VATICAN - Pope at the Angelus recalls that "violence never serves humanity, it only dehumanizes" and launches an appeal for Madagascar

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Commenting on the Gospel passage of the third Sunday of Lent, the story of Jesus’ action throwing out of the temple animal sellers and money-changers from the temple of Jerusalem (cf. Jn 2, 13-25), the Holy Father Benedict XVI stressed at the Sunday’s Angelus on 11 March, that "the expulsion of the merchants from the temple was also interpreted in a political -revolutionary sense, placing Jesus in the line of movement of the Zealots. These were, indeed, 'eager' for the law of God and ready to use violence to enforce it. At the time of Jesus they were expecting a Messiah who would free Israel from Roman rule. But Jesus disappointed this expectation, so much so that some of the disciples abandoned him and even Judas Iscariot betrayed him. In fact, it is impossible to interpret Jesus as violent: violence is contrary to the Kingdom of God, it is a tool of the Antichrist. Violence never serves humanity, it only dehumanizes".
After the Marian prayer, the Pope launched an appeal for the people of Madagascar, hit by a devastating tropical storm. (see Fides 14,16,17,20/02/2012), with these words: "My thoughts go first to the dear people of Madagascar, who have recently been hit by severe natural disasters, with serious damage to people, structures and crops. While I assure my prayers for the victims and the families of those so greatly tried. I hope for and encourage the generous assistance of the international community". (SL) (Agenzia Fides 12/03/2012)