Of Salvatore Cernuzio
An assessment of the recent trip to Spain which left him “extremely happy”, with an appeal on migrants and remigration (“Saying let’s send them away, so we wash our hands of the problem, doesn’t seem like a Christian response to me”), in line with the vibrant words already pronounced in the Canary Islands.
Then, a look at current events: that of the Church with the Lefebvrian issue, in view of the next episcopal ordinations announced for July which would cause a schism, and current events in the world with the recent United States-Iran agreement. A reflection accompanied by the hope that the agreement is truly “a solution to the war, that the war is truly over and that we can move forward for the good of all”.
The wind was blowing hard and the sky threatened rain in Castel Gandolfo. And a few drops even fell a few minutes before his exit. But Leo Once through the gate, the Pope then headed towards reporters and correspondents and answered their questions, starting with those from the Spanish media prepared for the press conference scheduled on the return flight from Tenerife and which remained unanswered due to the technical failure which forced the Pontiff to return to the Falcon made available by King Felipe VI.
The Holy Father then recalled the days on Iberian soil, from Madrid to Barcelona to the Canary Islands, in particular “the enthusiastic response of so many people in all places”. “One might think that here yes, here perhaps less, here yes or no, but the truth is that it was a wonderful thing.” «Every moment – said Leo XIV in Spanish – was well prepared. It must also be said that the bishops, with so many lay people, so many volunteers, in all the places who worked to prepare everything, it was wonderful.” From what he was able to observe, the Pope felt like saying that the people were “very happy”.
So were the politicians, with the eight minutes of applause in the headquarters of the Congress of Deputies. It’s not an easy time for Spanish politics, a reporter observed. “I do not want to enter into Spanish politics, nor in other countries, but the invitation to dialogue, the invitation to listen to each other, and not always criticize and insult the opposition without arriving at agreements for the common good”, replied the Pontiff. And he reiterated the appeal already expressed in Congress to respect “human dignity” and “every person”: “I hope it doesn’t take too long.”
In the same vein, the Pope then returned to the migrant issue, a topic addressed several times during the trip and in particular in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, after the entry into force of the EU Pact on migration and asylum. Even in this area, Leo XIV once again invoked “respect for the person”: “Many times we do not recognize the reasons why these people had to leave their countries. Many reasons: violence, war, conflicts. And so simply saying: “We send him away, so we wash our hands of the problem”, does not seem to me to be the most Christian response. We must truly respect people – the Pontiff insisted – to see the cases, and above all to treat people with respect as people”.
Leo with negotiation and not by returning to war.” The hope is that «it is truly a solution to the war, that the war is truly over and that we can move forward for the good of all. Eliminate nuclear weapons, yes, seek the good of all peoples, seek how to resolve the problems also at an economic and social level that have been created in this time.”
The Pope also asked a question about the case of the Society of Saint Pius In this regard, the Pontiff recalled the contacts of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith with the Fraternity: «We are still considering making another appeal, to say: “Don’t do this, let’s try to live communion in the Church”. But it’s their choice. We need to realize what it means for them and for the Church. Certainly the division between Christians is always a painful point, but they refuse to accept certain fundamental elements of the Church, starting with several points of the Second Vatican Council. If they make that choice, I’m sorry, but we must move forward”, commented Leo XIV.
Finally, a final and more personal question, namely when will you start your summer holidays and how will you spend them. «A little rest, a lot of reading, reflection, preparation for what comes next. There is always work too…”. But will he rest? “Let’s hope so!”. And “let’s hope” was the answer also regarding the possibility of trips to Mexico and Peru, the land where he was a missionary for over twenty years. Leo XIV replied with a smile: “We’ll see.”
