Quotes and news

Last Tuesday, millions took part in the inauguration ceremony of the Petrine office of Pope Francis. The different ways in which the role of protector is exercised was the central theme of the Pope’s homily.

This theme will probably develop into the main leitmotiv of his pontificate: “To protect Jesus with Mary, to protect the whole of creation, to protect each person, especially the poorest, to protect ourselves: this is a service that the Bishop of Rome is called to carry out.” These quotes are taken from this fantastic homily.

Joseph the protector

“Joseph is... the protector… of Mary and Jesus; but this protection is then extended to the Church. … (He exercises) his role as protector… discreetly, humbly and silently, but with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when he finds it hard to understand. (He) respond to his calling to be the protector… by being constantly attentive to God, open to the signs of God’s presence and receptive to God’s plans, and not simply to His own. …God does not want a house built by men, but faithfulness to His Word, to His plan.”

Protecting creation involves everyone

“The vocation of being a ‘protector’… has a prior dimension which is simply human, involving everyone. It means protecting all creation, the beauty of the world. It means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live. It means protecting people, showing loving concern for every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about.

“It means caring for our families: husbands and wives first protect one another, and as parents, they care for their children, and children, in time, protect their parents. It means building sincere friendships in which we protect one another in trust, respect and goodness. Everything has been entrusted to our protection and all of us are responsible for it. Be protectors of God’s gifts.”

For those in power

“I ask all who have positions of res­pon­sibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and wo­men of goodwill: let us be ‘protectors’ of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment. Let us not allow omens of destruction and death to accompany the advance of this world.”

Watch your emotions

“But to be ‘protectors’, we also have to keep watch over ourselves. Let us not forget that hatred, envy and pride defile our lives. Being protectors, then, also means keeping watch over our emotions, over our hearts, because they are the seat of good and evil intentions: intentions that build up and tear down. We must not be afraid of goodness or even tenderness.

“Here I would add one more thing: caring, protecting, demands goodness, it calls for a certain tenderness. … Tenderness… is not the virtue of the weak but rather a sign of strength of spirit and a capacity for concern, for compassion, for genuine openness to others, for love. We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness.”

The power to serve

“Let us never forget that authentic power is service, and that the Pope too, when exercising power, must enter ever more fully into that service which has its radiant culmination on the Cross. … (The Pope) must open his arms to protect all of God’s people and embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important…

“Only those who serve with love are able to protect.”

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)