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« I ask that we may be one, that the Church may be a house of brothers »: Pope Francis celebrated Mass in Quito this Tuesday and above all spoke of evangelisation, from the Bicentenary Park, nicknamed the lung of the Ecuadorian capital. Laid out on the site of the former airport and inaugurated two years ago, this vast green space hosts large gatherings such as music festivals and sporting events. But the city had ended up completely surrounding the old airport, which was therefore closed and converted into a park. More than a million trees have been planted. The buildings have been transformed into a convention centre, while the former landing strip has become a place of leisure.
It is this place that was chosen to welcome the 700,000 faithful who came to attend the second Mass of Pope Francis's journey in South America, after the one dedicated to the family on Monday in Guayaquil. Many had spent the night on site, braving the cold and the damp. The Holy Father did not forget this setting when he delivered his homily: the Bicentenary Park refers to the two hundred years of Ecuador's independence from Spain. This will for independence, according to Francis, was « a cry, born of the awareness of a lack of freedoms, the awareness of being an object of oppression and pillage, "subject to the passing conveniences of the powerful of the moment" (Evangelii gaudium, no. 213) ». Comparing this cry to the « whisper of Jesus at the Last Supper », the Pope hoped that these two cries would converge towards the « beautiful challenge of evangelisation », to which this Tuesday's Mass was dedicated and which is the theme of his journey in Latin America. « We, gathered here, all together around the table with Jesus, are a cry, a clamour born of the conviction that His presence impels us to unity », a unity to be lived « so that the world may believe », he repeated at several moments of his homily.
« To this cry for freedom raised a little more than 200 years ago, neither conviction nor strength was lacking, Francis observed, returning to Ecuadorian independence, but history tells us that it was beyond dispute only when it set aside individualisms, the will for sole leadership, the lack of understanding of other processes of liberation with different characteristics but not for all that antagonistic. And evangelisation can be the vehicle of unity of aspirations, of sensibilities, of hopes and even of certain utopias », for the Holy Father, applauded on numerous occasions.
Unity is a duty for believers
In this world « lacerated by wars and violence », division and hatred « are the manifestation of that "widespread individualism" that separates and sets us against one another (cf. Evangelii gaudium, no. 99), of the wound of sin in the hearts of persons, whose consequences society and the whole of creation suffer. Precisely to this rebellious world, with its selfishness, Jesus sends us, and our response is not to pretend to be distracted, to argue that we do not have the means or that reality is beyond us. Our response repeats the cry of Jesus and accepts the grace as well as the task of unity », Pope Francis insisted.
« The desire for unity presupposes the gentle and comforting joy of evangelising, the conviction of having an immense good to communicate and that, in communicating it, it takes root, the Supreme Pontiff continued. Hence the need to strive for inclusion at all levels, avoiding selfishness, promoting communication and dialogue, encouraging collaboration. We must open our heart to the fellow traveller without fears, without mistrust » and not forget that « peace is a work of craftsmanship » (Evangelii gaudium, no. 244).
Unity does not mean uniformity
But beware of falling for all that into proselytism, warns Francis, which is « a caricature of evangelisation ». Rather we must «attract through our witness those who are far off, to draw near humbly to those who feel far from God and from the Church, to those who are fearful or to those who are indifferent, to tell them: "The Lord calls you too to be part of His people, and He does so with great respect and love" (Evangelii gaudium, no. 113) », the same respect that He shows us, even in our sins. Evangelisation must also take account of all our differences; the desire for unity does not mean uniformity. Proclaiming the good news of the Gospel with joy will make us « part of a "we", which will become a divine "we" ».
« How beautiful it would be if all could admire how we care for one another, Francis wished. How we mutually encourage one another and how we accompany one another. (...) Be witnesses of a fraternal communion that becomes resplendent! » the Pope declared to the faithful, recalling the necessary dynamic of self-giving in this missionary action. By giving himself, man rediscovers his true identity as a son of God, Francis recalled: « this is what evangelising is, this is our revolution – because our faith is always revolutionary », he concluded.
Some features of this Mass in Ecuador
It should be noted that this Mass had very strong indigenous accents: the Pope's chasuble was woven by hand with indigenous motifs, the second reading was read in the Quechua language, and several members of indigenous minorities were among those who brought up the offerings. In his homily, the Pope took up several passages from his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, but also excerpts from the 2007 Aparecida document, which Cardinal Bergoglio had himself drafted, a document that aimed to give renewed missionary impetus to the Latin American continent. Finally, the metal structure built for the platform where the altar stood will be reused and transformed into a chapel for a poor neighbourhood of Tumbaco, a town on the outskirts of Quito.
Source: news.va
