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POPE MONITOR
POPE PRAISES PEACE LEGACY OF MIKHAIL GORBACHEV
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POPE FRANCIS APPEALS FOR AID FOR SOMALIA
Pope Francis has paid tribute to former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, who died at age 91 on August 30 after a long illness.
In a telegram sent to Gorbachev’s daughter Irina Virganskaya, the pope offered his “heartfelt condolences” to his family.
“Spiritually close at this moment of grief at the death of your father, the Honorable Mikhail, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to you, all family members, and those who saw him as a respected statesman,” he wrote.
“Recalling with gratitude his far-sighted commitment to harmony and fraternity among people, as well as to the progress of his own country during an era of important changes,” the pope offered his prayers for his repose, “invoking from God, good and merciful, eternal peace for his soul.”
Gorbachev was known for his policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) that paved the way for the breakup of the Soviet Union.
He played a central role in ending the long Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, and the fall of the Iron Curtain that divided Europe into two political worlds of East and West.
In a ceremony to create 20 new cardinals, Pope Francis encouraged them to have “spiritual fire” in their interactions with others.
“A cardinal loves the church, always with that same spiritual fire, whether dealing with great questions or handling everyday problems, with the powerful of this world or those ordinary people who are great in God’s eyes,” the pope said during the consistory, the prayer service during which he personally welcomed 20 men into the College of Cardinals.
In his homily during the August 20 ceremony, Pope Francis reflected on Jesus’ words to his disciples: “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled.”
He said that the “flame of the spirit of God” represents God’s love “that purifies, regenerates and transfigures all things.”
Jesus’ words, he added, are emblematic of the “fiery mission” entrusted to the newly created cardinals.
“Today too, Jesus wants to bring this fire to the earth. He wants to light it anew on the shores of our daily lives. Jesus calls us by name;
Mikhail Gorbachev
Commons:RIA Novosti
Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his leading role in promoting peace, negotiation, and slowing down the arms race. He led the Soviet Union from 1985 until its dissolution in 1991.
he looks us in the eye and he asks: ‘Can I count on you?’” the pope said.
Recalling the life of St Charles de Foucauld, the pope praised those Christians, both consecrated and lay, who live in secular environments, yet still are true Christian witnesses who keep the flame of God’s love alive through their lives and actions.
The consistory brought to 226 the total number of cardinals in the world; 132 cardinals are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave.
Pope Francis has called on the international community to help the people of Somalia, who are at risk of famine due to severe drought.
Speaking during his Sunday Angelus address the pope said: The populations of this region, who already live in very precarious conditions, now find themselves in mortal danger due to drought.
“I hope that international solidarity can respond effectively to this emergency. Unfortunately, war diverts attention and resources, but these are the objectives that demand the utmost commitment: the fight against hunger; health; and education.”
A recent report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlighted that the rise in food insecurity brought on by the drought has caused more than 900,000 people to flee their homes in search of humanitarian assistance since January last year.
As conditions worsen, people living in eight different areas of the country are at risk of famine, the organisation said.
“We cannot wait for famine to be declared; we must act now to safeguard livelihoods and lives,” said Rein Paulsen, director of the FAO. “We are deeply concerned about the drought situation and how vulnerable households are being affected.”
The risk of famine has been exacerbated due to a fragile government and repeated attacks across Somalia by the al-Shabab terrorist group.
