Visits "Farm of Hope" in Guaratingueta
GUARATINGUETA, Brazil, MAY 13, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI exhorted young people at a drug rehabilitation center to be "open to the desire for God" in order to receive the light of Christ.
The Pope traveled Saturday morning to a "Fazenda da Esperança" (Farm of Hope) in Guaratingueta. The center -- the first of 42 such centers in the world -- is located 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the shrine of Aparecida.
The Pontiff arrived at 10:30 a.m., accompanied by the Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida, Father José Rodríguez Carballo, minister general of the Order of Friars Minor, and Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia.
The young people -- who have recovered from or who are receiving treatment for drug addiction -- played music and prayed while awaiting the Holy Father.
Benedict XVI first blessed a chapel dedicated to St. Antônio de Santa'Ana Galvão -- the first Brazilian to be canonized. The chapel is also dedicated to Argentinian St. María Crescencia.
The Holy Father then addressed the community of Poor Clares who have a monastery at the rehabilitation center. He spoke to them of hope: "We need to build up hope, weaving the fabric of a society that, by relaxing its grip on the threads of life, is losing the true sense of hope."
"My dear Sisters," he continued, "make it your task to proclaim that 'hope does not disappoint.'"
Encounter
Franciscan Father Hans Stapel, who founded the first "Fazenda da Esperança " in 1979, welcomed the Holy Father before several youth of the center performed a skit that alluded to the struggle to break free of dependency. Afterward, five young people recounted their personal battle to overcome drug addiction.
Benedict XVI applauded at the end and gave his blessing.
The Pontiff donated an image of the Virgin Mary to the "Fazenda da Esperança " along with $100,000.
Some of the young people, representing the various countries where the centers are present, gave the Pope gifts that they themselves had made.
After the final blessing the Holy Father spoke for a while with the young people, which set back his schedule by 40 minutes.
Code: ZE07051302
Date: 2007-05-13