Full text of Pope Francis' in
- Published
Please read below for 's full transcript of the pope's Feb. 5 in-flight press conference from Abu Dhabi to Rome:
Alessandro Gisotti, interim director of the Holy See Press Office:Good afternoon, Holy Father. Good afternoon to you all. We journalists frequently use the adjective 'historic,' and at times they tell us we use it too often. Maybe for this trip we used it well and many used it in different languages. Truly a short trip in length but with a really long horizon, and all hope that the fruits and the seeds of these days will be long-lasting. Clearly a trip, as was seen today a few hours ago, a meeting with a people... of many peoples. The organizers were saying around 100 nationalities were present. And then yesterday this [joint] document, obviously extraordinary, valuable.
A surprise, but I imagine one of those surprises that is a pleasure for colleagues to recount for its importance. I do not know if before the questions, Holy Father, you want to address some words?
Pope Francis:First of all, hello, thank you for the company. It was too short of a trip, but for me it was a great experience. It's that I think that every trip is historic, also each of our days, to write the story of every day... no story is small, every story is big and worthy even if [judged to be] bad, the dignity is hidden, can always come up. Thank you so much for your collaboration.
Gisotti:Ok, let's begin with the questions. As is tradition, starting with the local journalists. This document which is full of information really raises many reflections. The first to address the question to the Holy Father is Barham from Sky News Arabia.
Sargon Hurmez Barham, Sky News Arabia: Holiness, what will be the outcome of this trip and what were your impressions of the country, of the United Arab Emirates?
Pope Francis:I saw a modern country. The city struck me, even the cleanliness of the city, also small curiosities like how do they water the flowers in this desert? But also a modern country... also welcoming of so many peoples that come here, but also a country that looks to the future. The example: the education of children. They educate them looking to the future, always. So they have told me. Then a thing that struck me, the problem of water... they are considering in the near future to take water from the sea, to make it potable and even the water of the humidity to make it drinkable... always searching for new things. And I even heard from someone, "one day the petroleum will be gone. We are preparing ourselves for that day, now, to have something to do." This is a country that looks to the future.
Then it seemed to me [to be] an open country, not closed, even the religiosity of Islamism, it is an open Islamism, not closed, of dialogue, a fraternal and peaceful Islamism. On this [point], they emphasize education to peace, that is felt to be a duty, although there are some problems of some wars in the area, but this I have not heard... Then for me the meeting with the elders was very touching. The elders of Islamism, it is a profound thing, they were a little from everywhere, of various cultures. This shows, however, the openness of this country to a certain regional, universal, religious dialogue. Then I was struck also by the interreligious convention, this is a strong cultural event. And also I mentioned in my speech what they did here, last year, [a conference] on the protection of children, but in media, on the internet... in these things... because child pornography today is an industry with a lot of money, and they profit from children and this country realized it and did that. Positive things. Surely there are problems, negative things, but in a trip of less than three days these things are not seen and if you see one, a person looks the other way. Thank you for the hospitality.
Gisotti:Now Nour Salman of the Emirates News Agency will pose you a question.
Nour Salman, Emirates News Agency:Holy Father, thank you very much for your activity. The question I would like to ask you: now that the declaration of Abu Dhabi on fraternity has been signed, how will this document be applied in the future and what are your thoughts on Prince Mohammed's announcement on building a church of St. Francis next to a mosque of the Imam el-Tayeb?
Pope Francis:The document was prepared with much reflection and also praying; the Grand Imam and his team and me with mine. We prayed a lot to be able to make this document because for me there is one single great danger in this moment: destruction, war and hatred between us. And, if we believers are not capable of giving each other a hand, embracing each other and even praying, our faith will be defeated. This document is born from faith in God, who is the Father of all and the father of peace, and condemns every destruction, every terrorism. The first terrorism in history is that of Cain. It is a document that was developed over almost a year, back and forth, prayer. It remained a little confidential so as to mature, to not give birth to the child before the time, that it might be mature.
Gisotti:Holy Father, before the next question, there's an homage from the journalist of al Ittihad wants to make. In the meantime, I ask Jörg Seisselberg to get prepared. Now, Jörg Seisselberg of the German ARD will pose you a question.
Jörg Herbert Seisselberg, ARD Radio:Holy Father, this trip has been full of encounters, impressions, and images. The images of your arrival, the honorary military welcome, and the military planes that made the design in the sky with the Vatican colors remained in my mind. I ask myself: What does this have to do with Pope Francis, with the Pope that comes with a message of peace? What do you think of this? What did you feel, what do you think in these moments?
Again on this theme of your appeal for peace in Yemen: what reactions did you receive in your meetings that create hope that this message was received, that steps towards peace will be taken in Yemen?
Pope Francis:Thank you. I interpret all of the gestures of welcome as gestures of goodwill; everyone does them according to their own cultures. What did I find here? Such a great welcome that they wanted to do everything, small things and big things, because they felt that the Pope's visit was something good. Someone also said a blessing...God knows…But they wanted me to feel that I was welcome.
About the problem of wars. You mentioned one. I know it's difficult to give an opinion after two days and having spoken about the issue, but with few people. I will say that I found goodwill in initiating peace processes. This I found. A common denominator with those I have spoken with about war situations. you mentioned Yemen: I found goodwill to initiate peace processes.
Gisotti:Domenico Agasso of La Stampa will now pose a question. It's his second papal trip, but it's the first occasion to be able to make a question in an in-flight press conference. Please.
Read articleDomenico Agasso, La Stampa: Holy Father, after the historic signing of the document on fraternity yesterday, in your perspective what do you think could be the consequences in the Islamic world? Thinking especially of the conflicts in Yemen and Syria... And what the outcomes will there be even among Catholics, considering the fact that there is a part of Catholics that accuse you of allowing yourself to be used by Muslims.
Pope Francis: But not only the Muslims... they accuse me of allowing myself to be used by everyone, even by journalists, it is part of the job. But I want to say one thing. This I emphasize clearly. From the Catholic point of view, the document does not pull away one millimeter from Vatican II, which is even cited a few times. The document was made in the spirit of Vatican II. I wanted, before making the decision, to say it good that way and let's sign it, at least on my side, I had some theologians read [the document] and even [had it read] officially by the theologian of the Pontifical Household, that is a Dominican, and with the beautiful tradition of the Dominicans not to go on a witch-hunt, but to see where is the right thing... and he approved it.
If anyone feels bad, I understand it, it is not an everyday thing... not a step back. It is a step forward. But, step forward that comes after 50 years, from the Council, that must be developed. The historians say that a council takes 100 years to take root in the Church. We are halfway. And this draws even my attention. I will tell you that I saw a phrase, but this phrase I do not know if it is sure, but it is a phrase from the Council... It has surprised even me... Also in the Islamic world there are different opinions, there are some more radical than others. Yesterday in the council of the elders there was also at least one Shiite, and that gave a very great universality, and he spoke well. There will be - I don't know well - but there will be discrepancies, but it is a process and processes mature like flowers, like fruit.
Gisotti:Thanks, Holy Father. Let's go now to the Francophone group. Mathilde Imberty of Radio France.
Mathilde Imberty (Radio France):Good afternoon, Holy Father. You've just concluded a visit to the Emirates and in a very short time you'll go to Morocco. We seem to understand that you chose to speak with very precise interlocutors of Islam. Is it a conscious choice? The historic document signed yesterday is very ambitious for education. In your perspective, can this truly touch the Muslim faithful? Thanks.
Pope Francis:I know and I've heard from some Muslims that it needs to be studied in universities, at least in Al-Azhar for sure, and in schools. It must be studied, not imposed… studied! This to begin from the end of your question.
It's a bit by chance the proximity of the two trips because I wanted to go to Marrakesh but there were protocol issues and I couldn't go to an international encounter without first making a visit to the country but I didn't have time. And for this we postponed the visit and it's in coincidence with this. And it was the Secretary of State to go to Marrakesh. It's a question of diplomacy and of education, as well, but it wasn't a planned thing. In Morocco, I follow in the footsteps of St. John Paul II who went there. He was the first to go. It will be a nice trip. Then, invitations have arrived from other Muslim countries but there's not time this year. We'll see next year. I or the other Peter, someone will go.
Gisotti:Good, well maybe we can do it, Maria Sagrario Ruiz of Radio Nacional Espana. Ok, thank you.
Maria Sagrario Ruiz (Radio Nacional Espana):Good evening, I have a question in Spanish. Vatican diplomacy has a great history and practices this diplomacy of small steps in areas of conflict, and how can we not recall concretely 1978, when John Paul II, with his mediation averted a war between your country, Argentina, and Chile. We know from yesterday that Nicolas Maduro – and we arrive at Venezuela – has sent a letter asking for help to restart the dialogue. There is Secretary of State Parolin who knows the country perfectly, all eyes are on you, on Pope Francis and the Vatican. What is the Vatican doing or what do you think? Are you willing to mediate, if asked, at what point, at what time?
Pope Francis:Thank you. The mediation between Argentina and Chile was truly a courageous act of Saint John Paul II that averted a war, which was at the point [of happening]. But there are little steps, the last is mediation. There are little initial or facilitating steps, but not only in the Vatican, in all diplomacy; closeness to one another to start the possibility for dialogue. This is done in diplomacy. I believe that from the Secretariat of State, they will be able to explain well all of the different steps that can be made. I knew before the trip that a letter from Maduro arrived in the diplomatic pouch. This letter I have not read it yet, this one that arrived. We will see what can be done. But in order for us to take the last step, mediation, it takes the will of both parties. If both parties ask...this was the case for Argentina and Chile.
The Holy See in Venezuela was present in the time of dialogue with your compatriot Rodriguez Zapatero, a first meeting with Monsignor Tscherrig initially, and then continued with Monsignor Celli … and there gave birth to a mouse, nothing … smoke!
Now, I do not know, I will look at that letter and I will see what can be done. But the initial conditions are that both parties ask. We are always willing. The same when people go to the parish priest because there is a problem between the husband and wife... one goes and the other comes or does not come? He wants or does not want to go? Both parties are always needed. This is the secret. And [for] the countries [this] is a condition that that they must do, think before asking -- [for a] a facilitation or presence of a savior or mediation. Both parties always. Thank you! And I'll go to Spain, eh?
Gisotti:Thank you. Nicole is approaching. Nicole Winfield of Associated Press will ask her question now.