Pope hails Spanish TV network's support for immigrants

Nov 29, 2024

VATICAN: Pope Francis has lauded the efforts of a US-based Spanish-language Catholic television network for its evangelization efforts and support for immigrants and has urged it to continue its mission.

The pope made his remarks in a Nov. 28 meeting with the representatives of the El Sembrador-Nueva Evangelización (ESNE, “The Sower”) Network, Vatican News reported.

“Thank you for bringing the voice and the message of the pope to so many people in the United States and in other Spanish-speaking countries,” Francis said, according to a statement published by the Vatican Press Office.

The pope also thanked them as they “help so many brothers and sisters to pray, to follow the Holy Mass from home if they are unable to move, to receive Christian formation.”

Noel Díaz founded ESNE on March 1, 2003, and it currently broadcasts on 14 stations in the United States, Mexico and Spain. It also broadcasts a Spanish-language television channel, ESNE TV, launched in 2002.

Francis also thanked ESNE for their work through which they are “close to so many immigrants from various countries in Latin America,” who need points of reference, messages of consolation in their mother tongue.

The pope particularly mentioned “Yo soy el 73,” ESNE’s recent project as a “special consecration to Jesus to build a community of evangelizers capable of communicating the joy of the Gospel and God’s mercy.”

The Yo soy el 73 begins with a first stage of 33 days for the consecration to Jesus Christ.

During the process, participants read the four Gospels and meditate, pray the holy rosary daily, fast for one day a week, and attend five virtual training sessions.

At the end of this preparation, the participants take part in a Holy Mass of consecration.

Francis lauded the project, saying today the Church has a “great need for disciples who continue the mission entrusted by Jesus Christ.”

Francis recalled his 2016 meeting with ESNE’s founder Díaz, who had accompanied him from Rome to Cuba and then to Mexico in February 2016.

Mentioning Díaz who was present among the ESNE representatives at the meeting, Francis said he was struck by Díaz's "gaze of faith and his dedication to Providence," emphasizing that "that’s how ESNE began."

According to Francis, Díaz's act of polishing his shoe during the visit was the result of a promise by Diaz to his mother that “he would polish the pope’s shoes.”

Francis also asked his audience to take a moment and remember their mothers – living and in heaven – with heart of gratitude for all that they have received from them, a “legacy that only mothers can give.”

The pope told his audience that The Holy Trinity was the main patron of communication, because “they live by communicating with each other.”

He thanked ESNE for “continuing to evangelize while being faithful to Saint Pope John Paul II’s call for the new evangelization.

Francis thanked ESNE for the collaboration it has maintained for years with the Vatican media and the Dicastery for Communication and urged them to continue their mission.

“I encourage you to keep going, without ever ceasing to look to Heaven and to your brothers and sisters who are most in need,” Francis said.

“Look to those most in need, and do so generously and creatively, always anchored to the rock of Peter, always docile to the directions of the Church,” Francis added. --ucanews.com