During the Regina Caeli, Pope Francis called on everyone to love actively "even though we may not always understand each other, or always get along". Such love involves “big and small things,” for a “senior, a child, a sick person, a single person in distress, a homeless person, a jobless person, an immigrant, a refugee". On Mother’s Day, a big round of applause went out to all mothers.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – For Pope Francis, "The path of love" that Jesus shows us is not "a simple commandment [. . .] because He is first to carry it out”. Indeed, “Written with the fire of the Holy Spirit,” it “generates wonders every day in the Church and the world.”

The Holy Father made these remarks before today’s Regina Caeli as he addressed pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square. Right after the Marian prayer, the pontiff greeted "all the mothers" on the second Sunday of May, Mother's Day. As he remembered “those who live with us physically, and those who live with us spiritually,” he called on the crowd to give them a big round of applause.

Earlier, the pope had focused on the Gospel in today's Mass (Jn 15:9-17) in which Jesus gives the "new commandment" to love one another and, "his thought on his imminent sacrifice on the cross, added, ‘No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you' (Jn 15:13-14)."

"These words, pronounced at the Last Supper, summarise Jesus’ whole message,” the pope said.  “In fact, they summarise everything He did. He gave his life for his friends. Friends who had not understood him, who at the crucial moment abandoned, betrayed and denied him. This tells us that he loves us even though we are not worthy of his love. "

"In doing so,” Francis added, “Jesus shows us the way to follow him on the path of love. His commandment is not a simple precept, which is always something abstract or external with respect to life. Christ’s commandment is new because He is first to carry it out, give it form. Thus, the law of love was written once and for all in the human heart (cf. Jer 31:33). Written with the fire of the Holy Spirit. And with this same Spirit, which Jesus gives us, we too might walk on this path!”

“This is path makes us go beyond ourselves in order to reach out to others. Jesus showed us that God's love is realised by loving our neighbour. The two go together. The pages of the Gospel are full of this love: children and adults, the educated and the uneducated, the rich and the poor, the righteous and sinners have been welcomed in Christ’s heart."

We must love one another “even though we may not always understand each other, or always get along . . . This is where we see Christian love. A love that shows itself even though there are differences of opinion or personality. It is a new love because it was renewed by Jesus and his Spirit. It is a redeemed love, free from selfishness. A love that gives joy to our hearts. As Jesus himself put it: 'I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete' (Jn 15:11)."

For the pope, "Christ’s love, which the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts, generates wonders every day in the Church and the world, many big and small things that obey the Lord's commandment: ‘love one another as I love you’ (cf. Jn 15:12). Acts of closeness to a senior, a child, a sick person, a single person in distress, a homeless person, a jobless person, an immigrant, a refugee . . . Thanks to the strength of the Word of Christ, each of us can become a good neighbour to the brother and sister we meet. Acts of closeness, proximity that express the love that Jesus taught us."

After the Regina Caeli prayer, Pope Francis greeted crowd. He singled out one group, saying, "Today, many countries celebrate Mother's Day. Let us we remember with gratitude and affection all mothers." Welcoming the pope's words, those gathered in the square reacted with a loud round of applause.

"Now I turn to the mothers who are here in the square: a round of applause for them,” the pope added. Which was followed by another, longer ovation.

“May this applause embrace all our mothers,” Francis said, “those who live with us physically, and those who live with us spiritually. Let us entrust them to the Mother of Jesus, to which this month is dedicated.”

The pontiff ended his address with a final greeting. "I wish you all a good, albeit a bit hot Sunday (The temperature in Rome was 26 Celsius and rising). And please, do not forget to pray for me. Have a good lunch and goodbye."

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