杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

The second event on his short visit to Hungary is a meeting with representatives of the Ecumenical Council of Churches and some Jewish communities. After hearing from representatives of different religious leaders, 杏MAP导航 Francis  all the leaders, gathered in Budapest鈥檚 Museum of Fine Arts. (Follow the link for an English translation of the full text of the 杏MAP导航's address.)

"Having you here, side by side," opened the 杏MAP导航, is a 鈥渟ign of great unity鈥�. 鈥淎s I look out at you, my brothers and fellow Christians, I bless your continuing journey towards full communion鈥�, he continued.  

To Jews

Addressing his 鈥渄ear brothers in the faith of our father Abraham鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis expressed 鈥渁ppreciation for your efforts to break down the walls that separated us in the past鈥�. He noted that Jews and Christians alike, 鈥渟trive to view one another no longer as strangers but as friends, no longer as foes but as brothers and sisters鈥�.  This is a change that is blessed by God, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渁 conversion that makes possible new beginnings, a purification that brings new life鈥�.

The chain bridge

杏MAP导航 Francis then asked all those present to reflect on 鈥渢he evocative image of the Chain Bridge connecting the two halves of this city鈥�. He noted that the bridge does not fuse those two parts together, but rather holds them together. 鈥淭hat is how it should be with us too鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. He explained that 鈥渨henever we were tempted to absorb the other, we were tearing down instead of building up鈥�. This, he noted, has happened often throughout history. 鈥淲e must be vigilant and pray that it never happens again鈥�, he said, 鈥渁nd commit ourselves to fostering together an education in fraternity, so that the outbursts of hatred that would destroy that fraternity will never prevail鈥�. Thinking of the threat of antisemitism, the 杏MAP导航 stressed, 鈥渢his is a fuse that must not be allowed to burn鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 went on to note that the bridge has yet another lesson to teach us. 鈥淚t is supported by great chains made up of many rings. We are those rings, and each of us is essential to the chain. We can no longer live apart, without making an effort to know one another, prey to suspicion and conflict鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, adding 鈥渁 bridge unites鈥�.

To representatives of the world鈥檚 religions

The 杏MAP导航 stressed that in Hungary, 鈥測ou who represent the majority religions are responsible for promoting the conditions that enable religious freedom to be respected and encouraged for all鈥�. In our world, he continued, 鈥渢orn by so many conflicts, this is the best possible witness on the part of those who have been graced to know the God of the covenant and of peace鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 then explained that the Chain Bridge is the oldest in the city, inviting us to think back to the past where we will encounter 鈥渟uffering and bleak moments, misunderstandings and persecutions but on a deeper level we will find a greater, shared spiritual heritage鈥�. This precious patrimony "can enable us, together, to build a different future. I am moved by the thought of all those friends of God who shone His light on the darkness of this world".  

Miklós Radnóti

杏MAP导航 Francis then spoke of Miklós Radnóti, a great Hungarian poet. 鈥淚mprisoned in a concentration camp, in the darkest and most depraved chapter of human history, Radnóti continued until his death to write poetry鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. His Bor Notebook is the only collection of his poems to survive the Shoah and testifies to "the power of his belief in the warmth of love amid the icy coldness of the camps, illumining the darkness of hatred with the light of faith鈥�.  

Roots for fruits

In the solitude and desolation of the concentration camp, as he realized his life was fading away, Radnóti wrote: 鈥淚 am now myself a root... Once a flower, I have become a root鈥� (Bor Notebook, Root).  We too are called to become roots, said the 杏MAP导航, bringing his discourse to an end. We usually look for fruits, he noted, for 鈥渞esults or affirmation鈥�.

鈥淚f we are rooted in listening to the Most High and to others, we will help our contemporaries to accept and love one another鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. Finally, he added that 鈥渙nly if we become roots of peace and shoots of unity, will we prove credible in the eyes of the world, which look to us with a yearning that can bring hope to blossom鈥�.