must also be a man of initiative, able to recognize and meet the challenges of the present moment, avoiding both rigidity, and 鈥渉ypocritical and chameleon-like flexibility鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis says that the Nuncio is also a man of obedience, which for a Christian and a Nuncio refers to 鈥渢he call to follow the style of life of Jesus of Nazareth鈥�.
A Nuncio鈥檚 life must also be marked by prayer, the 杏MAP导航 says, which brings true 鈥渇amiliarity with Jesus鈥�, Whom he is called 鈥渢o communicate, to proclaim, to represent鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis then reminds the papal representatives that 鈥減rayer, the path of discipleship, and conversion find in charity that is shared the verification of their evangelical authenticity鈥�.
A Litany of Humility
杏MAP导航 Francis concludes his 鈥渄ecalogue鈥� for Nuncios 鈥渨ith the virtue of humility鈥�, sharing with the Nuncios and Permanent Observers the 鈥淟itany of Humility鈥� composed by the Servant of God, Cardinal Rafael Merry dal Val, a former Secretary of State under St Pius X:
Lord Jesus. Meek and humble of heart, hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
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