Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Simplicity and transparency are key to Pope Francis’ Colombia trip

Simplicity and transparency are key to Pope Francis’ Colombia trip

Last updated on: September 6, 2017 at 9:04 am by CNA Daily News

Simplicity and transparency are key to Pope Francis’ Colombia trip 2017-09-06T09:04:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Medellin, Colombia, Sep 6, 2017 / 03:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Simplicity and transparency have been key words in the preparations for Pope Francis' visit to Colombia, according to the secretary general of the Colombian bishops' conference.

Pope Francis is a “champion” of simplicity through his personal way of life and well as the requirements he makes for an apostolic voyage, Bishop Elkin Fernando Álvarez Botero, an auxiliary bishop of Medellin, told CNA.

“If we just begin with what the Pope asks for during an apostolic visit: a non-armored car, that there be no luxuries, that he's not going to ride in a luxury car, these things. Even thinking about how to host his delegation and himself, that this not entail exorbitant expenses,” he emphasized.

“I have participated in the preparations and I can disclose … that we have really cut back a lot of things. You can't cut everything back on everything, some things are required, but many situations in fact have been trimmed down,” Bishop Alvarez added.

The prelate also stressed the importance of transparency, since “this has special significance on a continent where corruption scandals occur every day. Our country is not the exception.”

“I know what goes on in other Latin American countries to a greater or lesser extent, but the issue of financial management for the Pope's visit has to be transparent. The accounting always clear and you can see where the resources are coming from,” he said.

“This has been a commitment and we've had to sacrifice, for example putting a cap on donations because it is necessary to exercise a certain control.”

A third important point, Bishop Alvarez emphasized, “is that we all feel responsible.”

“If we all work together from our limited means, we can accomplish it. That's what we call in Colombia the dynamic of 'everyone puts in.' If all of us Catholics put in a minimum amount, a dollar, we all feel responsible,” he pointed out.

The Colombian prelate emphasized that “as the days go by, as we get closer to the Holy Father's arrival, our expectations are high, there is great hope. The same feeling one has when something important that you've been preparing for, all of a sudden it's right there.”

“At this time we would have wanted to optimize a lot of things that we've been preparing in order to receive well the Holy Father's message, but I believe we're at a good point and therefore we're going to receive it with an open heart, eager for his message and knowing that this is the visit of the Successor of Peter among us,” he said.

Bishop Álvarez emphasized that there is “widespread expectancy” in the Colombian people “for feeling the nearness of the Pope.”

“And this is an expectancy common to people of faith, of no faith, because they feel that the Pope interprets human aspirations,” he emphasized.

“This is a very Colombian term among us, colloquial: the Pope is arriving, which means the Pope is near, he is able to understand us, the way he and his audience connect.”

“The prevailing feeling here is that having the Pope close, is to have confidence, it's to have security, it's to receive a good message, and everyone wants to feel the nearness of the Pope,” said Bishop Alvarez.

“We should take advantage of this, experience more deeply the closeness not just of a human leader, it's the closeness of the Successor of Peter, who invites us to strengthen our faith, that is to firm up our faith and all that it involves. Not just from the liturgical point of view, but also the aspect of the practice of our faith.”

“I believe that the pope's consistency is admired such that the same consistency ought to appear in the lives of all Christians,” he said.

In addition, Pope Francis' visit to Colombia has a special repercussion among the bishops, since it brings with it “the strengthening of the faith and communion of the college of bishops as well.”

“I believe that this experience of communion among us and with the Holy Father on the part of the bishops, has been greatly heightened in this preparatory stage,” the prelate said.

Bishop Alvarez also stressed that “Pope Francis is a master of discernment, the discernment of situations. So let us say that the the bishops place themselves at his side to discern the present time and to determine the pastoral direction that can help us, with all the implications of that discernment.”

“Let us say, before God, whose word, to use a biblical term, lays bare our lives, before him the Church has to mark out the way. And if the Pope goes out in front then we will most assuredly have the way,” he said.

Americas

Previous Post

September 6, 2017

Judge temporarily blocks Texas' 'dismemberment abortion' ban

Next Post

September 6, 2017 Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, second of four 'dubia' cardinals, dies at 79

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as _______, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.

Select your answer to see how you score.

Living Sacrifices Clay Vessels Sacrificial Lambs An Offering