"All of us want peace!" he exclaimed. "But as we observe
this tragic conflict, seeing these wounds, seeing so many people who have
left their homeland, forced to do so, I ask myself: who is selling arms to
these people to make war? Behold the root of evil! Hatred and financial
greed in the manufacturing and sale of arms. This should make us think
about who is responsible for this situation, for providing arms to those in
conflict and thereby sustaining such conflict. Let us think about this and
with sincere hearts let us call upon these poor criminals to change their
ways".
 Francis thanked the Jordanian authorities and people for "the
generous welcome they have extended to the immense number of refugees from
Syria and Iraq. I also thank all those who offer them assistance and
solidarity. I think too of the charitable work undertaken by Church
institutions such as Caritas Jordan and others, who assist the needy
regardless of their religious beliefs, ethnic origin or politics; in this
way they reveal the radiant face of Jesus, full of kindness and love. May
the Almighty and Merciful God bless all of you and every effort you make to
alleviate the sufferings caused by war".
 "I urge the international community not to leave Jordan, so welcoming
and courageous, alone in the task of meeting the humanitarian emergency
caused by the arrival of so great a number of refugees, but to continue and
even increase its support and assistance. And I renew my heartfelt appeal
for peace in Syria. May the violence cease and may humanitarian law be
respected, thus ensuring much needed assistance to those who are suffering.
May all parties abandon the attempt to resolve issues by the use of arms
and return to negotiations. A solution will only be found through dialogue
and restraint, through compassion for those who suffer, through the search
for a political solution and through a sense of fraternal
responsibility".
 "Dear young people, I ask you to join me in praying for peace. You
can do this by offering your daily efforts and struggles to God; in this
way your prayer will become particularly precious and effective. I also
encourage you to assist, through your generosity and sensitivity, in
building a society which is respectful of the vulnerable, the sick,
children and the elderly. Despite your difficulties in life, you are a sign
of hope. You have a place in God's heart and in my prayers. I am grateful
that so many of you are here, and for your warmth and enthusiasm".
 Finally, he added, "As our meeting concludes, I pray once more that
reason and restraint will prevail and that, with the help of the
international community, Syria will rediscover the path of peace. May God
change the hearts of those who seek war. May God change the hearts of those
who manufacture and sell arms, and may he strengthen the hearts and minds
of peacemakers and grant them every blessing".

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 MESS IN AMMAN: MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT PREPARE US FOR ENCOUNTER DESPITE
DIFFERENT IDEAS, LANGUAGES, CULTURES OR RELIGIONS
 Vatican City, 24 May 2014 (VIS) - Following his meeting with the Jordanian
authorities, the Pope transferred by car to the International Stadium in
Amman, which forms part of the "Al Husseini" sports complex, the
construction of which was initiated by King Hussein. The stadium, in which
Benedict XVI celebrated mass in 2009 during his apostolic trip to the Holy
Land, holds more than 25,000 people and several thousand were able to
follow the event broadcast on maxi-screens installed outside. Numerous
Christian refugees in Jordan, originally from Palestine, Syria and Iraq,
participated in the Eucharist presided by Pope Francis, during which 1,400
children received their first Communion.
 Pope Francis began his homily by commenting, "We are not far from
where the Holy Spirit descended with power on Jesus of Nazareth after his
baptism by John in the River Jordan, and today I will go there". He
continued, "Today's Gospel and this place to which, by God's grace, I
have come as a pilgrim, invite us to meditate on the Holy Spirit and on all
that he has brought about in Christ and in us. In a word, we can say that
the Holy Spirit carries out three actions - he prepares, he anoints and he
sends".
 He explained, "At the baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus
to prepare him for his mission of salvation. ... Yet the Holy Spirit,
present from the beginning of salvation history, had already been at work
in Jesus from the moment of his conception in the virginal womb of Mary of
Nazareth ... and acted in Simeon and Anna on the day of the presentation of
Jesus in the Temple. ... They gave prophetic expression to the joy of
encountering the Redeemer and, in a certain sense, served as a preparation
for the encounter between the Messiah and the people. These various works
of the Holy Spirit are part of a harmonious action, a sole divine plan of
love. The mission of the Holy Spirit, in fact, is to beget harmony - he is
himself harmony - and to create peace in different situations and between
different people. Diversity of ideas and persons should not trigger
rejection or prove an obstacle, for variety always enriches. So today, with
fervent hearts, we invoke the Holy Spirit and ask him to prepare the path
to peace and unity".
 Secondly, "the Holy Spirit also anoints. He anointed Jesus inwardly
and he anoints his disciples, so that they can have the mind of Christ and
thus be disposed to live lives of peace and communion. Through the
anointing of the Spirit, our human nature is sealed with the holiness of
Jesus Christ and we are enabled to love our brothers and sisters with the
same love which God has for us. We ought, therefore, to show concrete signs
of humility, fraternity, forgiveness and reconciliation. These signs are
the prerequisite of a true, stable and lasting peace. Let us ask the Father
to anoint us so that we may fully become his children, ever more conformed
to Christ, and may learn to see one another as brothers and sisters. Thus,
by putting aside our grievances and divisions, we can show fraternal love
for one another".
 Finally, the Holy Spirit sends. "Jesus is the one who is sent forth,
filled with the Spirit of the Father. Anointed by the same Spirit, we also
are sent as messengers and witnesses of peace. The world has much need of
us as messengers of peace, witnesses of peace! The world needs this. The
world asks us to bring peace and to be a sign of peace! Peace is not
something which can be bought or sold; it is a gift to be sought patiently
and to be 'crafted' through the actions, great and small, of our everyday
lives. The way of peace is strengthened if we realise that we all of the
same stock and members of the one human family; if we never forget that we
have the same heavenly Father and are all his children, made in his image
and likeness".
 "It is in this spirit that I embrace all of you: the Patriarch, my
brother bishops and priests, the consecrated men and women, the lay
faithful, and the many children who today make their First Holy Communion,
together with their families. I also embrace with affection the many
Christian refugees; let us all earnestly turn our attention to them, to the
many Christian refugees from Palestine, Syria and Iraq; please bring my
greeting to your families and communities, and assure them of my
closeness".
 "The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the Jordan and thus
inaugurated his work of redemption to free the world from sin and
death". The Holy Father concluded. "Let us ask the Spirit to
prepare our hearts to encounter our brothers and sisters, so that we may
overcome our differences rooted in political thinking, language, culture
and religion. Let us ask him to anoint our whole being with the oil of his
mercy, which heals the injuries caused by mistakes, misunderstandings and
disputes. And let us ask him for the grace to send us forth, in humility
and meekness, along the demanding but enriching path of seeking
peace".

___________________________________________________________

 "VATICAN.VA" AVAILABLE IN ARABIC
 Vatican City, 25 May 2014 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office announced
yesterday, Saturday 24 May, that as a gift from the Holy Father to the
Arabic-speaking faithful, "vatican.va" will be available in
Arabic. This includes the website
www.vatican.va, the site for mobile devices, widgets, and the application
vatican.va for Android and Apple, and for mobile devices and tablets.
Documents translated into Arabic will gradually be added to the site.
___________________________________________________________

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