On Sunday Pope Francis made a series of appeals following the midday
recitation of the Marian prayer, Regina Caeli, with thousands of
faithful in St Peter’s Square. The Holy Father appealed for calm in Venezuela following hotly contested presidential elections and for relief for the suffering victims of a devastating earthquake in Sichuan province, mainland China:
“I am closely following the events currently taking place in Venezuela. I accompany them with deep concern, with intense prayer and with the hope that just and peaceful ways are sought and found to overcome the serious difficulties the country is going through. I call the beloved Venezuelan people, especially institutional authorities and politicians to firmly reject any type of violence, and to establish a dialogue based on truth, in mutual recognition, in the search for the common good and love for the nation. I ask believers to pray and work for reconciliation and peace. Let us join together in a prayer full of hope for Venezuela, placing it in the hands of Our Lady of Coromoto.
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My thoughts also go to those who were affected by the earthquake that struck an area south-west of mainland China. We pray for the victims and for those who are suffering because of the violent earthquake.
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This afternoon, in Sondrio, Don Nicolò Rusca, Valtellina priest who lived between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries will be beatified. He was a long serving and exemplary pastor in Sondrio and was killed in the political and religious struggles that afflicted Europe at that time. We praise the Lord for his witness!
I affectionately greet all the pilgrims who have come from different countries: the families, the many church groups, associations, candidates for confirmation, schools. I greet in particular the numerous children of the Diocese of Venice, the catechists of the Diocese of Gubbio led by their Pastor, and the seminary community of Lecce with the ministers of the diocese, and the representation from the Lions Club of Italy.
In this "World Day of Prayer for Vocations", founded fifty years ago thanks to the happy intuition of Pope Paul VI, I invite everyone to a special prayer that the Lord will send many laborers for His harvest. May Saint Hannibal Mary Di Francia, an apostle of prayer for vocations, remind us of this important commitment. I wish you all a good Sunday, have a good lunch!”