Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I am very pleased to make this visit to the Cathedral of Our Lady
of Graces. I thank Archbishop Youssef Soueif for his kind words of welcome on
behalf of the Maronite community in Cyprus, and I cordially greet all of you
with the words of the Apostle: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:3)!
As I visit this building, in my heart I make a spiritual
pilgrimage to every Maronite church of the island. Be assured that, moved by a
father’s care, I am close to all the faithful of tho se ancient communities.
This Cathedral church in some way represents the very long and
rich — and sometimes turbulent — history of the Maronite community in Cyprus.
Maronites came to these shores at various times throughout the centuries and
were often hard-pressed to remain faithful to their distinct Christian
heritage. Nevertheless, in spite of their faith being tested like gold in a
fire (cf. 1 Pet 1:7), they remained constant in the faith of their fathers, a
faith which has now been passed on to you, the Maronite Cypriots of today. I
urge you to treasure this great inheritance, this precious gift.
This Cathedral building also reminds us of an important spiritual
truth. Saint Peter tells us that we Christians are the living stones which are
being “built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet
2:4-5). Together with Christians throughout the world, we are part of that g
reat temple which is the Mystical Body of Christ. Our spiritual worship,
offered in many tongues, in many places and in a beautiful variety of
liturgies, is an expression of the one voice of the People of God, united in
praise and thanksgiving to him and in enduring communion with each other. This
communion, which we hold so dear, impels us to carry the Good News of our new
life in Christ to all mankind.
This is the charge I leave with you today: I pray that your
Church, in union with all your pastors and with the Bishop of Rome, may grow in
holiness, in fidelity to the Gospel and in love for the Lord and for one
another.
Commending you and your families, and especially your beloved
children to the intercession of Saint Maron, I willingly impart to all of you
my Apostolic Blessing.
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