Holy Father Pope Francis encouraged the faithful gathered in his homily at a Mass for the integration of peoples celebrated in honor of Our Lady of Carmel, Mother and Queen of Chile, at Campus Lobito in the northern city of Iquique. His Holiness Pope Francis held up the plea of Mary at the marriage feast of Cana and called on Chileans to be attentive to the needs of the oppressed, the exploited and the dispossessed and ensure they don’t “miss the joy of the party”.
As reported by Vatican Radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “Gospel is a constant invitation to joy as it happened with Mary at the Annunciation, the shepherds, Elizabeth and the good thief. The Gospel message is a wellspring of joy. The people of northern Chile are no stranger to this contagious joy of the Gospel, which is visible in their patron’s feasts, religious dances, popular pieties, singing, dancing and music which “turn the whole town into a party”. Further, His Holiness added, “At Cana, Mary makes Jesus’ friends feel that they too are part of the miracle. “Do whatever he tells you”, she says. Each one of us is invited to be part of the miracle for others.”
His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his homily by reminding the faithful that like the servants at the party, let us offer what have, and not be afraid to lend a hand.
