Below is the text of Pope Francis’ weekly Wednesday audience, delivered on Sept. 21, 2022.
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Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Last week, from Tuesday to Thursday, I traveled to Kazakhstan, an enormous country in Central Asia, for the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. I renew my gratitude to the President of the Republic and the opposite Authorities of Kazakhstan for the cordial welcome I used to be given and for the generous efforts in organizing it. I also sincerely thank the Bishops and all of the collaborators for the nice work they’ve done, and particularly for the enjoyment they’ve given me in having the ability to meet and see all of them together.
As I said, the predominant reason for the trip was to participate within the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. This initiative has been carried out for 20 years by the Authorities of the country, which presents itself to the world as a spot of meeting and dialogue, on this case on the religious level, and thus as a number one player in promoting peace and human brotherhood. It was the seventh edition of this congress. A rustic that has been independent for 30 years has already had seven editions of those congresses, one every three years. This implies putting religions at the middle of efforts to construct a world where we take heed to one another and respect one another in diversity. And this just isn’t relativism, no, it’s listening and respecting. And credit for this have to be given to the Kazakh government, which, having freed itself from the yoke of the atheistic regime, now proposes a path of civilization, clearly condemning fundamentalism and extremism. It’s a balanced position and one in every of unity.
Solemn moments are necessary, but then it’s the each day commitment, it’s the concrete witness that builds a greater world for all.
The Congress discussed and approved the Final Declaration, which stands in continuity with the one signed in Abu Dhabi in February 2019 on human fraternity. I wish to interpret this step forward because the fruit of a journey that starts from afar: I’m pondering, in fact, of the historic Interfaith Meeting for Peace convened by St. John Paul II in Assisi in 1986, much criticized by individuals who lacked vision; I’m pondering of the far-sighted gaze of St. John XXIII and St. Paul VI; and likewise that of great souls of other religions—I limit myself to recalling Mahatma Gandhi. But how can we not remember so many martyrs, men and girls of all ages, languages and nations, who paid with their lives for his or her fidelity to the God of peace and fraternity? We all know: solemn moments are necessary, but then it’s the each day commitment, it’s the concrete witness that builds a greater world for all.
Along with the Congress, this trip gave me the chance to fulfill the Authorities of Kazakhstan and the Church living there.
After visiting the President of the Republic—who I thank again for his kindness—we went to the brand new Concert Hall, where I used to be in a position to speak to the political Leaders, representatives of civil society, and the Diplomatic Corps. I emphasized Kazakhstan’s vocation to be a rustic of encounter: actually, about 100 and fifty ethnic groups—100 and fifty ethnic groups!—coexist there and greater than eighty languages are spoken. This vocation, which is as a consequence of its geographical characteristics and history—this vocation of being a rustic of encounter, of culture, of language—has been welcomed and embraced as a path, which deserves to be encouraged and supported. I hoped as well that the development of an increasingly mature democracy, able to effectively responding to the needs of society as a complete, could proceed. That is an arduous task, which takes time, but already it have to be acknowledged that Kazakhstan has made very positive selections, equivalent to saying “no” to nuclear weapons and making good energy and environmental policies. This was courageous. At a time when this tragic war brings us to the purpose where some persons are pondering of nuclear weapons, that madness, this country says “no” to nuclear weapons from the very starting.
As for the Church, I used to be so glad to fulfill a community of completely satisfied, joyful people crammed with enthusiasm.
As for the Church, I used to be so glad to fulfill a community of completely satisfied, joyful people crammed with enthusiasm. Catholics are few in that vast country. But this condition, if lived with faith, can bring evangelical fruits: initially, the blessedness of littleness, of being leaven, salt, and light-weight relying solely on the Lord and never on some type of human relevance. Furthermore, numerical scarcity invites the event of relationships with Christians of other denominations, and likewise fraternity with all. So a small flock, yes, but open, not closed, not defensive, open and trusting within the motion of the Holy Spirit, who blows freely where and the way He wills. We also remembered that grey part, the martyrs, the martyrs of that holy People of God, because they suffered many years of atheistic oppression, until liberation thirty years ago, men and girls who suffered a lot for the religion in the course of the long period of persecution. Murdered, tortured, imprisoned for the religion.
With this small but joyful flock, we celebrated the Eucharist, also at Nur Sultan, within the Expo 2017 plaza, surrounded by ultra-modern architecture. It was the feast of the Holy Cross. And this leads us to reflect: in a world during which progress and regression are intertwined, the Cross of Christ stays the anchor of salvation: an indication of hope that doesn’t disappoint since it is founded on the love of God, merciful and faithful. Our gratitude goes out to Him for this journey, as does our prayer that it’s going to be wealthy in fruit for the longer term of Kazakhstan and for the lifetime of the pilgrim Church in that land. Thanks.
Appeals
Today is World Alzheimer’s Day, a disease that affects so many individuals, who are sometimes pushed to the margins of society for this reason condition. Allow us to pray for those affected by Alzheimer’s, for his or her families, and for many who lovingly look after them, that they might be increasingly supported and helped. On this prayer I also associate the the boys and girls coping with haemodialysis, dialysis, and transplantation who’re represented here.
And likewise I would really like to say the terrible situation in tormented Ukraine. Cardinal Krajewski went there for the fourth time. Yesterday he telephoned me, he’s spending time there, helping in the realm of Odessa and bringing closeness. He told me concerning the pain of this people, the savagery, the monstrosities, the tortured corpses they find. Allow us to unite ourselves to this people who find themselves so noble and martyred.
