Pope calls for renewed commitment to pray and work for peace

By Thaddeus Jones

At the conclusion of Sunday's Mass in Trieste, Pope Francis asked everyone to renew their commitment to pray and work for world peace.

The pope's words came just before leading the recitation of the Angelus prayer during his Sunday visit to the northeastern Italian city.

Pope Francis also thanked his hosts and all those gathered for the Sunday celebrations for their warm welcome, their beautiful events and their prayerful accompaniment.

He assured them of his prayers, recalling the many sick people, prisoners and migrants he had met before, recalling their struggles and their hopes.

The Pope paid tribute to the Bishop of Trieste, Enrico Trevisi, who named the sick he had recently assisted and stressed that remembering and knowing the names of those we serve underlines their human dignity.

The Pope thanked the people of Trieste for the welcome they have given to so many people fleeing wars and poverty in other countries.

He said the city had a special vocation to bring together diverse peoples, especially as it is a major port and a crossroads between Italy, central Europe and the Balkans.

He acknowledged the challenges posed by this role which require openness, stability, acceptance and respect for people's identities.

But he encouraged everyone to persevere on this path in the light of the Gospel which gives meaning and hope to believers, and in respect of the Constitution of the nation, which offers a “reliable compass for the path of democracy.”