Cardinal Hollerich: Altar serving is 'a service to God and others'
By Joseph Tulloch and Marie Duhamel
This week, around 50,000 altar servers are descending on Rome, as part of a pilgrimage organised by the International Assosiation for altar boys and girls ().
The pilgrimage 鈥� which is taking place from July 29 to the August 3 鈥� will see the participants visit Rome鈥檚 four papal Basilicas, and meet with 杏MAP导航 Francis in a special audience in St Peter鈥檚 Square.
The majority of the altar servers attending 鈥� around 35,000 鈥� come from Germany, but there will also be participants from other European countries, including Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
Accompanying the pilgrims throughout the week will be Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, Archbishop of Luxembourg, who spoke to Vatican News鈥� Marie Duhmael.
Serving God, serving others
The Cardinal began by noting that the theme of the pilgrimage is 鈥淲ith you鈥� (Isa 41:10).
鈥淭his 鈥榶ou鈥�,鈥� Cardinal Hollerich said, is first of all God: 鈥淐hrist, who we are serving in the liturgy.鈥�
However, it also extends to the 鈥済roup of friends鈥� making the pilgrimage together. 鈥淭his 鈥榶ou鈥� must have a broader meaning,鈥� the Cardinal said, 鈥渂ecause we cannot serve Christ without serving our sisters and brothers.鈥�
Combatting bullying
In this regard, a particularly important subject for altar servers to focus on 鈥� given that they are mostly teenagers 鈥� Cardinal Hollerich said, is bullying. The prelate stressed that the internet has transformed bullying into 鈥渟omething awful.鈥�
Altar servers, he said, 鈥渟hould never bully, but always be on the side of the weakest in their class or place of work.鈥�
The Cardinal then brought the interview to an end by discussing the pilgrims鈥� upcoming meeting with 杏MAP导航 Francis, which will see all 50,000 gather in St Peter鈥檚 Square.
This encounter, Cardinal Hollerich said, would be a moment to 鈥渓isten to the 杏MAP导航's testimony, and to be encouraged by him to live this service to the altar, this service to our sisters and brothers throughout the world.鈥�
You can find a longer French-language interview on this topic with the Cardinal here.
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