Pope gives first address in English
(ANSA) – Vatican City, October 18 – Pope Francis gave his first address in English on Friday when he sent a video message to participants at a conference in the Philippines.
The Argentine pope’s first language is Spanish but he usually speaks in Italian at public meetings at the Vatican. Francis, who has won over the faithful with his simple, humble approach and focus on the poorest and weakest members of society, called on participants at the conference to fight for social justice.
He told them to bring God’s mercy to “the poor, the sick, the abandoned, the young people and families,”.
The three-day Conference on “the New Evangelization” was organised by the archdiocese of Manila and featured the participation of some 5,000 delegates from across South East Asia.
The papal message and a Mass celebrated by the nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, wrapped it up.
Below is a full transcript of the message, taken from Vatican Radio’s website (en.radiovaticana.va).
“My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ, I greet all of you with the peace and joy of Our Lord. The first Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization is a worthy offering to the Year of Faith. “For this I thank all of you, my brother bishops, the priests, religious men and women, seminarians and the lay faithful who organized and are participating in the conference.
“I am happy to learn that you came to Manila from different parts of the Philippines and Asia. “The Holy Spirit is actively at work in you. The Church of Christ is alive.
“Through this conference, I hope you would experience again the loving presence of Jesus in your lives, that you would love the Church more and that you would share the Gospel to all people with humility and joy. “Do not get tired of bringing the mercy of the Father to the poor, the sick, the abandoned, the young people and families. “Let Jesus be known in the world of politics, business, arts, science, technology and social media. Let the Holy Spirit renew creation and bring forth justice and peace in the Philippines and in the great continent of Asia that is close to my heart.
“Please pray for me. I promise to pray for you, especially to Our Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the New Evangelization”.