Angelus: The saints are our 'friends' with whom we form a 'great family’ on a journey, pope says
At the end of the Marian prayer, the pontiff said that tomorrow's Mass for the Dead will be held at the Rome War Cemetery. He urged the faithful again to pray for the populations suffering from today's wars, in particular in Ukraine, Palestine, and Israel. On the feast day of All Saints, he emphasised the two traits of holiness: a gift "for all" and a journey "to be made together.”.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis spoke to the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square for the Angelus on the occasion of the Solemnity of All Saints, which the Church celebrates today. In his address, he said that the saints are not "unattainable" heroes; instead, with them we form "a great family on the way".
The pontiff stressed the significance of the observance, adding that tomorrow he will celebrate the Mass of the Dead at the Rome War Cemetery, in the Testaccio area, which contains the remains of Commonwealth soldiers who fell during the Second World War.
“Let us continue to pray," he went on to say, "for the people suffering in today's wars; let us not forget tormented Ukraine, let us not forget Palestine, let us not forget Israel, let us not forget so many other regions where war is too strong.”
Before the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis reflected upon the Solemnity of All Saints, stressing “two characteristics" of holiness, “a gift and at the same time a journey."
First of all, it is a gift "received with Baptism" offered "to all", which can "completely change our lives" making us "happy" and illuminating us with the Gospel. For Francis, the saints "are not unattainable or distant heroes" but "our friends" starting with the saints "next door," that is, "generous people" transformed by the Holy Spirit.
The gift of holiness also entails the "responsibility" to commit oneself so that "it is not wasted" as the Second Vatican Council noted; for this reason, "Holiness is also a journey, a journey to be made together, helping each other, united with those excellent companions who are the Saints.”
The latter "are our elder brothers and sisters, on whom we can always count" because "they are sincere friends" and " never point the finger at us and never betray us." With the saints, "we form a great family on a journey, the Church, with men and women of every language, condition, and origin”.
“Holiness is a gift and a journey”. Hence, “It is good for us to know the lives of the saints and to be moved by their examples. And it does us a great deal of good to turn to them in prayer.”
In concluding, the pope addressed an affectionate greeting to pilgrims, families, parish groups, associations and school groups from various countries present today in St Peter's Square, some coming from as far as Germany, Mexico and Denmark.
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