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POPE-ANGELUS Jul-11-2011 (360 words) With photos. xxxi
Pope meets families of piracy victims, talks about vacations
By Catholic News Service
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Marking World Maritime Day, Pope Benedict XVI met with a dozen people who have family members being held captive by pirates.
At the end of his recitation of the Angelus prayer July 10, the pope offered prayers for seafarers, "who unfortunately have been kidnapped during acts of piracy."
"I hope they are being treated with respect and humanity, and I pray for their families so that they will be strong in their faith and not lose the hope of being reunited soon with their dear ones," he told thousands of people gathered in the courtyard of his summer villa at Castel Gandolfo.
As the crowds were leaving the papal villa, the pope met privately with an international group of family members of piracy victims, "giving them serenity" and assuring them of his prayers, said Father Giacomo Martino, director of the Apostolate of the Sea for the Italian bishops' conference.
Father Martino accompanied the family delegation to Castel Gandolfo for the encounter, which, he said, brought them "heart to heart with the heart of the church through the Holy Father."
In late May, the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers issued an appeal to governments, shipbuilders and owners to do more to help the families of piracy victims in addition to stepping up efforts to prevent piracy in the first place.
The pontifical council said that in the first five months of 2011 there "have been 214 new episodes with 26 ships and 522 sailors still held hostage by pirates."
The British website Save Our Seafarers estimates there are some 800 sailors currently being held.
Pope Benedict began his summer vacation at Castel Gandolfo late July 7; at the end of his Angelus address he encouraged people to enjoy their summer in a way that also would help them draw closer to God.
He told English-speaking pilgrims they could do that "through regular prayer, participation in the Eucharist and generous acts of charity."
"Parents, teach your children to observe nature, to respect and protect it as a magnificent gift that makes us sense the greatness of the creator," he told French-speaking pilgrims.
END
Copyright (c) 2011 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
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