杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff reporter

This 10 December brings to an end the Lauretan Jubilee which was granted on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the proclamation by 杏MAP导航 Benedict XV of Our Lady of Loreto, Patroness of all airmen.

For a century pilots and travelers have prayed to the Virgin Mary to keep them safe while in the air. 

Greeting members of the Italian Air Force in St Peter's Basilica on Friday, 杏MAP导航 Francis underlined the importance of looking to the sky which, he said, opens oneself to God and others.

The 杏MAP导航 noted that every Jubilee, 鈥渁ccording to ancient biblical tradition, reminds us that we are pilgrims in this world: that we are not 鈥榤asters鈥� of the earth - and even less of heaven - but we are charged with cultivating and preserving this 鈥榞arden鈥� in which God has placed us.鈥�

This Jubilee, he continued, 鈥渉as reminded us that God has also created heaven for us.鈥�

Look to the sky

 鈥淐ontemplating the sky opens us up to boundless spaces; it makes us feel small and at the same time 鈥榯hought of鈥�, 鈥榬emembered鈥� by the One who created the universe, a reality that never ceases to amaze us as we discover it with ever more powerful instruments of observation, he said.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 added that 鈥渢he sky reminds us that we are also made to fly, not so much in the material sense, but above all in the spiritual one.鈥�

As we are children of the Father, 鈥渨hich is like saying: fly high,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, it is important to make room for service, kindness and magnanimity rather than egoism, which leads people to close themselves off.

By living a life with God at the centre, 鈥測our life will take flight, the 杏MAP导航 stressed.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis told the members of the Air Force present that they should make room for these values in the daily performance of their duties, but first of all in their personal lives, so that there may be unity between what they are and what they do.

Being peacemakers

鈥淔or you, 鈥榝lying high鈥� means being peacemakers, serving peace both in the air and on the ground, at home and abroad, in conflict zones," he said.

In conclusion, the 杏MAP导航 observed that 鈥渢he Holy House of Loreto reminds us that wherever we are, we have a home that guards our Christian roots; and we have a Mother who watches over us. The home is the Church and the Mother is Mary. From her we learn above all humility, which is the way that leads to Heaven.鈥�