A house of prayer for all peoples

On Monday morning, 11 November, the Holy Father received in audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the technicians and partners of the Fabric of Saint Peter. The Pope challenged the members to use the latest technologies to help in their apostolic ministry, but warned, however, that they should be used in a “proper and constructive way”, as they hold potential but are also ambivalent”. If not, “it is as if the frame becomes more important than the picture”. The following is a translation of the Pope’s address which was given in Italian.

Your Eminence,
Dear brothers and sisters!

I greet you with gratitude, because your visit attests to the industriousness with which you are undertaking new projects and collaborations for the benefit of Saint Peter’s Basilica. I went the other day to see, it is wonderful what you do. This house of prayer for all peoples (cf. Is 56:7; Mt 21:13) was entrusted to us by those who have preceded us in faith and in the apostolic ministry. Therefore, it is a gift and a task to take care of it, both in a spiritual and material sense, also through the most recent technologies.

Such tools particularly challenge our creativity and our responsibility. Indeed, the correct and constructive use of a potential that is certainly useful, but ambivalent, depends on us. At times, it happens that the tool overrides the purpose for which it should serve: it is as if the frame becomes more important than the picture. It is therefore necessary to govern technology, recalling that its products are good not only when they work, but primarily when they help us grow. This is the purpose.

This principle applies even more to Saint Peter’s Basilica, and to the various interventions it requires, so that it may be for all visitors a living place of faith and history, a hospitable dwelling, a temple for the encounter with God and with the brothers and sisters who come to Rome from all over the world. Everyone, truly everyone, must feel welcomed in this great house: those who have faith and those seeking faith; those who come to contemplate the many artistic beauties of Rome and those who want to decipher its cultural codes.

In this regard, let us recall that the original nucleus of the Basilica is the tomb of Peter, the disciple whom the Lord Jesus elected as first among the apostles, entrusting to him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven (cf. Mt 16:18). This is evidenced by the huge Greek and Latin inscriptions that from above accompany the faithful to the altar of the Cathedra. The planned works should have the same purpose: to accompany the men and women of today; to support their journey as disciples, following the example of Simon Peter. Therefore, I would like to leave you three criteria to guide your work: the listening of prayer, the gaze of faith, the pilgrim’s touch. Let these senses, at once bodily and spiritual, intelligently order the initiatives to be taken.

First of all, the listening of prayer: I encourage the commitment of the Fabric and its collaborators in the adoption of technologies that favour not only people’s interactive participation, but above all their awareness of the sacred place, which is a space for meditation.

Secondly, the outlook of faith — to use the cutting-edge tools with a missionary, not touristic, style, without seeking the attraction of special effects, but rather investing in new means to recount the faith of the Church and the culture it has shaped.

Lastly, the pilgrim’s touch: throughout the centuries, sculptural, pictorial and architectural art were placed at the service of the People of God using the best technologies of the time. Our predecessors worked wonderfully! May every new project be in continuity with the same pastoral intent.

There is another form of art that takes place in the Basilica, hidden: the [role of] confessors. Please, let there always be confessors available. People go, they feel something, even non-Christians approach [them] to ask for a blessing.... In this world that is so artistic and beautiful, there is also the art of personal communication. And please tell the confessors to forgive everything, everything! Everything must be forgiven. The Lord wants this; and do not give speeches: “You must...”. No, none of “you must”. I forgive you and continue onward, with the Lord. Forgiving, not so much preaching; some words must be said, but forgive. Let no one leave [without a blessing]. Even those who are not Christians. Confessors tell me that many times they are Muslims or of other religions who come to ask for a blessing. Always bless every person, and those who wish to go to confession, forgive everyone, everyone, everyone!

Thank you for your resourcefulness. I bless all of you and your work from my heart. And I ask you, please, to pray for me. Thank you.