MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Pope Francis appeals to “a greater Fatherland” in message to Argentina's independence bicentennial
“We need grandfathers with dreams which drive the young — inspired by those same dreams — running forward with the creativity of the prophesy”. 
“We are celebrating 200 years along the road of a homeland which, in its desires and anxieties for brotherhood projects itself beyond the boundaries of Argentina” 
“This reality unites us in a family of broad horizons and fraternal loyalty towards the Greater Fatherland of which Jose de San Martin and Simon Bolivar dreamed” In anticipation of Argentina's Independence Day bicentenary on Saturday,( 9 July 1816), Pope Francis sent a special message calling for the homeland to fulfill the prophesy of Joel (1st chapter. 4th verse) — only if our grandparents dare to dream and our youths to prophesy great things can our homeland be free.
“We need grandfathers with dreams which drive the young — inspired by those same dreams — running forward with the creativity of the prophesy”.
The full message:
On the eve of the celebrations of the Bicentennial of independence, I wish to send my cordial greetings to you my brother-bishops, to the national authorities and to all the Argentine people. I want these celebrations to make us stronger following the path taken by our elders 200 years ago. With these greetings I wish to express to all Argentines my proximity and the assurance that I will pray for you.
In a special way I want to be close to those who suffer the most — the sick, the destitute, the prisoners, the lonely, the jobless and all in want, the victims of human-trafficking and white slavery, abused children and so many young people trapped by the scourge of drugs. They all carry a heavy weight and are often at the very limit. They are the most blistered children of our fatherland.
Yes, children of the fatherland. In school we were taught to speak of the motherland, to love the motherland. This has its roots precisely in the patriotic sense of belonging — in our love of the motherland. We Argentines use an expression, bold and picturesque at the same time, when we refer to unscrupulous people: “He’d even sell his mother” but we know and feel deeply in our hearts that mothers are not for sale, that they cannot be sold — and neither can the motherland.
We are celebrating 200 years along the road of a homeland which, in its desires and anxieties for brotherhood, projects itself beyond the boundaries of this country towards the Greater Fatherland of which José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar dreamed. This reality unites us in a family of broad horizons and fraternal loyalty. That Greater Fatherland should also be included in our prayers during our celebrations — may the Lord look after it, making it stronger and more beautiful, defending it from every kind of colonization.
These 200 years behind us call upon us to keep treading that path looking ahead. In order to achieve that, I think (in a special way) of the old and the young, feeling the need to call upon them to help continue travelling towards our destiny. Addressing the old, those with memories of our history, I would ask them to rise above this “disposable culture” which is being imposed on us worldwide and dare to dream. We need their dreams, a source of inspiration. Addressing youth, I would ask them not to mortgage their existence by becoming premature pensioners in some passive bureaucratic job in which they would be cornered by so many proposals lacking illusion or heroism. I am convinced that our homeland needs to fulfill the prophesy of Joel (1st chapter. 4th verse) — only if our grandparents dare to dream and our youths to prophesy great things can our homeland be free. We need grandfathers with dreams which drive the young — inspired by those same dreams — running forward with the creativity of the prophesy.
Dear brothers, I ask God, our father and lord, to bless our homeland and all of us, extending my prayers to the Virgin of Luján who, as a mother, takes care of us along the way. And please do not forget to pray for me.
Vatican City, Pope Francis
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Read all commentsWhat a bizarre speech!
Jul 11th, 2016 - 09:41 am 0Seems the “Greater Fatherland” lies outside Argentina, (“beyond the boundaries of this country”), but must be defended from “every kind of colonization”.
Not a single mention of enjoining them not to be lawless and not to attempt colonisation. Especially when the land they want to colonise already belongs to someone else. Make no mistake. There is not one single piece of international law that justifies argieland's “claim” to the Falkland Islands. Argieland has never even exercised authority in the Islands for anything like the period, usually considered to be 50 years, to claim sovereignty. In fact, they'd be hard-pressed to justify it on the basis of 75 DAYS. Every “basis” that they've tried has been discounted or disproved. They started with a papal bull, issued by a corrupt pope, and a subsequent treaty that divided the Americas between Portugal and Spain. A modern papacy declined to support it. Then they claimed that the Islands had been “inherited” from spain. “Forgetting” that inheritance isn't a legal basis. They've lied about British actions, as in expelling a “colony” by force. Except that no force was used and that only the illegal military garrison and four other people left. They've lied about a treaty. They don't “notice” that they spent innumerable years accepting that the Islands are British. They've tried “proximity”, ignoring ICJ judgments. They've tried conquest, ignoring the fact that it hasn't been a legitimate means of acquiring territory for many years. They've even tried 40-odd UNGA NON-BINDING resolutions. Although they were quite happy to ignore a BINDING UNSC resolution. They even ignore the UN Charter on a daily basis.
Jul 11th, 2016 - 10:04 am 0And this “pope” says nothing about it. Time to question whether this argie pope should abdicate!
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