杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

鈥淗umanizing relationships in any society, including the Church, means working tirelessly to form mature, coherent individuals who, firm in their faith and ethical principles, are capable of confronting evil, bearing witness to the truth in capital letters.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis offered that consideration on Tuesday in a message sent to participants in the 3rd Latin American Congress, taking place in Panama on March 12-14.

Promoted by the Center for the Protection of Minors (CEPROME), the event has gathered Church representatives from across the region to reflect on the theme: 鈥淰ulernability and abuse: Towards a broader view of prevention鈥�.

Eradicating scourge of abuse

In his message, the 杏MAP导航 entrusted to the Lord the Church鈥檚 efforts to eradicate 鈥渢he scourge of abuse in all areas of society.鈥�

He recalled his audience in the Vatican with members of CEPROME on September 25, 2023. At the time, he highlighted the Church鈥檚 commitment to discover the 鈥渟uffering face of Jesus in each of the victims.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis also encouraged participants to pray for the conversion of all sinners, including abusers, while working to prevent all forms of abuse.

Understanding vulnerability

Considering the issue with the eyes of God, he added, can help us better understand our own vulnerability.

鈥淪eeing our own weakness as an excuse to stop being full persons and complete Christians, incapable of taking control of their destiny, will create childish, resentful people,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd in no way represents the littleness to which Jesus invites us.鈥�

Rather, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, Christians are called to find strength in our weaknesses while trusting in God's grace (cf. 2 Cor 12:8-10).

By finding our strength and trust in God, he noted, 鈥渨e will be able to face life鈥檚 contradictions and contribute to the common good in the vocation to which we have been called.鈥�

Rooting out situations that protect abusers

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to call for the Church to root out structures that protect people who abuse others.

鈥淚n terms of prevention,鈥� he said, 鈥渙ur efforts must undoubtedly aim to eradicate situations that protect those who hide behind their position to impose themselves on others in a perverse manner, but also to understand why they are incapable of relating to others in a healthy way.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 noted that any society not based on the premises of moral integrity 鈥渨ill be a sick society,鈥� whose relationships will wind up perverted by selfishness, fear, and deceit.

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his message to the 3rd Latin American Congress by inviting participants to entrust their 鈥渨eakness to the strength that the Lord gives us.鈥�