APOSTOLIC JOURNEY - Pope Francis in Ajaccio: Popular piety is a gift for all

Ajaccio (Agenzia Fides) - More than two thousand years have passed "since the Incarnation of the Son of God". And some periods of history "the Christian faith shaped the lives of peoples and their political institutions". Today, however "especially in European countries, the question of God seems to be retreating as people become increasingly indifferent to his presence and his word". But precisely for this reason, it is necessary to "understand the beauty and importance of popular piety", which, even in the secularized contexts of so many nations, expresses the Christian faith "through simple gestures and a symbolic language rooted in the culture of the people, popular piety reveals God’s presence in the living flesh of history, strengthens the relationship with the Church" and with its practices "give life to the relationship with the Lord and to the content of the faith", said Pope Francis, on the occasion of his 47th Apostolic Journey, which took him to Ajaccio in Corsica.

It was a short visit (only 12 hours in total, including the return flight) with a strong symbolic impact: Pope Francis was attending the closing session of the Congress on Popular Religiosity in the Mediterranean. The event was attended by many scientists and bishops from France and other countries.

The first Pope to visit Corsica, Pope Francis paused upon landing in the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte in front of the early Christian baptistery in the Saint-Jean district, which dates back to the beginning of the 6th century. The baptistery was discovered in 2005 during excavations carried out by a team from the "Institut national de recherches archéologiques reventives" (INRAP) before the construction of a car park and a building. It belongs to the first cathedral in Ajaccio and consists of a large cruciform basin and a smaller cylindrical basin, perhaps intended for washing the feet of the catechumens before the actual baptism. The Pope prayed in silence in front of the Baptistery. Then a young man recited the Creed. The Pontiff, from the popemobile, then sprinkled those present with holy water.

In his speech at the end of the Conference, Pope Francis warned against setting "Christian culture and secular culture" against each other. Rather, it is a matter of recognizing the possible "mutual openness between these two horizons: believers are increasingly open to the possibility of living their faith without imposing it on others," while "non-believers or people who have distanced themselves from religious practice are not strangers to the search for truth, justice and solidarity."

In his speech, Pope Francis did not present the practices of popular spirituality as habits that isolate believers in a separate and exclusionary world. On the contrary, the customs of popular spirituality, precisely because they express a living relationship with Jesus, the Virgin Mary and the saints, can also attract and involve people “who are on the threshold of faith, who do not practice their faith regularly, popular piety enables them to experience their roots and affections, as well as to encounter ideals and values that they find useful for their own lives and for society”. The spirituality of the People of God, the Pope said, “often becomes an occasion for encounter, cultural exchange and celebration. It is curious: a piety that is not festive does not “have a good aroma”, it is not a piety that comes from the people, it is too distilled’”. Quoting a passage from the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, the Pope also recalled that in the spirituality of the people “there is an active evangelizing force that we must not underestimate; otherwise we would fail to recognize the action of the Holy Spirit (Evangelii Gaudium, 123; 126) who "works in the holy people of God and leads them forward in their daily discernments. Let us think of Deacon Philip, a poor man, who one day was led [by the Spirit] onto a road and then heard a pagan, a servant of Queen Candace of Ethiopia, reading the prophet Isaiah and not understanding. He approached and asked, “Do you understand?” The pagan replied “No”. So Philip announced the Gospel to him. That pagan, who had received faith at that time, went to where there was water and asked, “Philip, can you baptize me now, here in this water?” Philip did not say, “No, he has to take a course, he has to bring the godparents, both of them have to be married in the Church, or he has to do this....” No, he baptized him. Baptism is the gift of faith that Jesus gives us.”

Pope Francis warned of the danger “that popular piety is not used or exploited by groups that seek self-aggrandizement by fuelling polemics, narrow-mindedness, divisions and exclusivist attitudes. All this, added the Successor of Peter, "does not correspond to the Christian spirit of popular piety", which, in its own dynamic, "transmits the Christian faith and the cultural values of a given people, uniting hearts and building community, it bears great fruit that has an effect on society as a whole, including relations between political, social and institutions and the Church", continued the Pope. "Faith cannot remain a private affair. We have to be careful about this, I would say privatization of faith is a heretical development. A fact that is restricted in the sanctuary of the individual’s conscience, but if it intends to be fully true to itself, authentic faith involves a call for commitment and witness, promotion of human development, social progress and care for creation, all in the name of charity", he stressed. Pope Francis also recalled that it is precisely “the profession of the Christian faith and models of community life inspired by the Gospel and the sacraments have given rise to countless works of solidarity, including the establishment of institutions such as hospitals, schools, care centres – there are many in France! – that have enabled the faithful to assist the needy and to contribute to the advancement of the common good. Popular piety, processions and rogations, the charitable activities of Confraternities, the communal prayer of the Holy Rosary and other forms of devotion can nurture “constructive citizenship” on the part of Christians.

In this context, Pope Francis recalls a personal anecdote and recounts an experience he had in Salta, in the north of Argentina, on the occasion of the feast of the Señor de los Milagros celebrated there: “I used to go to confession all the time,” said the Pope, “and it was a tiring work because all the people confess. And one day, on the way out, I found a priest I knew and I said: " “Oh, you are here, how are you?” He replied “Good!” As we were going out, at that moment a lady approached with some holy cards in her hand and she said to the priest, a good theologian, “Father, will you bless them?” The priest, with great theology, says to her, “But, madam, have you been to Mass?”. She replied “Yes, Father”. He said, “Do you know that at the end of Mass, everything is blessed?” She replied, “Yes, Father”. He continued, “Do you know that God’s blessing comes down upon you?”. She replied “Yes, Father.” At that moment another priest called him, “Oh, how are you?” The lady who had repeated so many times “yes, Father” turned to the other one and said, “Father, will you bless them for me?” There is a desire for help, a healthy desire for help that seeks the Lord’s blessing and does not accept generalizations.”

In the concluding part of his address, Pope Francis also recalled the potential of interaction between the works that arise from popular spirituality, in order to “join forces on a common path with secular institutions – civil and political – to work together at the service of all, starting with the least”.
The Bishop of Rome also cited the definition of “healthy secularism” coined by Pope Benedict XVI. As Benedict XVI stated, a healthy secularity “frees religion from the encumbrance of politics, and allows politics to be enriched by the contribution of religion, while maintaining the necessary distance, clear distinction and indispensable collaboration between the two spheres... This kind of healthy secularity ensures that political activity does not manipulate religion, while the practice of religion remains free from a politics of self-interest, which at times is barely compatible with, if not downright contrary to, religious belief. For this reason, a healthy secularity, embodying unity in distinction, is necessary and even vital for both spheres”. (FB) (Agenzia Fides, 15/12/2024)

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