“The Holy Spirit bestows understanding. The Spirit overcomes the ‘breach’ that began in Babel, the confusion of mind and heart that sets us one against the other. The Spirit opens borders… The Church must always become anew what she already is. She must open the borders between peoples and break down the barriers between class and race. In her, there cannot be those who are neglected or disdained. In the Church there are only free men and women, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.”
Pope Leo XIV, quoting Benedict XVI in his homily for Pentecost Sunday, 8th June, 2025.
The Veni Creator Spiritus sung in the four languages of these Islands at the Coronation of King Charles III. Sung by the combined choirs of Westminster Abbey and His Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace with choristers from Belfast, Truro Cathedral and the Monteverdi Choir. The Director of Music is Andrew Nethsingha, the organist Peter Holder.
I thought Pope Leo might be talking in a purely spiritual sense, until I read further in the homily and saw: "Where there is love, there is no room for prejudice, for “security” zones separating us from our neighbors, for the exclusionary mindset that, tragically, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms."
ReplyDeleteOK. Vatican first. Open the Vatican borders!
Honestly, I'm not going to warm to this kind of rhetoric in any sense right now, as it's caused too much mischief. I still like the new Pope, but to be honest I think even Pope JPII and Pope Benedict were excessively internationalist.
Fair enough, Maolsheachlann, I understand your frustration. I think the Pope probably has particular places in mind when he says this, and probably not really Britain and Ireland (leaving aside N.I.). He has also said, in his address to members of the diplomatic corps on the 16th May, "No one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person...citizens and immigrants alike." Which means citizens, as well as immigrants!
DeletePerhaps we do need an encyclical on the ethics of mass migration, and on what justice really looks like for everyone involved.