- 17 minutes ago
From Lima, Peru, relive Pope Leo XIV's remarks during his meeting with government officials and representatives of civil society at the Grand National Theater, highlighting cultural richness, unity in diversity, and a commitment to social justice.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:07El Perú
00:08El Perú tiene una historia milenaria
00:28formada por pueblos de diversas lenguas y tradiciones.
00:31Perú has a history stretching back thousands of years,
00:35shaped by peoples of different languages and traditions.
00:38Part of that history continues to be told in Quechua, Aymara,
00:42and the languages of the Amazon.
00:44Over the centuries, other heritages have also been woven into it,
00:49including Afro-Peruvian and Asian-Peruvian traditions,
00:52which have also helped shape the country's identity.
01:00Nearly 500 years ago, the proclamation of the Gospel
01:03opened a decisive chapter in that history.
01:10As Benedict XVI recalled,
01:13from the encounter between that faith and the indigenous peoples,
01:16there has emerged the rich Christian culture of this continent.
01:22The faith took deep root in these lands
01:24and found expression in their traditions
01:26and in countless works of charity.
01:31Suffice it to recall that the first flower of Latin American holiness
01:34bore the name Rosa,
01:36and that is, this Rosa was Peruvian.
01:46The regions of Peru preserve their own traditions
01:50and each contribute something distinct to the national life.
01:58The unity of a people is strengthened when these differences find their place,
02:02and each person contributes from their own history and convictions.
02:07Peru preserves everyday expressions of solidarity,
02:11communal work projects in which neighbors join forces to carry out a task that benefits everyone,
02:17the help families offer one another in times of difficulty,
02:22and the hospitality I have witnessed so many times.
02:31In these gestures, one discovers a way of loving one's homeland
02:34that is manifested, above all, in caring for those who live there.
02:46To love a people is to desire that everyone may live with dignity among them,
02:51to take an interest in them,
02:53and to be willing to offer something of oneself for their good.
02:59It is a sentiment that I have come to understand better thanks to you,
03:03and which I wish to share today with those who hold public office.
03:09Madam President, distinguished officials,
03:12this concern for the good of others is admirably embodied in public service.
03:26Pope Francis, who visited this beloved land in 2018,
03:30recalled that politics is a lofty vocation
03:34and one of the highest forms of charity inasmuch as it seeks the common good.
03:42democratic life brings together people of different convictions and aspirations,
03:47united by a shared national destiny.
03:51Institutions provide channels through which these differences can find expression,
03:56and paths to understanding can be forged.
04:05Public decisions also affect those who live far from the places where they are made,
04:09and this should never be forgotten.
04:12To understand the needs of those who are far away, we must begin by listening to them.
04:27I recall seemingly simple conversations in which the difficulties of a family or the hopes of an entire community came
04:35to light.
04:40In a country where so many languages are spoken,
04:43listening also requires ensuring that everyone can make themselves understood.
04:49Those who turn to public institutions hope to be heard,
04:53to understand the decisions that affect them,
04:56and to find someone they can turn to with confidence.
05:03Behind the files, routine paperwork, or the abstract national census number,
05:08there are real people awaiting answers on which much of their peace of mind depends.
05:17listening requires special patience when dealing with disagreements or painful experiences.
05:28Peru, too, has gone through difficult times that have tested the ability of its people to live together in harmony.
05:36Past events deserve to be treated with justice and sensitivity,
05:40leaving room for harmony to grow and for differences to be addressed with respect.
05:58democratic life implies recognizing that no one has all the answers,
06:02and that differences do not prevent us from sharing a sincere concern for the good of the country.
06:09I would like to encourage everyone to cultivate honesty, integrity, and a willingness to engage with others,
06:16qualities that sustain trust among people and give strength to the life of institutions.
06:24For families, peace has a very concrete meaning,
06:28going out to work without fear, caring for one's children, and returning home with peace of mind.
06:37These are simple aspirations, but no one should be deprived of them.
06:44The Church is aware of the suffering caused by violence and wishes to remain close to those who endure it,
06:51encouraging the efforts of all who work to protect the life, dignity, and rights of people through law and justice.
07:09Providing for one's family with dignity is also part of that everyday peace.
07:14I think of those who cultivate the land, the fishermen who go out to sea, small business owners, and those
07:21who keep cities running.
07:23Each of these jobs contributes to the life of the nation, and deserves to be recognized in its dignity.
07:36St. Paul VI taught that authentic development must promote all people and the whole person.
07:43Such development encompasses material well-being as well as the cultural, moral, and spiritual aspirations of every person.
07:57There are goods that no economic prosperity can replace.
08:01Peace of conscience, the certainty of being loved, and the freedom to seek the truth, and to guide one's life
08:08according to it.
08:14The desire to seek the truth begins to manifest itself very early on, in the questions through which a child
08:21discovers the world.
08:23A school capable of embracing that search can open up horizons that once seemed distant, and help the child recognize
08:31his or her own abilities.
08:39I think with gratitude of the teachers in various regions of Peru, who accompany this discovery and pass on to
08:47their students the value of their land, so that they may learn to know and love it.
08:54But the horizons that open up in the classroom must later be matched by real opportunities.
09:03I extend a word of affection to young people, especially those seeking their first job or preparing for new responsibilities.
09:11Let us work so that they may develop their talents and generously place them at the service of others, especially
09:18those most in need.
09:29When a person falls ill or needs ongoing care, the lives of those around them also change.
09:36Anyone who has cared for a loved one knows how much timely medical care, a friendly presence, and a word
09:43of comfort mean.
09:48I think of the elderly, people with disabilities, and those suffering from loneliness or mental health challenges.
09:56Many families quietly shoulder this burden, often with great sacrifice.
10:09I encourage the authorities to support this dedication by providing them with accessible health services and strengthening preventative medicine.
10:18Those who devote their energy to caring for others also need to find someone to care for them.
10:33I also think of the many Peruvian women who have run soup kitchens and community meal programs,
10:40and of those who, through their professions and public responsibilities, contribute to the good of the country.
10:47May all of them be able to freely develop their abilities, participate fully in their communities, and live free from
10:54violence and any form of exploitation.
11:05In Peru, the rivers of the Amazon, the Andean Highlands, and the extensive coastline shape the lives of numerous communities
11:12and the work of their inhabitants.
11:15The use of these resources, through agriculture, fishing, or mining, requires caring for nature and respecting the communities that depend
11:25on it.
11:30Understanding each territory allows us to anticipate the risks posed by natural phenomena and better protect the population.
11:39The solidarity that Peruvians demonstrate in the face of emergencies deserves to be matched by equally committed institutions,
11:47capable of preventing disasters and acting in a timely manner when a life is in danger.
11:58Science and technology help us anticipate many of these risks.
12:02Their advances also make it possible to improve healthcare and bring educational opportunities to remote communities.
12:11Artificial intelligence expands these possibilities and transforms the way we work and interact.
12:22As I noted in Magnifico Humanitas, these new capabilities call for discernment and a responsible orientation toward the common good.
12:31May their benefits reach everyone and may their development remain at the service of human dignity.
12:40There must also be adequate legal safeguards to prevent potential abuses and protect people from their consequences.
12:59Environmental protection and the responsible use of new technologies also require collaboration among nations.
13:06Due to its location in the Andes and the Amazon and its access to the Pacific,
13:12Peru maintains ties with labouring nations and with peoples from other continents.
13:18Numerous issues affecting the lives of its inhabitants,
13:21far from environmental protection to migratory movements,
13:26are best addressed through dialogue and cooperation.
13:37Furthermore, I think of the many Peruvians living abroad who, while building their lives in other lands,
13:44maintain their affection for their families and contribute to the communities of their origin.
13:50In cities far away, the image of the Lord of Miracles continues to bring Peruvians together,
13:55who find in that devotion a way to maintain their ties with their homeland.
14:05Distance does not necessarily diminish love for one's homeland.
14:09At times, it allows us to recognize more clearly how much we have received from it.
14:18Those who come to Peru also bring stories and hopes that deserve to be welcomed and respected.
14:23Their stories show that relations between countries have very concrete consequences for the lives of families.
14:37The wars and tensions that afflict so many people call for patient diplomacy.
14:44Diplomacy that keeps dialogue open, respects international law,
14:48and seeks agreements that protect the lives and dignity of people.
14:54Every nation has legitimate aspirations, but none can regard the fate of others as extraneous to its own concern.
15:07I encourage Peru to continue contributing to regional and international cooperation,
15:12and to foster understanding even when positions seem irreconcilable.
15:22May we never give up on seeking ways to alleviate the suffering of peoples and move toward peace.
15:28Relations between Peru and the Holy See are rooted in this spirit of cooperation.
15:37The Peruvian constitution recognizes the Catholic Church as an important element in the historical,
15:45cultural, and moral formation of the nation,
15:47and provides for collaboration between the state and the Church within a framework of independence and autonomy,
15:54while also respecting other religious denominations.
16:02The Church, mindful of this recognition, wishes to continue offering the Peruvian people what it has received as its mission,
16:10to proclaim the gospel, to accompany those who suffer, and to serve the dignity of every person.
16:23This commitment is evident in its communities, in its educational and charitable works,
16:29and in the many lay faithful who, moved by their faith,
16:33participate in the life of the country through their professions and civil responsibilities.
16:39May this relationship continue to develop with mutual respect, always seeking the good of all Peruvians.
16:52Ladies and gentlemen, there are many ways to serve Peru.
16:55I thank those who do so through their institutions,
16:58and all those who, through their daily work, contribute to the good of their communities.
17:04I have received so much from you.
17:07There are faces, conversations, and gestures of affection that, even after so many years, continue to stay with me.
17:16From the See of Peter, I wish to reciprocate such affection with my prayers and my closeness.
17:24I would also like to propose to you the social doctrine of the Church as a guide to enlighten and
17:30direct the efforts of all who work for the good of this nation.
17:38At the well of St. Rose of Lima, generations of Peruvians have placed their petitions and hopes.
17:45Today, from here, I too would like to place my prayer into that blessed well.
17:56Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Rose, and all the saints and blessings of this land,
18:02I ask that the Lord, I ask the Lord that the love of Christ may help you to recognize in
18:08every Peruvian a brother or sister,
18:11and in each one, yet another reason to love your homeland.
18:16May God bless Peru and all its people.
18:18Thank you very much.
18:19Thank you very much.
18:35These were the words of Pope Leo XIV in his gathering with the government officials
18:43in the Grand Tierra Nacional, the Great National Theater in Peru.
18:50He arrived this afternoon in the Callao Air Base, where he was received by the
18:59faithfuls that gathered waiting for his arrival.
19:04He was also received by the head of states of the country and different officials from the government.
19:12These were the words of Pope Leo XIV in Peru in the Great National Theater.
19:24More news coming up about Pope Leo and the world, so stay tuned to From the South and to tell
19:31us your English.
19:47We'll see you next time.