Greeting to the Social Community of Casavalle (Montevideo)

God’s blessing comes in many forms. Today we want to ask for his blessing upon every family here present, upon their loved ones and upon all the families who live here in this area.

A great blessing comes when we gather as a community, when we learn to work together, to collaborate on a common project, to affirm that life is important, that our faith sustains us, and that we want to be faithful to Jesus, our best friend.

The Lord be with you. May the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, descend upon you. Amen.

It gives me joy to visit this parish, this neighborhood, to walk through the streets and see the projects that have been carried out with such hard work. Being here with you makes me feel at home, and brings back memories of the visits I made to various communities as a missionary. I would like to thank Cardinal Daniel Sturla, Archbishop of Montevideo, Father Pablo Coimbra, parish priest of this community, and Mrs Carmen Albana Sanz for their words of welcome. I also thank all of you for being here today and for preparing this gathering with such enthusiasm. In a special way, I am grateful to Angélica, Alan, and Katherine for sharing their testimonies and opening their hearts to recount with us the triumph of life, faith, and hope.

This parish is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whom my predecessors declared “Patroness of Latin America” and “Empress of the Americas.” The loving presence of our heavenly mother on this continent invites us to look beyond the reality around us, to see beyond borders and to open our hearts to eternal realities by lifting our gaze. Mary teaches us to do whatever her Son Jesus tells us (cf. Jn 2:5), and that is also the mission of parishes: to be a lighthouse that points to the presence of Jesus Christ, offering to all the light of God’s Word, the help of the sacraments, the support of prayer and the balm of fraternal charity. A project has been carried out in this parish community to build several homes for families with limited means. I am pleased to have been able to contribute to this beautiful initiative through the benefactors of the Papal Foundation, to whom I offer my thanks for their generosity. May these homes be for your families much more than simply a roof over their heads: may they be a true home where you can grow in dignity, peace and hope, always experiencing God’s love and closeness.

I would like to share with you a story that Jesus told his disciples, one that you surely know: the parable of the Good Samaritan (cf. Lk 10:29-37). It tells of a man who “fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead” (v. 30). The terrible assault of the traveler on the road was a most tragic and unjust situation. Added to his pain was the indifference of those who saw him in need, yet passed him by (cf. vv. 31–32). But the story does not end there. A ray of hope shines through: a Samaritan saw the man, was moved with compassion, approached him, tended his wounds, took him to an inn and provided for his care and recovery (cf. vv. 33–35).

Dear brothers and sisters, this story is repeated today in the widespread insecurity and violence that unfortunately threaten the peace of our neighborhoods and even the lives of our loved ones, and all too often society responds with indifference. Yet we can see another side: the actions of many institutions and people of goodwill who foster peace and offer practical assistance to those in need. A shining example is Father Cacho’s life of selfless service. As Angélica told us in her testimony, he built bridges, tore down walls and fostered encounters.

We need to continue to commit ourselves to the charity and closeness of the Good Samaritan who did not remain indifferent upon seeing misfortune, but took responsibility for his brother’s life. We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that there are children in Uruguay who do not go to school for fear of never returning home. We cannot silence our conscience when we see a mother lacking the means to feed her children. We cannot ignore the many people around us who are suffering, alone and vulnerable. We heard about this firsthand through Katherine’s moving words. In a country as rich in resources as this, children should never have to go to bed hungry or be denied the chance of a decent education and a dignified future because of the insecurity that reigns in the streets. Much less should they have to suffer violence to the point of losing their lives.

We must work together: the Church, civil society, and the State. We need to shake off our apathy and advocate for the common good. This is what Alan has shared through his experience: today he freely gives to others what he himself has received. It is up to us to decide to build a new city where no one is excluded, or to remain comfortably immersed in our own affairs. As Pope Francis told us, “the decision to include or exclude those lying wounded along the roadside can serve as a criterion for judging every economic, political, social and religious project. Each day we have to decide whether to be Good Samaritans or indifferent bystanders” (Fratelli Tutti, 69).

The Church’s mission stems from evangelical charity, which impels her “to draw near to the wounds of humanity whenever they surface with greater severity. When the Church intervenes, she does so following the example of the Good Samaritan, with discretion and closeness, aware that what arises from urgent necessity cannot become the norm, nor replace the institutional responsibilities proper to the civil community” (Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas, 21). Let us therefore unite our efforts and respond generously to the call to build together a homeland of brothers and sisters.

Dear friends, the parable of the Good Samaritan concludes with Jesus’ command: “Go and do likewise” (Lk 10:37). Every Christian should hear this commandment echoing in their heart every day (cf. Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te, 107). May these words renew us and inspire us to continue building a new city together, where love and peace reign. May God bless you, and may our Mother of Guadalupe — for whom I have a special affection and veneration, as I received my episcopal ordination on her feast day — shelter you under her heavenly mantle. Thank you.