Welcome Ceremony in Haiti (9 March 1983)

On 9 March 1983, the Holy Father spoke these words on his arrival at the Port-au-Prince Airport in Haiti.

Mr President,
dear Brothers in the Episcopate,
dear Brothers and Sisters,

I greet this land of Haiti with joy and emotion. It will soon be 500 years since the cross of Christ was planted here, the first Eucharist was celebrated here, and the first Hail Mary was recited. Today, finally, the successor of the Apostle Peter comes to you. I know how eagerly you awaited and prepared my arrival. I am grateful to you for this.

I greet all the Haitian people whose history was woven little by little between conquests and trials that forged their characteristic, particularly attractive traits. I greet the leaders, those who carry the greatest responsibilities, and I am also grateful to them for welcoming me. And at the same time I greet every Haitian citizen, every Haitian family, especially those who suffer. I can't go to everyone, but I want everyone to know that they are equally present in the Pope's thoughts and heart.

Good morning to all the Haitian people!

I came to see you.

I bring you the peace and joy of the Lord.

I greet with particular joy the Catholic Church in Haiti, its bishops, its priests, men and women religious, its lay people: a young Church, a Church fervent in faith, vibrant in prayer, a Church very linked to the destiny of the people Haitian. During my brief stay I will not be able to address all of your problems that are close to my heart.

But above all, I come to confirm his work at its best, and his evangelization program. I heard many testimonies about his life rich in values. I read the message from last December's Symposium: I come to encourage the brothers and sisters of Haiti to carry it out. The Church became aware of its possibilities, of the graces that the Lord granted it, and also of its limits, obstacles, difficulties; she called everyone to conversion, rich and poor, to eradicate evil from people and society; he reaffirmed the dignity of all, he wished that the Gospel would always be Good News for the poor; called all its members to a pastoral of solidarity, for a religious and human future worthy of this people, in freedom and responsibility.

In this context, I thank with all my heart the President of the Republic, who recently informed the general public that he is willing to spontaneously renounce the privilege that the Head of State of Haiti currently enjoys by virtue of the Concordat of March 28 1860, to appoint Archbishops and Bishops.

I assure you, Mr President, that this desire, inspired by the wishes of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, will not fail to be beneficial both for the harmonious development of the Catholic Church in this country and for the State of Haiti. ,

I come to encourage this awakening, this concern and this path, of the Church, for the good of the entire country. We will do so now during a Eucharistic and Marian assembly that closes your Congress. It is in prayer and love that we draw the light and strength to serve our brothers.

May the Lord bless our ministry in this beloved land of Haiti!

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