Pope Francis met with Latvia’s state and civil authorities, and members of the diplomatic Corps at the Presidential Palace in Riga on Monday, 24, 2018.

In his words to Authorities, Civil Society and the Diplomatic Corps gathered at the Presidential Palace in Riga, the Pope began by recalling Latvia’s turbulent past and its vibrant present.

Latvia past and present
He said that both the entire country and its capital Riga, had “known difficult social, political, economic and spiritual struggles,” which he noted were, “the fruit of past divisions and conflicts, yet today, he added, Latvia was now “one of the principal cultural, political and shipping centres of the region.”“Latvia…, has turned its sorrows and pain into singing and dancing, he said, and has sought to become a place of dialogue and encounter, of a coexistence that is peaceful and looks to the future.”

Spiritual roots
This year Latvia is celebrating the centenary of its independence, and with that in mind, Pope Francis commented, “you know all too well the price of that freedom, which you have had to win over and over again.” It is a freedom, he continued, made possible thanks to your roots that, as writer Zenta Maurina, “who inspired so many of you, observed, “are in heaven”.

He told those assembled, that the “spiritual capacity to see more deeply, as expressed in small and daily gestures of solidarity, compassion and mutual assistance, has sustained you and in turn has given you the creativity needed to generate new social processes, despite the currents of reductionism and exclusion that always threaten the fabric of society.”

Ecumenism
During his address, the Pope praised the work of the Catholic Church in the country with regard to its engagement with other Christian churches. He stressed that, this “cooperation shows that it is possible to build communion within differences.” He also underlined the importance of solidarity as a way to overcoming division and building lasting unity. To work for liberty, said Pope Francis, “is to commit oneself to the integral and integrating development of individuals and the community. If today we can celebrate, it is due to all those who blazed trails and opened a door to the future…” and bequeathed to you that same responsibility.”

The theme of this visit to Latvia is, “Show Thyself a Mother” in honour of the Virgin Mary. Focusing on this theme, the Pontiff spoke of the “motherhood of Latvia”, which, he said, was manifested in her ability to promote truly effective strategies centred on the family, and “to generate employment opportunities, so that no one will need to be uprooted in order to build a future.”

The Pope concluded, in order to be creative in the present and hopeful for the future, it was important to look to the sacrifice of past generations and imitate their example.

Pope Francis arrives in Latvia
Pope Francis became the latest head of state to visit Latvia during its centenary year.

He will have a short but busy 10-hour stopover in Latvia as part of a three-day Baltic tour that began September 22 and has also taken in Lithuania and Estonia.

President Raimonds Vējonis was on hand to welcome the Pope on the tarmac at Rīga Airport, but then left in order to prepare to receive the Pope at a lengthy welcoming ceremony at Rīga Castle.

"I hope your visit will prompt many positive changes of heart," said Vējonis in an introduction to the Pope that used the word "family" repeatedly.

"Your Holiness! Your Eminence! Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen! Holy Father, please accept my gratitude for the honour you pay to Terra Mariana by visiting us on the centenary of the statehood of Latvia. The words of our anthem, “God bless Latvia!”, have been fulfilled today," said Vējonis.

Following brief one-on-one talks, Pope Francis addressed VIPs at Riga Castle in Italian thanking Vējonis for the invitation to visit and praised the musical abilities of kokle players who had met him at the airport.

"When we, as individuals and communities, learn to look beyond ourselves and our particular interests, then understanding and mutual commitment bear fruit in solidarity. Such solidarity, understood in its deepest and most challenging sense, becomes a way of making history in a region where conflicts, tensions and even groups once considered inimical can attain a multifaceted unity that gives rise to new life," Pope Francis said in response.

You can read his full speech if you wish at the website of the Holy See.

Following the speech he went to lay flowers at the Freedom Monument, then headed for an ecumenical church service at Riga's Dome Cathedral.

As well as meeting dignitaries and clergy in Rīga , the Pope is visiting the church and pilgrimage site in Aglona, eastern Latvia.

Much of the agenda will be streamed live by LTV, though this may be subject to geo-blocking in some territories.