杏MAP导航

By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

鈥淚 am pleased to meet you today and to share, together with all those who are part of the institutions you represent and your families, the 30th anniversary of your work in the service of the people,鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis as he greeted the members of the Pontifical International Marian Academy and the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate (DIA) while receiving them in audience on Thursday in the Vatican.

In his prepared remarks, the 杏MAP导航 said fraternal coexistence and social friendship are possible where there are 鈥渉ouses鈥� that implement the 鈥減act between generations鈥� by 鈥減reserving the healthy roots of those who have believed and believe in the beauty of being together that develops in dialogue, kindness and support for justice for all.鈥�

It is thanks to these 鈥渉ouses鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis insisted, that it is possible to build 鈥渁 large family open to the common good, living up to the spread of a culture of legality, respect and safety of people and the environment.鈥�

Do not let fear win

杏MAP导航 Francis acknowledged the active engagement of the DIA in the building of 鈥渉ouses鈥� which act as 鈥渕ild and strong antibodies to partisan interests, corruption, greed, and violence, which are the DNA of mafia and criminal organizations.鈥�

鈥淢afias win when fear takes over life,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航, adding that this is why 鈥渢hey take over the mind and heart, stripping people of their dignity and freedom from within.鈥�

To counter this, he encouraged the DIA to work 鈥渟o that fear cannot win鈥�, as it is 鈥渁 support for change, a glimmer of light in the midst of darkness, and a witness to freedom.鈥�

鈥淚 encourage you to continue on that path,鈥� he urged. 鈥淏e strong and bring hope, especially among the weakest.鈥�

Least and fragile are most affected

When security and legality are lacking, the first to be harmed are the most fragile and all those who in various ways can be called last, said the 杏MAP导航.

He said the weak are preyed upon to be made the 鈥渕odern slaves on which mafia economies are built鈥� and the 鈥渞efuse鈥� the mafia need to 鈥減ollute social life and the environment itself.鈥�

In the face of this, the 杏MAP导航 stressed the importance of standing next to the victims of bullying by trying to prevent and oppose crime.

Encouragement

Highlighting that their 鈥渄elicate and risky work鈥� deserves to be appreciated and supported, 杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged them to continue with enthusiasm despite the presence of some shadowy areas in the social and ecclesial fabric where it is 鈥渄ifficult to perceive the clear distancing from old, erroneous and even immoral ways of acting.鈥�

鈥淓veryone at every level should decisively embark on the path of justice and honesty,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 stressed.

And where there has been connivance and opacity, 鈥渋t is necessary to study the causes, leaving the right space for a healthy "shame," without which change is not possible, and mutual cooperation for the common good remains a chimera.鈥�

Gratitude

The Holy Father went on to express a word of gratitude to them, thanking the institutions for 鈥渨ho you are and what you do.鈥�

鈥淒o not tire of standing beside the people with tenderness and compassion; make yourselves ever more promoters of this love for the people, for their lives and for their future, which represents the synthesis of your own ideals,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.

He added that 鈥渢his love is capable of generating new relationships and giving birth to a more just order through 'houses' and 'families' enlivened by the ferment of equality, justice and fraternity.鈥�

Concluding, 杏MAP导航 Francis entrusted those present to the protection of Our Lady, asking her to guide the institutions in this 鈥渕eaningful mission鈥� and invoked a blessing upon them and their families.