Pope Francis asked forgiveness in
Turin on Monday for the Catholic Church's past persecution of
members of the Waldensian church after becoming the first
pontiff to visit a Waldensian house of worship.
"On behalf of the Catholic Church, I ask forgiveness for
the un-Christian, and even inhuman, attitudes and behaviours we
have had against you during history," the pope said.
"In the name of Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us".
Francis said that unity between faiths "does not mean
uniformity" and differences are acceptable.
However, diversity was not always accepted and in the past
has been a cause of violence and disputes "committed in the name
of the faith itself", the pope added.
It was therefore important to pray for the grace "to
recognize that we are all sinners and to know to forgive one
another".
Meanwhile, Francis had lunch and later celebrated Mass with
a large group of his relatives at the archbishop's residence in
Turin.
Although the pope was born in Argentina, his father was
born in the northern Italian region of Piedmont and around 30 of
Francis's relatives - six cousins and their families - came to
visit him Monday, Vatican Radio reported.
As well, on Sunday, the pope briefly visited the Church of
Santa Teresa, where his paternal grandparents Giovanni and Rosa
Bergoglio Vassallo were married in 1907, and where his father
Mario was baptized the following year, Vatican Radio said.
The Holy See Press Office said in a statement that Francis
used the opportunity to emphasize the importance of family,
Pope made this gesture to reiterate the value of the family
ahead of the Synod on the family scheduled for October.
Francis viewed his trip to Turin as a "homecoming", adding
that the warm welcome he received went "beyond his
expectations," according to the Holy See statement.
http://popefrancisnewsapp.com/
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
