Pope: pray for humanitarian summit, China’s Catholics

May 23, 2016

Following the recitation of the Angelus on May 22, Pope Francis asked the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pray for the World Humanitarian Summit, which begins on May 23 in Istanbul, and for the Church in China.

“The summit aims to enable reflection on the measures which must be adopted in order to face the dramatic humanitarian situations caused by conflicts, environmental problems and extreme poverty,” the Pope said. “Let us accompany with prayer the participants in this gathering so they fully commit to reaching the principal humanitarian objective: saving the life of every human being, with no one excluded, in particular the innocent and most defenseless.”

The Pope added:

On Tuesday May 24, we spiritually unite ourselves to the faithful of China, who on this day celebrate with particular devotion the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, who is venerated at the Sanctuary of Sheshan in Shanghai. Let us ask Mary to give to her sons and daughters in China the capacity to discern in every situation the signs of the loving presence of God, who always welcomes and always forgives.

 

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Further information:

• Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus (Holy See Press Office)
• Full Text of Angelus Address: On the Communion of the Trinity, and Ours (Holy See Press Office)
• World Humanitarian Summit