Cardinal Bergoglio calls on children to sow peace in Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct 27, 2009 / 18:22 pm

During his homily for the Archdiocesan Mass for Children, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, reminded the 10,000 children present of the need to grow in faith and love. He also asked them to promise Jesus that “where there is hatred, we will bring love, where there is fighting, we will bring peace.”

According to the AICA news agency, Cardinal Bergoglio reflected on the theme for the Mass, “Let’s go to the feast, Jesus awaits us,” and underscored that “the center of the feast must be Jesus.”

“In order for there to be a feast, there must be joy, but also something else: in order for there to be a feast in the hearts of each one of us - pay attention now - we must give joy to others, we must make others joyful, and we must help others to open their hearts to Jesus' feast.”

At the conclusion of the Mass, Cardinal Bergoglio renewed the consecration of both Buenos Aires and the hearts of children to St. Therese the Little Flower.

Afterward, the children released balloons and doves while listening to a recording made by the archdiocesan mission office of the prayer intentions of children who live on the street. “May we all have enough food to eat,” prayed one child. “May all children have a warm home,” prayed another. “May we care for our grandparents,” and “may all the children of the world have a family,” prayed others.