Pope welcomes French youths returning from missionary journey

By Christopher Wells

The missionaries, from the Diocese of Viviers, in France, had spent a month in the Argentinian Diocese of La Rioja. In his prepared remarks, Pope Francis recalled the witness of Fr Gabriel Longueville, a Franciscan priest from Viviers, who was martyred in La Rioja along with another priest, Fr Carlos Murias. The Bishop of La Rioja, Enrique Angelelli; and a layman, Wenceslao Pedernera, were martyred in the diocese around the same time.

The greatness and the risks of mission

“Walking in the footsteps of these witnesses,” the Pope told the young people, “you have been able to discover the greatness and the risks of the mission that makes us servants and friends of the Lord, who ‘came not to be served, but to serve.’”

Perservering on the path of Jesus

The Holy Father said he was glad to see “this beautiful experience of prayer, fraternal sharing, and service that you experienced in La Rioja.” He encouraged the young people “to persevere ‘along the path of Jesus the Servant,’ asking the Holy Spirit to help you to be builders of bridges among men and women, and to always be close to wounded humanity, to the excluded, in order to make visible the love of the Father and the joy of the Gospel.”

Pope Francis concluded his brief remarks by entrusting those present to the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saints John Francis Regis and Therese Couderc, and Blessed Charles de Foucald.