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Skriven 2007-05-15 06:52:40 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                               VIS-Press releases

ESPERANCA COMMUNITY: AMBASSADORS OF HOPE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 12, 2007 (VIS) - At 10.45 a.m. local time today, the Pope met
with members of the "Fazenda da Esperanca" community in Guaratingueta, an
institute for the rehabilitation of people with problems of drug and alcohol
abuse.

Following a few brief remarks from Br. Hans Stapel, founder of the "Nossa
Senhora de Gloria" charity, the Holy Father greeted volunteers and benefactors
of the "Fazenda" communities in various countries, as well as relatives of the
young people who seek help there.

Through the "Fazenda" institution, said Pope Benedict, "the Lord has given you
this opportunity for physical and spiritual recovery, so vital for you and your
families. In turn, society expects you to spread this precious gift of health
among your friends and all the members of the community."

"You must be ambassadors of hope," he added. "Brazil's statistics concerning
drug abuse and other forms of chemical dependency are very high. The same is
true of Latin America in general. I therefore urge the drug-dealers to reflect
on the grave harm they are inflicting on countless young people and on adults
at every level of society: God will call you to account for your deeds. Human
dignity cannot be trampled upon in this way."

Having expressed his appreciation for this work, "which has the charism of St.
Francis and the spirituality of the 'Focolare' Movement as its spiritual
foundation," the Holy Father said: "Reintegration in society undoubtedly
demonstrates the effectiveness of your initiative. Yet it is the conversions,
the rediscovery of God and active participation in the life of the Church which
attract even greater attention and which confirm the importance of your work.
It is not enough to care for the body, we must adorn the soul with the most
precious divine gifts acquired through Baptism."

Benedict XVI thanked "all those who contribute materially and spiritually to
enable the charity 'Nossa Senhora da Gloria' to continue its work. ... My
thoughts turn now to those many other institutions throughout the world which
work to rebuild and renew the lives of these brothers and sisters of ours
present in our midst, whom God loves with a preferential love. I am also
thinking," he concluded, "of groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics
Anonymous as well as the sobriety associations working generously in many
communities to build up the lives of others."

Returning to the "Bom Jesus" seminary, the Pope lunched with representatives of
the presidency of the Fifth General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin
America and the Caribbean.
PV-BRAZIL/DRUG DEPENDENCY/GUARATINGUETA VIS 070514 (430)

SUMMARY

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