Welcome Ceremony in Zaragoza (10 October 1984)

On Wednesday, 10 October the Holy Father began a new Apostolic Journey to Spain with his arrival at the Zaragoza Airport. Here he gave the following discourse, giving as his reason for a second visit, "to prostrate myself before the Virgin of the Pillar, Patron of Hispanicity."

Majesties, 

Beloved brothers in the Episcopate, 
the authorities, 
Dear people of Spain: 

1. I arrive for the second time in Spanish soil and feel within me the same emotions I experienced at the beginning of my previous visit, almost two years ago. 

My presence here wants to mean deep esteem, admiration and trust in the qualities of your people and the people who make up it. Those of the peninsula and the islands, cities and towns, the nation's capital and the various autonomous regions. I send my cordial memory and greet from all now from now on. 

During my previous visit to this city of Zaragoza I referred to an imminent appointment, which the Church could not miss: the commemoration of the fifth centenary of the discovery and evangelization of America. Precisely the beginning of the spiritual preparation of this event makes me direct my steps towards the Dominican Republic, where the evangelization of the New World began. 

This being the reason for my trip, it was a historical duty, in addition to a natural impulse of the heart, to stop me earlier on Spanish soil. Because it was Spain that opened the communication between the West and the American Continent and the one that, in large part, brought to the same light of faith in Christ, along with Portugal, to which I also send from here my cordial greeting. In fact, from Palos de la Frontera the first caravels departed, from your lares came the first evangelizers, to which so many others have followed to this day Since the first moments were people of Spain as a whole. 

I have come for this reason to this city, to prostrate myself before the Virgin of the Pillar, Patron of Hispanicity, to thank God for that gesta and for the essential contribution of the men and women of Spain in an unparalleled work of evangelization. 

2. After thanking God and Spain, I feel the duty to thank the presence and the very weak words of welcome given by His Majesty King Juan Carlos. He and Queen Sofia have had the kindness to come and welcome me to the homeland whose supreme representation they hold, and to which they apply for from the Crown. 

My cordial thanks also to the President of the Government, to the representatives of the people, to the civil and military authorities, who kindly and expressing the feelings of the Spaniards, have come to receive the Pope. 

A special and grateful greeting to the Aragonese authorities, in a special way to the members of the municipal corporation of Zaragoza and to all Zaragoza, for their availability and collaboration and a fraternal embrace of peace to each of the brothers of Spanish bishops, united to me in the thanksgiving that I have expressed, and who share with me the solicitude for all the Churches. 

3. Two years ago I said goodbye to you with a Always, Spain. Today, when visiting you again, that greeting is close, in which the total reality of your homeland is present, as then. 

I am sorry, through those of you who have come to receive me so cordially, the multitudinous echo of the Spanish Christian people, whom I met in so many moments of my previous visit. He showed his spontaneous feeling in the face of the religious and moral message of a humble person, but which is by divine design the Successor of St. Peter. Because of this closeness to the Pastor of the universal Church and to what he embodies - a historical characteristic of Spanish Catholics, I can only express vivid recognition. 

Every Christian - even every man of good will - knows that faith and adherence to the Chair of Peter do not interfere with the legitimate temporal options that God and the Church leave to the responsible freedom of every man. All of all, for this reason, can be respected, respected and collaborate on the fundamental demands of a message that, as I said to the Spanish authorities, speaks of love among men, of respect for their dignity and the fundamental values of peace, harmony, freedom, coexistence (Address to their Majesties and to the civil authorities of Madrid, 2; November 2, 1982). 

The Church respects the just autonomy of temporal realities, with an option that is profound and determined. However, it does not reject the healthy collaboration that favors the good of man, who is both a citizen and faithful. She calls for respect for her freedom in the exercise of her task, aimed at the service of God and the formation of consciences, and calls for respect for the various manifestations, personal and social, of the religious freedom of her faithful. She, on the other hand, is convinced that the practical action of the moral principles - which are both Christians and humans, provides a solid basis for orderly coexistence, community solidarity, legal harmonization of mutual rights and duties in the personal, family, school, work and civic fields. Because the Christian who knows how to live his faith in coherence, can no less be created by fraternity and dialogue, encouraging justice, culture promoter and the elevation of people. 

The fact that brings us together: the centenary of the discovery and evangelization of America, had enormous significance, for humanity and for Spain. For this, it is an essential part of its universalistic projection. There began a great historical community among nations of deep human and spiritual affinity, whose children pray to God in Spanish and in that language have largely expressed their own culture. 

It would be impossible and deformative to present a true story of that Spanish gesta by abstracting the Church and its work. Moreover, I wonder with so many of your thinkers whether it would be possible to make an objective history of Spain without understanding the ideal and religious character of its people or the presence of the Church. 

For all this, with a cultural perspective that is a respectful tribute to its historical solera; with a friendly voice accent that invites you to overcome gaps without denying essences, I want to refer to Spain the cry that from Compostela I addressed to Europe: Be yourself. Discover your origins. Avivar your roots. Relive those authentic values that made your story glorious and beneficial to your presence on other continents (European action in Santiago de Compostela, 4; 9 November 1982). That's how you'll find your vertebrate story. You can overcome it with the proper opening to higher goals. You can move towards the challenges of the future, with vital sap, with renewed creativity, without ruptures or frictions in spirits. 

4. To the Virgin of the Pillar, Patron of Hispanicity, I entrust these intentions, Spain, its peoples and each of its children. 

May their maternal protection reach all kinds of divine blessings upon this beloved land, on its Kings and family, its Pastors, Authorities and all its nations.

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