Pope: Enduring evil also proclamation of the Gospel

At the general audience, resuming his catechesis on evangelical zeal, Pope Francis reflects on the figure of Juan Diego, the Indian of the Guadalupe apparitions. "To inculturate the Gospel requires perseverance and patience, I think of a country where Christians are persecuted and cannot practice their faith in peace"

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - To proclaim the Gospel "it is not enough to bear witness to the good, but it is necessary to know how to bear evil" which even today in some countries has the face of persecution. Pope Francis said this today as he addressed the faithful gathered in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican for the Wednesday general audience. Significant words in these days heavily marked in Asia by last week's attacks on churches and Christian homes in Jaranwala in Pakistan

Returning to his reflection on the passion for proclaiming the Gospel, Pope Francis today actually focused on the Americas where - he said - evangelization has an ever-living source: Guadalupe".

He recalled that in Mexico "the Gospel had already arrived before those apparitions, but unfortunately it was also accompanied by worldly interests. Instead of the path of inculturation, the hasty one of transplanting and imposing pre-established models had been traveled too often. The Virgin of Guadalupe, on the other hand, appears dressed in the clothes of the natives, speaks their language, welcomes and loves the local culture". Because “the Gospel is transmitted in the mother tongue. And I would like to say thanks to the many mothers and grandmothers who pass it on to their children and grandchildren".

But zeal in evangelization in Guadalupe also has the face of Saint Juan Diego, the humble Indian who received Mary's revelation. "God loves to perform wonders through little ones", noted the pontiff, recalling however how the local bishop refused to believe him when - in obedience to the Virgin - he asked him to build a sanctuary where she had appeared.

Pope Francis continued: “Here is the effort, the proof of proclamation. Despite zeal, the unexpected arrives, sometimes from the Church itself. In fact, bearing witness to good is not enough in our proclamation, we must also know how to bear the evil. Both go together, that's life. Even today, in many places, to inculturate the Gospel and evangelize cultures, perseverance and patience are needed, it is necessary not to fear conflicts, not to lose heart. I am thinking of a country where Christians are persecuted, because they are Christians and cannot practice their religion well and in peace", he added, perhaps referring precisely to Pakistan.

Faced with the refusal, Juan Diego asked Our Lady to dispense him and to appoint someone more esteemed and capable than him to carry that message, but he was invited to persevere.

"There is always the risk  of a certain yielding in proclamation:Something does not go well and give up, becoming discouraged and perhaps taking refuge in our own certainties, in small groups and in some intimate devotions. Our Lady, on the other hand, while she consoles us, keeps us going and thus makes us grow, like a good mother who, while she follows in the footsteps of her son, launches him into the challenges of the world".

And from here also comes the great sign of Guadalupe: Our Lady invites Juan Diegno to gather in her tilma (the cloak ed) extraordinarily blossoming flowers in the middle of winter, with the intention of taking them to the bishop as proof of his presence. But when he opens that cloak in front of the prelate, the Indian will find the face of the Mother herself imprinted on his tilma, in the image since then venerated in Guadalupe.

“Here is God's surprise. When there is availability, when there is obedience, He can do something unexpected, at times and in ways that we cannot foresee". At that point “Juan Diego leaves everything and, with the bishop's permission, dedicates his life to the shrine. He welcomes pilgrims and evangelizes them. This is what happens in Marian sanctuaries, destinations of pilgrimages and places of proclamation, where everyone feels at home".

“Let's learn this - concluded the pontiff - when there are difficulties in life, we go to the Mother; and when life is happy, we go to Mother and share that too. We need to go to these oases of consolation and mercy, where faith is expressed in the mother tongue; where the hardships of life are placed in the arms of the Madonna and one returns to live with peace in her heart, perhaps with the peace of children ”.

And it was precisely with peace in mind that Pope Francis, during his greetings to the groups of pilgrims present, once again entrusted "dear Ukraine, so severely tried by the war" to the intercession of Saint Bartholomew, whose liturgical feast is celebrated tomorrow. “Brothers and sisters – he added – let us pray for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters: they suffer a lot. War is cruel. So many missing children, so many dead people. Let's pray, please!"