Welcome Ceremony, Guam (22 February 1981)

On 22 February 1981, at the Agaña Airport in Guam, the Holy Father addressed the brothers and sisters of Guam and Marianas.

Dear brothers and sisters, 

1. With a heart full of gratitude, I set foot on your homeland and kiss it as an expression of my respect and reverence towards the people of this land. At the same time I thank Almighty God, whose wonderful Providence allows me to greet the people of Guam and all the other Mariana Islands. 

“Gof magof na bai hu bisita i bonito na tano miyo yan hamyu man famaguon Yuos” (I am happy to see your beautiful island and you, children of God). 

“Gof magof yo na hu bisita hamyu ni i taotao islas Pacifico” (I am happy to converse with you, people of the Pacific Islands). 

I have traveled a great distance to be able to tell you in person how close you are to the Bishop of Rome, in his thoughts and prayers. And, because of this affection I have for you, I feel a particular consolation in the joy of our meeting. 

I therefore wish to address a word of friendship to each and every person, across this vast territory of Micronesia: to all married people, unmarried people, children, the elderly, the suffering, the infirm, the invalids. I greet you all with cordial respect. How I wish it were possible to talk to each of you: visit your homes, pray in your churches, learn from your sufferings as well as your hopes and aspirations! But I can't do that and have to limit myself to a condensed program. However, I want you to know that with deep concern for your well-being I share these hours with you. 

2. I will have a brief meeting with the representatives of the Catholic clergy, of the religious who work among you. For more than three centuries the Church has offered the gift of the treasure of faith to the people of Guam. And how generously was that message received! In a spirit of hope the work of evangelization in these territories was begun and has prospered. May the Church in Guam – and all of you who are members of this Church – continue to proclaim and faithfully live the Gospel by offering service to all. May you zealously bear witness to true moral values ​​in the midst of an often confused and misguided world. May you stand firm against anything that attempts to discourage you from reaching full maturity in Christ. 

3. Brothers and sisters of Guam and the Marianas, we live in a special moment in human history. Advances in science and technology have opened up new possibilities for building a more just society. A deeper awareness of the rights of all men gives new hope and a positive push towards a more peaceful world order. Rapid communications allow us to understand other people in a more direct and personal way than has ever been experienced before. Let us use the possibilities of our era to promote the dignity of peoples everywhere. As we are gathered together on this day and in this place, let us confirm our resolve to love one another and to love all others. With God's grace our efforts can succeed! God grant that it may be so! 

“Hu guiya todos hamyu!” (I love all of you!). 

Copyright © Dicastery for Communication - Libreria Editrice Vaticana