Sir – Speaking at World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in July 2013, Pope Francis told those gathered there “Hagan lio!” In translation, this means “Go and make a mess!” He repeated the invocation to young people during his recent trip to Asia and Oceania, encouraging them to “make a mess”. I spent my whole professional life in education, and it troubles me to hear these words spoken by the Pope, who by virtue of his holy office evokes the loyalty, love and trust of Catholics all over the world.
For an institution entrusted with educating in the widest sense, the Church’s aspiration is surely to bring order out of chaos. Order does not constrict, but on the contrary is vital for teachers to be able to teach and for students to be able learn. Order is a prerequisite for the efficient functioning of government, hospitals, financial institutions, law courts, schools, and even our streets; chaos would be devastating.
Pope Francis seems to have made an art form of ambiguity, which causes even cardinals to perform contortions of the mind rather than confront the chaos that is developing on their watch. Is it wise for someone with such influence to encourage young people to mess things up?
<strong><em>Nancy Clusker Bathgate, UK</em></strong>
Sir – I’m glad that Frank Swain’s local church is open all day so that people can pop in and out and say a prayer or two (Letters, September 2024), but he lives in Tunbridge Wells: a well-heeled town in southern England. In areas that are less prosperous not every parish has time-rich volunteers who are able to oversee church-opening hours.
Sad experience has taught us that when churches are left unlocked and unattended thefts frequently occur; more rarely (but much more seriously) desecration can also take place. To put together a rota of two parishioners (and you do need at least two, for reasons of personal safety) who are able to take it in turns to sit in church all day is not an easy task.
A compromise with which a number of parishes have experimented is having internal (secured) glass doors in the porch with a prayer-desk in front of them, enabling visitors to see the tabernacle and spend some time in adoration. It’s not a perfect solution, but they’re doing their best; it also depends on the layout of the back of the building, which in some cases will make it impossible.
Most churches are not closed during the day because their people don’t want them open; more often than not it’s sadly the triumph of reason over ideal. Mr Swain is forunate to be able to live where he does.
<strong><em>Veronica Sweeney, Burnley, UK</em></strong>
Sir – Whatever the particular circumstances of Colm Burke being denied Holy Communion earlier this year (“Refusal of Communion to minister over abortion vote causes rift in Irish Church”, July 17), the facts around abortion are unambiguous: it is murder.
I am an Irish Catholic, now living in Italy, and a member of an association called Per la Vita con Maria: “With Mary for Life”. The association was founded 25 years ago by Fr Maurizio Gagliardini, a priest from Novara (a town halfway between Turin and Milan), inspired by St John Paul II’s encyclical <em>Evangelium Vitae</em>.
The association’s main activity is to ensure the decent burial of the unborn, who had previously been considered no more than medical waste. After many years of negotiation with local authorities the association has succeeded in securing plots in cemeteries across Italy reserved for the unborn; its work is ongoing. The association also provides solace and counsel to women and men involved in abortions who have struggled to cope afterwards.
A team of volunteers helps to run a toll-free 24/7 telephone number, to give advice to these troubled people in total confidentiality. Other activities of the association include liaison with other pro-life groups in Italy, pilgrimages and, of course, prayer. Your readers may wish to visit www.advm.org for more information.
<em><strong>Maura Sherlock Kantz, Genoa, Italy </strong></em>
Sir – I very much enjoyed Terry Philpot’s article on Benedict XV (“A pope of Peace in a time of War”, September 2024), which brought an unjustly nearly-forgotten pope out of the shadows. What the piece didn’t mention was his height – or, rather, lack of it. There’s an endearing moment in Father Ted when Ted reminds Dougal that “the Pope is God’s representative on earth,” to which he replies, “Really, Ted? You’d think he’d be taller.” Benedict XV was a tiny man; the photographs that survive of him alongside other people and items suggest that he cannot have stood at much more than five feet. Nevertheless, he strode through European politics like a colossus, and his wisdom set the Holy See on a footing that enabled it to begin to exercise the worldwide influence that it continues to enjoy today.
<strong><em>Jonathan Williams, Preston, UK</em></strong>
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