Holy Mass at the Closure of the Eucharistic and Marian Congress in Haiti (9 March 1983)

On Wednesday, 9 March 1983, the Holy Father celebrated Holy Mass on the Port-au-Prince Airport Esplanade, to conclude the Eucharistic Congress in Haiti. In his homily, the Pope invited the faithful reflect on the two mysteries of the Eucharist and Mary.

Dear brothers and sisters

1. Here I am with you in Port-au-Prince, in this country, Haiti, where I so longed to come. This grace was finally granted to me, as well as to you, so that we can all praise and adore the Holy Trinity together, and worship Jesus Christ, Son of God and son of Mary, in the mystery of his Eucharist, and also venerate his and our blessed Mother, Mother of the Church, whom you invoke under the title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

We celebrate the end of your great Eucharistic Congress, which you will now prolong and apply in your daily, personal, family and social life.

It is with joy that we all participate together in this feast, I as Successor of Peter and pastor of all the faithful, visible principle of the unity of the Church (cf. Second Vatican Council, Lumen gentium , 18), your bishops, all from among you , and you yourselves, men and women, young people, children and elders, sons and daughters of this noble Haitian people. I know very well the meaning you give to your celebration, the feast and the prayer: Right here, I see it through your songs and your responses full of enthusiasm. I feel happy that I am the reason for such a manifestation, and I thank God for that.

But there is more. For the first time, during my visits to Latin America, I find myself in a country whose population is mostly made up of people of color, particularly black people. This is very important for me, as it means that I have the opportunity to enter into direct contact with the third component of the culture and civilization of these peoples of Latin and Central America: people from Africa, deeply integrated with the other civilizations of America itself, or coming from Europe to form, from all these human riches, a typical reality.

This country was the first in Latin America to proclaim itself independent. This is why he is called, in a special way, to develop, in a climate of freedom, to the extent of his possibilities and with everyone's efforts, a work of true human and social advancement, in such a way that all his sons and daughters here can work in peace, without feeling obliged to go and look elsewhere, often in difficult conditions, for what they should find in their own country.

I would like to recall here a somewhat dramatic episode, which in a certain way united the history of Haiti with that of the Polish people. 170 years ago, three thousand Polish soldiers landed on this island, sent by the occupation forces to suppress the revolt of the population fighting for their political independence. These soldiers, instead of fighting legitimate aspirations for freedom, sympathized with the Haitian people. Around three hundred of them survived, and their descendants contributed to the development of this country, preserving and cultivating Catholic traditions. Among other things, they built small chapels with images reproducing the Virgin of Czestochowa from Poland. The word Haiti is thus linked to Poles, it evokes the difficult road to freedom, and also becomes a new source of historical reflection.

I greet you all and invite you to pray and reflect with me on the two mysteries that we celebrate today: the Eucharist and Mary.

2. You have just heard the biblical readings that were proclaimed. Reading the book of Exodus told us about "Passover", the liberation of the children of Israel, which we continue to celebrate with our Passover festival. His was a festival of freedom, in which the lamb offered and eaten recalled the renewed communion with the Lord and with his brothers, and also his "passage" to assist, accompany and free his people, prisoners of the Pharaoh of Egypt, to then lead him to the promised land.

In the Gospel of Saint John read at this mass, it is the same Easter that begins to be celebrated. But “the “passage” referred to is that of Jesus himself, whose “hour to pass from this world to the Father had come” ( John 13:1). For him, for his disciples and for us, it is not a question of leaving Egypt, it is not a temporal and geographical exodus. It is, as the evangelist Saint Luke admirably says in the Transfiguration scene (cf. 9:31), his exodus, his passage to the Father, which was going to take place in Jerusalem, and which in fact took place in " hour" of his Passion, Death and Resurrection.

This exodus and this departure are marked by love: "He (Jesus) who loved his own who were in the world, carried his love for them to the extreme" ( John 13:1). It was love that led Jesus to suffer death on the cross: "he loved me and gave himself for me" ( Gal . 2, 20). And it was also love that inspired the gift of the Eucharist that he left us.

3. The Eucharist, as we well know from our catechesis, is the sacrament of his body and blood that he himself offered once and for all (cf. Heb . 9, 26-28), to free us from sin and death , and that He entrusted to His Church so that it could make such gifts its own offering, under the species of bread and wine, and so that it could continually feed its faithful, ourselves gathered here around the altar.

The Eucharist is therefore the sacrifice par excellence, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, which continues to be offered by bishops and priests for the benefit of all Christians, living and dead.

The Eucharist is at the same time spiritual food, in which we receive Christ himself, God and man, who feeds us with his own substance, and thus makes us similar to Him, each one of us and all together. It is the Eucharist that truly forms the unity of the Church, which is the mystical Body of Christ: "Since there is one bread, we, though we are many, form one body, because we all partake of the same bread" ( 1 Cor . 10 , 17).

This presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine is recognized and adored by us when it continues to be present in the tabernacle, in order to allow Christians to pray to the Lord, contemplating Him in His Blessed Sacrament, throughout the day, and also to that communion can be brought to the sick and dying. We also give it public worship when it is celebrated on the occasion of a Eucharistic Congress or on the Feast of the Body of God. This real presence among us, in the celebration of the Eucharist and always in relationship with it, is, for us Christians, one of the signs of Immanuel, God-with-us, as Isaiah called the Messiah who was to come (cf. Is . 7; Mt. 1, 23).

4. The evangelist Saint John, who transmitted to us the promise of this Eucharist (cf. Jn . 6, 51-59), and showed us its importance for the faith of the disciples and for ours ( ibid . 60-71), describes We also see, on the occasion of Jesus' last supper, the washing of his feet (cf. Jn 13:1-16).

Why did he want to place instead of the narrative about the institution of the Eucharist, which is found in other evangelists, and also in Saint Paul (cf. 1 Cor . 11, 17-34), this description about the washing of the feet? He himself gives us the key to understanding, by situating the scene, as we have just heard, in reference to the supreme love of Jesus: "He carried his love for them to the extreme" ( Jn . 13:1) —, and in relationship with the exhortation to follow the example He has just given us: "If I have washed your feet, being Lord and Master, you also should wash one another's feet" ( John 13, 14)

I am sure that you understand all this well, dear Brothers and Sisters of Haiti. Whoever participates in the Eucharist is called to follow the example of Jesus whom he receives in communion, to imitate his love and to serve others, even washing their feet. And, like us, it is also the Church, the entire Church, and therefore the Church in Haiti, that must commit itself deeply to the good of its brothers and sisters, especially the poorest, precisely because it has just celebrated a Eucharistic Congress. Furthermore, doesn't she celebrate the Eucharist every day? Now the Eucharist is the sacrament of love and service.

You chose as the theme of your Congress: "Something needs to change here". And in fact, it is in the Eucharist that you will find the inspiration, strength and perseverance to commit yourself to this process of change.

Things really need to change. In preparing the Congress, the Church had the courage to face the harsh realities of today, and I am sure that all men of good will, all who deeply love their country, do the same. You have a beautiful country, with numerous human resources. And here we can speak of an innate and generous religious feeling, as well as the vitality and popular character of the Church. But Christians also note the existence of divisions, injustice, excessive inequality, the degradation of the quality of life, misery, hunger, and the fear of so many. Christians also think about the peasants, unable to live off the exploitation of their land, the people who are crowded together without work in the cities, the transferred families, the victims of frustrations of various kinds. And despite everything, they are convinced that there are solutions, based on solidarity. “Poor people” of all kinds need to relearn how to wait. The Church has a prophetic mission in this area, inseparable from its religious mission, and asks for freedom to fulfill it. It is not a question of accusing, nor simply of provoking an awareness of the evil that exists, but of contributing in a positive way to correcting situations, engaging all consciences and in particular the conscience of those who have a responsibility in the villages, cities and at national level, so that they act in accordance with the Gospel and the social doctrine of the Church.

In fact, there is certainly a profound need for justice, for a better distribution of goods, for a more balanced organization of society, with greater participation from all, for a more disinterested conception of service in favor of all, on the part of those who have responsibilities . There is a legitimate desire, in relation to the media and politics, for free expression that respects the opinions of others and the common good. There is a need for easier and freer access to goods and services that cannot continue to belong to just a few: for example, the possibility of satisfying hunger and receiving necessary health care, housing, schooling, the fight against illiteracy, social security, respect for family responsibilities and fundamental human rights. In short, everything that allows men and women, children and the elderly, to live a truly human life. It is not about dreaming of easy wealth, nor of a consumer society, but of guaranteeing everyone a standard of living worthy of the human person, of sons and daughters of God. None of this is impossible if all the country's living forces unite in the same effort, counting at the same time on international solidarity, which is always desirable. Christians therefore want to be people of hope, of love, of responsible action.

Yes, being members of the Body of Christ and participating in his Eucharistic banquet commits you to promoting the necessary changes. This is the way to wash each other's feet, following the example of Christ. You will do so without violence, without deaths, without internal struggles, which often give rise to new oppressions. You must act with respect and love for freedom.

I congratulate all those who work in this way, defending the rights of the poor, often with limited means, I would even say with "empty hands". I launch an appeal to all who have power, wealth and culture, to understand their serious and urgent responsibility towards all their brothers and sisters. This is how they will honor their positions. I wish to express my confidence to you and assure you of my prayers.

5. We feel the same need for conversion when we turn to the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, who has been the object of great devotion from the beginning and throughout your history. This devotion is and should continue to be liberating.

Let us remember the words of the Epistle to the Galatians that we have just heard: "When the fullness of the time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born subject to the law, to redeem those who were under the yoke of the law, and so that we would receive adoption as children"' ( Gal . 4, 4-5).

This woman, blessed among all (cf. Lk . 1:42), you know well. It was thanks to her free acceptance, her faith and her obedience that "our liberation" was paid for by the death of her Son. It is thanks to her cooperation in the redemptive work of Christ "that we receive the adoption of children."

This is the reason why we love and venerate her as our Mother. This is the reason why we must imitate her in her faith, in her obedience and in her commitment to collaborating in the mission of her Son, in this concrete situation in which we find ourselves , in which you find yourself here in Haiti.

In this way, when you pray your rosary, meditating on the mysteries of the life, death and resurrection of Christ, uniting yourselves with your heart to Mary, present in each one of them, you must have a keen awareness that this commits you to live and to work as faithful disciples who participate in the same mysteries and receive their fruits.

May your devotion be intelligent and active, worthy of those who have received in their hearts "the Spirit of the Son of God who cries: Abba! Father!" ( Gal . 4, 6). May it not be a new form of submission "to the elements of the world" ( Gal . 4, 3), a new slavery ( ibid .) like certain syncretistic practices, inspired by fear and anguish in the face of forces that seem incomprehensible to us !

No, you are sons and daughters of God, freed by Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary. Be worthy of your divine filiation and that filiation that unites you to Mary! Having accepted to renounce sin and believe in Christ, with Mary, raise your heads and recognize with her God's predilection for the humble, the hungry, and for all those who live in love (cf. Lc . 1, 46-55).

I entrust you to Her, each and every one, bishops, priests, men and women religious, originally from this country or coming as missionaries, seminarians so numerous, a people so faithful and so tried, people of this beautiful country Haiti, which has so many young people , and also your emigrated or exiled compatriots. I ask Mary to intercede for you with her Son so that you can live a peaceful and truly dignified life.

All Haitians, I am with you. I bless you with all my heart. Courage! Be persevering! God is with you. Jesus Christ is your brother! The Holy Spirit is your light! And Mary is your mother!

I beseech you for the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Copyright © Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana