杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

杏MAP导航 Francis met Friday with participants in a meeting of university chaplains and pastoral workers promoted by the Dicastery for Culture and Education.

In his address, the 杏MAP导航 highlighted the importance of the Church鈥檚 pastoral care for university students and staff.

He expressed appreciation for the meeting鈥檚 theme鈥斺�淭owards a Polyhedric Vision鈥濃�攕aying it is 鈥渁n image close to my heart.鈥�

Indeed, the event was held on the 10th anniversary of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� Apostolic Exhortation , in which he launched his call for the Church鈥檚 pastoral care to take on the model of the polyhedron, a three-dimensional shape with flat polygonal faces, straight edges, and sharp corners.

Seeds sown by God

杏MAP导航 Francis drew on that image to focus on three aspects of pastoral care of university students: appreciating differences, accompanying with care, and acting courageously.

Noting that the polyhedron has sharp corners 鈥渁s reality itself can have at times鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said the shape鈥檚 鈥渃omplexity is at the basis of its beauty鈥�.

He said the polyhedron reflects light with varying tones and gradations, while producing a variety of shades.

鈥淗aving a polyhedric vision,鈥� he said about pastoral care, 鈥渋mplies training our eyes to grasp and appreciate all these nuances.鈥�

Education, added the Holy Father, is a true mission, 鈥渋n which individuals and situations are accepted, with all their lights and shadows, with a kind of 鈥榩arental鈥� love.鈥�

That appreciation of differences, he said, fosters the growth of 鈥渢hose seeds that God has sown within each person.鈥�

Well-spring of miracles

Reflecting on the need to accompany university students with care, 杏MAP导航 Francis urged pastoral workers to be attentive to the 鈥渃onfused thoughts, desires, and affections of the young people entrusted to you.鈥�

鈥淚f we remove the edges and erase the shadows in a geometric solid, we reduce it to a flat figure, without breadth or depth,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut if we wisely value it for what it is, we can make it into a work of art.鈥�

The Lord, added the 杏MAP导航, offers us a model for the 鈥渁rt of caring鈥�, one which draws out the best in people by caring for their most fragile and imperfect aspects.

鈥淐are for all of them, without seeking immediate results, but in the sure hope that, when you accompany young people and pray for them, miracles spring up.鈥�

Courage to overcome struggles

The 杏MAP导航 went on to urge university chaplains to act courageously as they seek to nurture 鈥渢he joy of the Gospel in the university environment鈥�.

Highlighting the courage of Mary in her assent to God鈥檚 invitation to bear His Son, 杏MAP导航 Francis said the job of pastoral workers involves helping people overcome their inner struggles by focusing on what is most important in life.

鈥淐ourage enables us to bridge even the deepest chasms, like the fear, indecision and alibis that prevent us from acting and that encourage a lack of commitment,鈥� he said.

Resources sharing

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis expressed appreciation for the mutual generosity shown at the meeting.

He said several universities and individuals had contributed financially to help others attend who would have been unable due to lack of funds.

鈥淚t is also a way of reminding each of us that we need one another,鈥� he concluded, 鈥渁nd consequently always have something valuable to give.鈥�