Pope thanks the Canary Islands for hosting the hantavirus cruise ship

After the recitation of the Marian prayer of the Regina caeli this VI Sunday of Easter, Pope Leo IV thanked the Canary Islands for the reception of the Dutch cruise ship Hondius with the outbreak of hantavirus.

The ship arrived this morning at the port of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife, where passengers have been disembarked for transfer to their respective countries. 

Most of the Spaniards were the first to leave the ship along with a WHO epidemiologist in Africa, and have moved to Tenerife South airport to board the plane that will take them to Madrid.

Happy for his next visit to the Canary Islands

The Pontiff also made reference to his upcoming visit to the Canary Islands in June. “I am happy to meet with you next month during my visit to the islands,” he said in Spanish, a language he speaks perfectly, as he has shown on numerous occasions.

Keywords: Chad, Mali, Coptic church, prayer for mothers, mothers' prayers

Among other intentions of the Regina caeli, The Holy Father prayed for the victims of violence in the Sahel region, especially in Chad and Mali, countries hit by recent terrorist attacks.

He also sent fraternal greetings to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and assured the entire beloved Coptic Church of his prayers, “in the hope that our journey of friendship will lead us to perfect unity in Christ, who called us «friends» (cf. Jn 15,15)”.

Finally, he dedicated “a special thought to all mothers. Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Jesus and our own mother, we pray with affection and gratitude for each one of them, especially for those who live in the most difficult circumstances. Thank you! May God bless you!”.

“Love one another as He has loved us.”

In his previous address, the Pope commented on the words of Jesus at the Last Supper, which are included in the Today's GospelIf you love me, you will keep my commandments“.”

We truly keep the commandments, according to God's will, if we recognize his love for us, as Christ reveals it to the world, the Pope added. “Jesus” words are thus an invitation to a relationship, not blackmail or a dubious suspension.".

For this reason, said the Successor of Peter, “the Lord commands us to love one another as he has loved us: it is the love of Jesus that engenders love in us. Christ himself is the criterion, the model of true love: the love that is faithful forever, pure and unconditional. The love that knows no ‘but’ or ‘maybe’, the love that gives without seeking to possess, the love that gives life without expecting anything in return-. 

Since God loves us first, we too can love; and when we truly love God, we truly love others, he stressed, concluding by entrusting ourselves to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Divine Love.