Pope: let us pray for those, 'and there are many', who are persecuted for their faith
“It is a question of understanding who Christ is for us: the centre of our life and the goal of all our commitment in the Church and society,” Francis said. The Lord shall call us to account for all the migrants who have fallen on their journey of hope, victims of the throwaway culture.”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – In today’s Angelus, Pope Francis called on the faithful to pray and support those in the world who are persecuted for their faith, "and there are many". He warns that "the Lord shall call us to account for all the migrants who have fallen on their journey of hope”. He also urged believers not to forget the victims of the coronavirus epidemic.
“Yesterday, we celebrated the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters; let us support with prayer and solidarity those, and there are many, who are still persecuted today because of their religious faith. [There are] So many!
“Tomorrow, 24 August, is the 10th anniversary of the massacre of seventy-two migrants in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico” who “came from different countries looking for a better life.
“My solidarity goes to the families of the victims who still today want justice and the truth about what happened. The Lord shall call us to account for all the migrants who have fallen on their journey of hope, victims of the throwaway culture.”
Before the Marian prayer, the pontiff addressed the few thousand people present in St Peter's Square. In his comment about today's Gospel, in which Jesus asks the Apostles who they believe he is, the Pope said: "It is a question of understanding who Christ is for us, whether He is the centre of our life and the goal of all our commitment in the Church and society.”
At present, this question is in the question that Jesus asked the Apostles “But who do you say that I am??" and which is asked to every Christian.
“We too are asked to answer this. Like the first disciples,” we are asked “to heed in our inner self the voice of the Father and be in harmony with what the Church, gathered around Peter, continues to proclaim. It is a question of understanding who Christ is for us: the centre of our life and the goal of all our commitment in the Church and society. Who is Jesus Christ to me? [To this question,] We must give an answer every day.”
“It is indispensable and commendable that the pastoral care of our communities be open to [people experiencing] so many forms of poverty and emergency,” he added.
“Charity is always the main path to perfection. But it is necessary that works of solidarity not distract us from keeping in touch with the Lord Jesus. Christian charity is not simple philanthropy”.
Indeed, “on the one hand, it is looking at others with the eyes of Jesus himself; on the other, it is seeing Jesus in the faces of the poor. This is the true way of Christian charity, with Jesus at the centre, always.”
Following the Angelus, Francis called on the faithful not to forget the victims of the Coronavirus. “This morning I heard the story of a family who lost their grandparents on the same day without being able to say goodbye to them.”
There is “So much suffering, so many people who have lost their lives, victims of the disease, and so many volunteers, doctors, nurses, nuns, priests, who also lost their lives. Let us remember the families who have suffered from this.”
"Tomorrow marks four years since the earthquake that hit Central Italy,” Francis said. “I renew my prayer for the families and the communities that have suffered the most damage, that they may go forward with solidarity and hope.”
Last but not least, “I hope that the reconstruction will quicken, so that people can go back to live a quiet life in such beautiful places in the Apennine [Mountains]”.
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