Pope Francis sent a letter to the participants of the National Meeting of Shrines, which began this Thursday in San Antonio de Arredondo, Córdoba (Argentina).
In the letter, the Holy Father expresses his joy for this new meeting of the members of the different shrines and highlights: “It is a characteristic of our faith that we share it with those who walk alongside us. And it is a note of the mission that we live it side by side.”
When referring to the motto “The abundance of God’s life in the sanctuaries”, the Pope affirms that this “is manifested in his pilgrim children.” “I am convinced of what the motto expresses: sanctuaries are oases for our world,” he says.
“For that reason we need them,” the Pontiff said, “and the sanctuaries need us so that we can be at the service of other brothers who are pilgrims and long to be received, listened to, accompanied with their lives on their backs.”
“Let us not forget that God raises and loves his children through human instruments: each of us for the others,” highlights the Holy Father.
“His mercy, particularly poured out in these places of so much blessing, is a balm of hope and consolation for our people: an oasis in the midst of hard life,” he highlights.
Likewise, he maintains that the popular faith expressed in the sanctuaries “is the immune system of the entire Church”, which saves and prevents its members “from great spiritual, ecclesiological and pastoral distortions.”
Finally, Pope Francis thanks the members of the sanctuaries in his letter “for the service and mission they carry out with generous dedication, joy and hope,” while encouraging them “to continue along the path of accompaniment to popular piety.” ”.
“I pray for you. Please don’t forget to do it for me. “Jesus bless you and our Mother of Luján take care of you,” concludes the Holy Father.
The meeting, which will take place until Sunday, September 17, will have moments of talks, animation, reflection and joint work.
Lay people, religious, priests and servers from sanctuaries from all over the country participate.
Among the Bishops present at the Meeting are Mons. Ángel Rossi, Archbishop of Córdoba, who spoke on the life of San Gabriel del Rosario Brochero; and the Bishop of Gregorio de Laferrere and national delegate of Sanctuaries, Mons. Jorge Torres Carbonell.