Be like a banana – Pope Francis off-the-cuff to Central African youth

Bangui, Central African Republic, Nov 29, 2015 / 12:23 pm

During his meeting with the youth of the Central African Republic, Pope Francis gave spontaneous comments in response to a young local who asked the Holy Father's advice about living in a war-torn country.

"We have been taken by heavy winds and violence...these challenges remain numerous," the young man told the Holy Father, pointing out that the symbol of their country was the banana tree because it is resistant and life-giving.

The young man expressed that he and many of his friends are tempted to leave the violence and difficulties of their homeland in the Central African Republic. Since 2012, over 6,000 people in the CAR have died from violence spread by Muslim rebel groups challenging the country's presidential power.

Pope Francis' visit to the CAR is the most dangerous yet, as the country is considered to be an active war zone.

The pontiff held his encounter with the youth outside of Bangui's Notre-Dame Cathedral on Nov. 29. It included a short, unprepared address and was followed by the administration of the sacrament of confession and a prayer vigil.

Below is CNA's full transcript of Pope Francis' remarks to Central African youth:

This friend who spoke in all of your name said that your symbol is the banana tree, because the banana is the symbol of life, it always grows, always produces, gives life, nutrients, energy.

The banana plant is very resistant. I think that this tells us very clearly the way that's proposed to us during this difficult time of war: the way of resistance.

Dear friends, some of you want to go away, some of you want to leave. But escaping from the challenges that life presents is never a resolution.

We need to resist, to have the courage to resist, to fight so that good can come. Those who flee do not have the courage to give life.

The banana gives life and continues to reproduce, giving more and more life because it resists, because it remains, because it's there.

Some of you might ask me 'but father, what can we do? how do we resist?' I'm going to say to or three things that may be helpful for you in order to resist.

First of all, prayer! Prayer is powerful, prayer conquers evil, prayer brings us nearer to God who is all powerful. I'm going to ask you a question: Do you pray? I don't hear you! (cheers). Don't forget.

The second thing I'd like to say is work for peace. Peace is not found in a document you sign. That just remains there. Peace is found every day and peace is something that is done by hand, it's something that artisans do, it's done with one's own life.

But some of you might ask: 'how can I be an artisan of peace?'

First, Never hate! And if someone does evil toward you, try to forgive – never hate. A lot of forgiveness. (Say together) 'no hate, a lot of forgiveness.'

And if you don't have hate in your heart, if you will be a victor. And then you will be a victor of the most important battle of life: victors of love, and out of love comes peace.

Do you want to be conquered or do you want to be victors: what do you want?

The path of love – and can one love an enemy? Yes. Can we pardon those who've done us wrong? Yes. Thus with love and with forgiveness, you will be conquerors. With love you will be victorious in life, love always wins, love will never allow you to be conquered.

I wish you all the best – think of the banana. Think of resisting before difficulty. Escaping, going far away, is not a solution. You need to be courageous. Have you understood what it means to be courageous? Courageous and forgiving, courageous and loving, courageous and being peaceful.

Are we agreed? (cheers). Let's say together: courage, love, reconciliation, peace!

Dear friends, I am very happy to meet with you. Today we opened this door, this means the door of the mercy of God. Entrust yourselves to God, because he is merciful, he is love. He is able to give you peace.

And so I told you at the beginning to pray: in order to resist, to love, and to be artisans of peace. Thank you so much for your presence. Now I will go inside to hear some of your confessions. Are you ready to resist? Yes or no? (cheers). Are you ready to fight for peace? Are you ready in your heart? Is your heart ready to forgive? Is your heart ready to be reconciled? Is your heart ready to love this beautiful country?

And now I go back to what I said in the beginning: is your heart ready to pray? And now, I ask you, to pray for me! So that I might be a good bishop. So that I might be a good Pope. Will you promise to pray for me? Now I give you my blessing. To you and to your families, a blessing, asking the Lord to give you love and peace.

Good evening, and pray for me!