Pope reflects on journey to Mexico, meeting with Russian patriarch
February 22, 2016
In his February 21 Angelus address, Pope Francis reflected on his recent apostolic journey to Mexico and his meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
“The spiritual ‘center of gravity’ of my pilgrimage was the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” he told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “To remain in silence before the image of the Mother was my principal aim.”
“I have contemplated and I have allowed myself to be gazed upon by her who carries imprinted in her eyes the gaze of all of her children, gathering up the sorrows caused by violence, kidnapping, assassinations, the violence against so many poor people, against so many women,” he added.
Turning to his February 12 meeting with the head of the largest of the Orthodox churches, Pope Francis said:
We raise up praise, particular praise, to the Blessed Trinity for having wanted on this occasion to bring about in Cuba the encounter between the Pope and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, our dear brother Kirill: an encounter much desired already by my predecessors. This event too is a prophetic light of resurrection, which the world today needs more than ever. The Holy Mother of God continues to guide us in the path of friendship and unity.
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Further information:
- Angelus Domini - 2016.02.21 (YouTube Vatican)
- Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus, 21.02.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
- Full Text of Angelus Address: On the Trip to Mexico (Zenit)
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