Speeches 1986 - Melbourne (Australia), 30 November 1986


PASTORAL VISIT IN AUSTRALIA


TO THE ELDERLY

Perth (Australia), 30 November 1986

"We do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day".

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

1. In coming to visit the elderly at "Glendalough", I am pleased to find a real home for the aged in the care of the Little Sisters of the Poor. And today, from this home I wish to express my deep affection for all the older members of Australian society in every corner of this land: those who are living in homes such as this; the many who are living with relatives or friends; those who live alone, especially if they are sick, disabled or infirm. To each one of you I offer my warm good wishes for your well-being and happiness, and I express the hope that as your physical energies diminish with age as must be in our earthly pilgrimage your inner spiritual resources will increase and be renewed day by day.

You know that wherever I go I enjoy being with the young, that they inspire me by their enthusiasm. But I also want you to know that I experience great happiness when I am with the aged. You give me a share in your peace and in the accumulated wisdom of your lives.

2. Let us live this moment together in a spirit of thanksgiving to God for the lives he has given us. You can look back on lives rich in memories. Many of you have your children and your children’s children to be proud of. Perhaps some of you remember times of pain and the hopes that never quite materialized. But all of us – to use the words of the First Letter of Saint John – " know and believe the love God has for us". Yes, God has loved and continues to love each one of you in a deep and personal way. If you think back, you will see that your whole life is a story of God’s love coming upon you in successive stages. Life itself is a gift of the Father’s love, as was your baptism, your Christian faith and the presence of the Holy Spirit down through the years. For all these gifts we sing a hymn of gratitude to God: "Blessed be the Lord who has shown me the wonders of is love".

3. My brothers and sisters: many of you are an inspiration because of your patience in waiting for the Lord to come and because of your confident faith that he will take you to himself. You remember his promise, and you are convinced that it applies also to you: "There are many rooms in my Father’s house... I am going now to prepare a place for you: so that where I am you may be too".

All of us who have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ know that our death will not be totally different from the rest of our earthly journey. It too will be God’s love coming upon us, but God’s love in its transforming fullness.

4. Still, no matter what our age, all of us must try to use to the full the time that still remains to us.

There are those who believe that after a certain age there are no further challenges to face, that no further growth is possible. Each one of you knows that this is not true. Learning to grow old requires wisdom and courage. The experience of ageing is one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living. Yet it is an experience that is touching more and more people in our time. In Australia, over the next thirty years, it is expected that the number of people over sixty-five will double. Society focuses on the economic and political implications of this increasing population of the elderly. But it is up to us, as Christians, to remind the world of the precious experience and the wisdom, vision and spiritual energies of the elderly.

5. The spirituality of ageing has its own unique challenges and invitations.

Among the most important of these is the call to reconciliation that confronts the elderly in the evening of life. As you look back on your lives you may remember sufferings and personal failures. It is important to think about these experiences, so as to see them in the light of the whole of life’s journey. You may realize that some events which caused you suffering also brought you many blessings. Perhaps they gave you special opportunities for doing good that would not otherwise have been a part of the pattern of your lives.

As Christians we should offer our memories to the Lord. Thinking about the past will not alter the reality of your sufferings or disappointments, but it can change the way you look at them. Younger people cannot fully understand the way in which the elderly sometimes return to the distant past, but such reflection has its place. And when it is done in prayer it can be a source of healing.

6. I am speaking of the important spiritual healing that restores inner freedom to the elderly. This kind of healing is gained through an awareness and appreciation of the ways in which God works through human weakness as well as through human virtue. Even the memory of our sins does not discourage us any longer, because we realize that God’s mercy is greater than our sins and that God’s pardon is a proof of his faithful love for us. Jesus – the Way, the Truth and the Life- takes upon himself our human weaknesses and failings and in return offers us redemption, forgiveness and peace.

The promise of resurrection enables the aged to see all of life in a totally different way.

In whatever way you are called to suffer, I urge you to take courage from the words of Saint Paul: "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparting with the glory that is to be revealed to us... the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves... groan inwardly, as we await... the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved ".

In the healing process which should accompany old age, the Sacrament of Penance plays an important part. In this sacrament, reconciliation with God, with the Church and with others becomes a deeply spiritual experience. It is an experience that can and should be renewed at regular intervals. In this sacrament you come into direct contact with Christ’s mercy and his loving pardon. And here I appeal to priests to remember how important this ministry is for the sick and the aged.

Then too there is the Sacrament of the Sick, which benefits both soul and body. The Church asks that through the anointing with oil and the prayer of faith our sins be forgiven, that the remnants of sin be taken away and that the increase of grace be accompanied by an improvement of health, if God so wishes if for our good. I hope that you will approach this sacrament with confidence. The Church makes this sacrament available to the elderly not only when they are gravely ill but also when the weakness of ageing weighs them down. When I was in hospital five years ago I myself derived much comfort from it.

7. The ageing experience brings with is a new attitude to time. You now have the opportunity to appreciate each moment of life. It becomes possible for you to stop and admire and be grateful for the ordinary things of life, things which perhaps you overlooked before: the little things like human companionship and solidarity, and the beauty of the world that tells us about the infinitely greater beauty of the Creator. All of these offer new possibilities for contemplative prayer, a prayer not only of words but above all of trusting abandonment into God’s hands. You can be drawn to realize that, while life itself is a gift, your own particular life is God’s special gift to you and your gift in return to God. God’s immensity and mystery penetrate your life in unexpected ways, and you are invited into greater union with God. You have many opportunities to raise your minds and hearts to God in prayer, and for this you should thank him.

While old age brings with it the challenge to look back to the past, it is also a time of responsibility for the future. It is an invitation to take a new interest in life, to enter into a new relationship with the world. The elderly do not usually take part in social and political activity, but you still can contribute a great deal to making the world a better place. You have experience to share, wisdom to impart, tolerance to teach, though these are not always evident to younger people. Your words of peace and love are greatly needed in today’s society. Above all it is through your life of prayer – at times accompanied by suffering – that you will help bring the redeeming love of Christ to the world.

You are able to teach the young that it is important to value life in itself and for itself. You invite other age groups to realize that feverish activity is not the measure of a useful life. Your ability to cherish life for its own sake, in spite of a lessening energy and mobility, challenges others to reflect not only on the value of doing but on the value of being. Your lives are directed towards the Kingdom of heaven, and this challenges those whose interests are all bound up with the passing world. As you gradually detach yourselves from certain possessions, you help others to reflect on their own relationship to material things. In this way your lives can be an eloquent witness to the essential values taught by Christ.

8. As we grow older we become more dependent. We are blessed indeed if, in our later years, we find others to take an interest in us and help us. This is the beautiful and meritorious work carried out by so many, inside the family, or for an aged friend, or in hospitals and in homes like this. It is the work done by many religious. And they are joined by devoted lay workers. All who care for their older brothers and sisters are serving Christ. Theirs is a wonderful vocation and an impressive testimony of Christian charity.

To all of you who care for the elderly I wish to say a final word of recommendation and encouragement. Yours is not a service that is limited to physical and material things. You have the precious task of helping the older members of the community to turn their later years into a time of fulfilment and completion. It is a time when they should integrate the joys and sorrows, hopes and anxieties of life – which the elderly feel in a particularly sensitive way – into a vision of life in which they acknowledge God’s providence and rely totally on his mercy and love. For this reason you must always approach your task with love and respect, which you must renew daily in the certainty that Christ repeats to you those words in the Gospel: "you did it to me". In serving the old you are bearing clear witness to your beliefs:

– belief in the dignity of the human person;
– belief that life in Christ is the most important of all realities;
– belief in the life that reaches beyond time to eternal happiness in union with our loving God.

Your work therefore is an enterprise of human solidarity and of evangelical love. Your loving care is a precious help to the old. Your clear witness is a help and encouragement to us all.

9. Whoever in Australia is taking care of an ageing parent or relative, or, as a religious or lay person, is serving the aged in a hospital or home such as this: I ask you in the name of the greatest of all the commandments, which is love, to continue your work with new conviction and fresh dedication.

I pray that Australians will always honour the old and show them special affection: I pray that public policy will always be based on absolute respect for their dignity and their inalienable rights. And to young Australians I say: look at the treasure of humanity and wisdom that is yours in your old folk! Love them and be grateful to them!

Jesus said to his disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you". I can wish no greater blessing upon you, my elder brothers and sisters, than the peace of Christ. May peace be the atmosphere in which you pass your days and may it be firmly established in your souls. May you be able to share your peace with all those around you.

Remember always that Jesus has given us his Mother Mary to be our Mother too. She is close to us every day of our pilgrimage to heaven. You will find joy and strength when you ask Mary’s help, especially when you pray to her using that beautiful prayer which is the Rosary. She is the Queen of heaven and she awaits us all with her Son. At the time determined by God she will welcome us to our eternal home, where together with the angels and saints we shall for ever praise the Most Holy Trinity: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

And now as a token of our spiritual union in Christ and his Church, I gladly impart to you all my special Apostolic Blessing.

PASTORAL VISIT IN AUSTRALIA


FOR THE OPENING OF THE

CATHOLIC EDUCATION CENTRE


Perth (Australia), 30 November 1986


Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

1. I am pleased to be here for this opening of the Catholic Education Centre for the Church in Western Australia. This is an event of special significance. The Centre itself, which houses the Catholic Education Office and the Catholic Institute, builds upon the worthy achievements of Catholic educators in the past, and looks constructively to the future. The Centre is a sign of the Church’s commitment to educate people of all ages – adults as well as youth – and it is a concrete means for accomplishing that goal. I willingly commend you for this important initiative and for the Gospel zeal which it symbolizes.

I acknowledge with gratitude the presence of representatives of the Federal and State Governments. I also greet the representatives of the whole Catholic education community of Western Australia, as well as those from the Western Australian College of Advanced Education and from the Perth College of Divinity. Thank you all for being here.

Education is a primary human right, and thus it is a fundamental concern of both civil society and the Church. Its purpose is described in the words of the Second Vatican Council which stated: "True education aims at the formation of the human person with respect to his ultimate goal, and simultaneously with respect to the good of those societies of which he is a member, and in whose responsibilities he will share as an adult".

Consequently through this Centre, as through all the many other educational initiatives of the Church, a twofold goal is pursued: education in the faith, and education in the knowledge necessary for people to assume their personal responsibilities within their families, at their place of work and in the larger society.

Jesus’ last words to his disciples were a command to proclaim the Gospel to the people of every time and place: "Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations: baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you". These words are relevant for us today. They retain their same force and challenge. And you have heard this challenge here in Western Australia. You have heard it and are eager to meet it.

2. And indeed what immense challenges confront Catholic educators in today’s world. It is a world in which materialism and the pursuit of pleasure distract many people from hearing the voice of the Lord and even the voice of their own inner longings. At the same time, there are great signs of hope, indications that many others are coming to see the emptiness of a life apart from God, and are experiencing a new hunger and thirst for God. In the midst of these different currents of the modern world, Catholic education seeks to be faithful to its religious dimension. Catholic education is called upon to develop the gift of faith. It aims at bringing into the fullness of the Christian life those who have been baptized. It seeks to foster a desire to worship God in spirit and in truth, and a longing to share more completely in the life of the Most Holy Trinity.

In today’s world, we must help young people and adults to have a clear and consistent understanding of the faith, so that they will be able to affirm their Christian and Catholic identity. Only then will they be able to bear joyful witness to Christ in the changing times in which we live.

Education must also assist the members of the Church to grow in an appreciation of their human vocation, since all are called to help make the world a better place. If people possess truly human values and sound moral principles, they will be enabled to find "solutions which are truly human" for the problems of their lives. Christians know that their faith helps them to contribute more effectively to the good of the society in which they live.

3. It is appropriate that this building which we bless today should house both the Catholic Education Office and the Catholic Institute. These two bodies together are responsible for a wide range of Catholic educational efforts in Western Australia. You educate children. You help adults grow in the faith. You aim at promoting full maturity in Christ by caring for spiritual needs and by fostering the development of physical, moral and intellectual talents.

Of course, a total Christian education cannot be given by teachers alone. Full personal growth takes place in the home, the parish and the civic community, as well as in the school. Catholic education is the responsibility of the entire Church, and its effectiveness depends upon how much all the members of the local Church work together.

Here in Western Australia you have a rich heritage of sacrifice and dedication. As we look out from this building over Subiaco, the very name reminds us of men like Bishop Salvado, who personified the great Benedictine tradition with its love for learning and its evangelizing zeal. We think of the spirit of self-sacrifice of the priests, most of whom came from abroad to build the Church in Western Australia.

We think also of the generous efforts of the religious, who, giving little thought to their own comfort and needs, kept always before their eyes the mission of furthering God’s Kingdom. In this context we remember especially the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and their untiring solicitude for the well-being and education of the young women in their care. This is the legacy that you have received, together with the wealth of experience handed down by your families. It is a splendid basis upon which to continue Christ’s mission in the future.

4. Before closing, I wish to express sincere appreciation for the financial aid which the Commonwealth and State Governments give to non-government schools. It seems only just that such sharing should take place, since those who benefit from the aid become productive citizens of Australian society. I am confident that the honest and fruitful lives of the many graduates of these institutions have proved that this assistance is more than worthwhile for all to Australia.

I assure you of my prayers for the success of this Centre and for the success of all your efforts in the vital work of Catholic education. May you and those you serve grow always in the truth and love of God. For as Saint John says: "In our life of truth and love we shall have grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ".

May God bless you all.

December 1986



  PASTORAL VISIT IN AUSTRALIA

FAREWELL CEREMONY


Perth (Australia), 1 December 1986



Dear People of Australia, dear Friends,

1. This moment of farewell is linked with the joyful memory of my arrival in Canberra a week ago, and of so many wonderful events since then.

For many months I had planned and looked forward earnestly to this Pastoral Visit. I was pleased that it would bring me to every State and Territory in Australia, and that it would give me an opportunity to meet Australians from many walks of life and widely differing backgrounds. And as I now prepare to depart, I want you to know how much this visit has meant to me.

I have experienced the warmth and hospitality of the whole Australian nation. You have truly opened your hearts to me and received me as a friend and brother. The vastness of your country, with all its majestic features and natural beauty, is surpassed only by the hospitality and enthusiastic spirit of its people, from the Aborigines and Islander people whom I met in Alice Springs to your most recent immigrants, whom I seemed to encounter at nearly every stop along the way. In the youth and in the elderly, and in all the parents with their families, I have had the joy of discovering the secret of Australia’s greatness, your most precious treasures.

2. It was a special joy for me to be with my brothers and sisters of the Catholic faith. In all the places I visited, I had the privilege of joining the local Churches in celebrating the Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life.

As chief Pastor of the Catholic Church, I have the responsibility of confirming all the local Churches in their faith and of encouraging them to persevere in fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not only has it been a great pleasure to fulfil this apostolic mission in Australia, it has also been truly inspiring. The Church in Australia, like Australia herself, is young and vigorous. She is eager to do great things for Christ and for all humanity.

3. It is with profound gratitude that I say goodbye this morning I thank the Federal, State and civic authorities who have so generously assisted me, especially the Prime Minister who has honoured me by his presence and his words. Once again I thank the Catholic bishops, as well as your Government for inviting me to come. I am deeply grateful for all the arrangements that have made my stay among you possible. In particular I am grateful to all those concerned with the security arrangements of my visit. I thank those who provided for my transportation to the various venues and all the people of the communications media who helped give such widespread coverage to each event of the past week which will always remain for me an unforgettable encounter with Australia’s soul. The beautiful ceremonies and the wonderful spirit of collaboration shown by everyone are special memories for me. And to all of you who have worked so hard and have received me with open arms, I express my lasting thanks.

4. I came to Australia to join my brothers and sisters of the Christian faith in celebrating Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life. This is the heart of our faith. This is the basis of our hope. This is the source of our joy.

I also came to speak words of esteem and friendship for all who believe in God, and for all men and women of good will. My message has likewise been a proclamation of human dignity, and an appeal for human solidarity and peace, under the sign of truth and justice, freedom and love.

And all of this, dear people of Australia, is my wish for you today and in the years ahead. Remember always who you are, where you are going and why. Remember how much you have to offer to the world and how much its destiny depends on you. As a nation you are called to greatness, for you are called to love God and serve your fellowman! And now: Advance, Australia Fair!

TO THE MEMBERS

OF THE PARLIAMENTARY PRO-LIFE GROUP

13 December 1986



Dear Friends,

I AM PLEASED to welcome to the Vatican this group of British Members of Parliament and their families. I thank you for coming to Rome and for the kind sentiments which prompted you to request this audience.

1. Your presence here today reminds me of my pastoral visit to your country several years ago. So many special moments of that visit remain vividly fresh in my mind and heart. I think, for example, of the prayer service for the family which took place in the City of York. On that occasion, I spoke of the positive aspects of family life in contemporary society and of the negative phenomena which families are experiencing. Some of you may recall that, in the context of that meeting. I directed some words to public authorities, words which I would like to repeat today since they seem particularly appropriate as I meet with you here in the Vatican.

I said: “Treasure your families. Protect their rights. Support the family by your laws and administration. Allow the voice of the family to be heard in the making of your policies. The future of your society, the future of humanity, passes by the way of the family”.

I know that, as distinguished Members of the Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, you do indeed possess a deep concern for the well-being of the family, and for the good of all your fellow citizens. In a particular way, your efforts are directed towards the protection of human life from the moment of conception until natural death. Such concerns bear witness to your awareness of the primacy of moral values and to your convictions about the dignity of all human life.

2. Accordingly, I am confident that you would agree with what I stated in my Apostolic Exhortation on the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World, namely: "The great task that has to be faced today for the renewal of society is that of recapturing the ultimate meaning of life and its fundamental values".

All of us can contribute to this great task. The family certainly as a central role to play, as does the Church by her faithfulness to Christ and the Gospel. You, as parliamentarians, have a special contribution to make, one which I know you are eager to fulfil. In this, I offer my personal support and encouragement.

3. In the context of contemporary society, and of British society specifically, your work requires that you associate with people of many different backgrounds and points of view. You must continually practice the art of dialogue as persons of integrity and truth. This means that you candidly and courageously put forth your own convictions while seeking to detect the portion of truth which others present for your consideration. You do not shut your eyes to what is unjust or wrong. In fact, the more closely you yourselves are attuned to true moral values the more sensitive you become to what is inconsistent with these, and thus detrimental to the good of the human family. This growing awareness should give you renewed courage to forge ahead, to discover the deeper roots of injustice end evil, to look for appropriate remedies and to persevere in efforts to put these into effect.

Truth does not permit us to despair of our opponents. Nor does it allow us to equate them with the errors which they seem to propose. Rather, it calls us continually to maintain a deep respect for all people, and urges us to appeal to reason, to conscience and to the heart, never losing hope of arriving at a new and deeper understanding and solution.

We meet today during the Advent Season, a time when the Church prepares to celebrate the Feast of our Saviour’s Birth. This is a season of hope, a season of faith and love. May it be for each of you and for all the members of your families a special time of grace.

God bless you all.

ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II

TO THE NEW AMBASSADOR OF SINGAPORE

TO THE HOLY SEE

18 December 1986



Mr Ambassador,

I AM VERY PLEASED that this meeting, in which you present the Letters of Credence appointing you Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Singapore, is taking place only a few weeks after my brief visit to your country. I had the pleasure at that time of meeting your President, His Excellency Mr Wee Kim Wee, and the Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. I felt the warmth of your people’s welcome and hospitality, and I had the opportunity to visit the young and vibrant Catholic community of Singapore that is striving to work wholeheartedly for the well-being of the entire civil community in peace and harmony. For all of this I give thanks to Almighty God, and I express my cordial appreciation and gratitude to the Government and people whom you represent.

I welcome you, Mr Ambassador, and I assure you of the Holy See’s desire to collaborate fully with your country in maintaining and strengthening the bonds that unite us in promoting peace and development in the world through respect for human rights and by way of solidarity with the peaceful aspirations of all peoples and nations.

Singapore constitutes a very significant instance of people from many different ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds coming together to build a nation on the basis of mutual acceptance and collaboration. By pursuing this path in justice and tolerance, your people effectively give expression to a conviction which I stated as follows at Singapore’s National Stadium during my recent visit: "Peace requires justice, an attitude which recognizes the dignity and equality of all men and women, and a firm commitment to strive to secure and protect the basic human rights of all".

By following such a path, small nations too have an important role to play in the cause of world peace. By their example they can show that peace is possible and that it is vital for the economic and social development of peoples. I therefore pray that the Republic of Singapore will continue to prosper and that all its citizens will enjoy the freedom to serve God and their fellow human beings in goodness and truth.

The Catholic Church, and other religious communities too, are able to make a fundamental contribution to the cause of peace precisely because they are concerned with the spiritual realities of human life. They help people grow in the love of God and neighbour. As I also stated during my visit: "True peace begins in the mind and heart, in the will and soul of the human person, for it proceeds from genuine love of others. Indeed it is true to say that peace is the product of love when people consciously decide to improve their relationship with others, to make every effort to overcome divisions and misunderstandings, and if possible even to become friends".

I have vivid memories of my contact with the Church in Singapore. I am pleased that the Catholic community, although it constitutes only a small portion of the population, is active in educational and welfare services, and is contributing in many ways to the life of the nation. I know how dearly the clergy, religious and laity love their country and wish to contribute to its happiness.

Mr Ambassador, I invoke God’s blessing upon you as you begin your mission. I assure you of my goodwill and I ask you to transmit my cordial greetings to President Wee. May God abundantly bless your country.



Speeches 1986 - Melbourne (Australia), 30 November 1986