In recent days, humanitarian action has taken place in favor of the civilian population in the city of Oleshky. I hope that the collaboration between the parties that made this dutiful gesture of humanity possible will increase the desire for dialogue and lead to new concrete peace initiatives". Thus the Pope at Aneglus. Leone himself played a mediating role in the truce between Russians and Ukrainians for the Ukrainian town.
The Pope, holiness is not a privilege for the few but for all the 'disarmed'
"It is impossible to 'count' the host of "holy" brothers and sisters and not only numerically: holiness cannot be reduced to any calculation, because this is the good that all the saints have spread around them in the world. Looking at them with admiration we ask ourselves: what have these people, with the grace of God, generated? Essentially gestures and choices of love, which overcome the calculations of greed and the arrogance of evil that sometimes seems to prevail. The male and female saints are the most beautiful and strongest sign of the Kingdom of God which is coming, or rather, which is already among us. Furthermore, this blessed multitude embraces the most diverse backgrounds, cultures and life situations: holiness is not a privilege for the few, but is a universal vocation that challenges each of us wherever we live". Pope Leo says this at the Angelus which falls on the Feast of All Saints. "This is the message full of hope of today's celebration - he adds -: God sees the good that we do not see, knows stories that we do not know, reaches hearts to which we do not have access". "Today, in fact - he also said Leo - we celebrate all the saints: those who the Church has recognized as such and also the many who were not but whom God knows. As today's Gospel reminds us, these are poor in spirit, but rich in the love of God. Their faces are streaked with tears, but consoled in prayer. They are meek in the face of violence and rewarded by the Father. Hungry for justice and satiated in the depths of conscience. Available to forgive and embraced by mercy. Disarmed in the heart, but guarded by God. Builders of peace, called by name by God. Persecuted and offended, but strong in faith and charity". "Let us not tire - he urged - of building peace, both in the most important situations and in those of everyday life".
The Pope on the Olympic Games in Africa: "Yet another sign of hope from sport"
"From yesterday until November 13th, the Youth Olympic Games for athletes aged 15 to 18 will take place in Dakar, the capital of Senegal: it is the first Olympic event organized on the African continent. In addition to the competitions, these games include educational and cultural meetings to promote Olympic values and knowledge among young people from all over the world. Here again is a sign of hope that comes from the world of sport. I greet and bless all the participants with my hearts." The Pope said this at the Angelus. "From 8 to 15 November - the Pontiff also announced - the mission with the poor promoted by the Friars Minor will take place in Rome. I congratulate the children of Saint Francis who with this initiative put the poor at the center just as Jesus did and as Saint Francis of Assisi did. And I thank the civil institutions and the police forces who have given full collaboration". "I also greet - concluded Leone - the participants in the race of the Saints which the Don Bosco missions have organized in Rome again this year to promote sport as an educational experience. Tomorrow afternoon in commemoration of all the faithful deceased I will celebrate mass in the Verano cemetery. In these days let us feel united in the communion of saints with the immense family of brothers and sisters who preceded us on this earthly pilgrimage. And we pray for the deceased, especially for those who no one remembers."
