Pope: May the Berlin conference bring peace to Libya
“Let us learn from John the Baptist not to presume that we already know Jesus, that we already know everything about him,” said Francis. “He, and He alone carried, suffered, atoned for the sin of each of us, the sin of the world, and also my sins. All of them. He carried them all on himself and took them away from us, so that we could finally be free, no longer slaves to evil. Yes, we are still poor, sinners but not slaves, no; children, children of God!”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis expressed warm hopes vis-à-vis the summit in Berlin on Libya that it may be “the beginning of a path towards the end of violence and the start of a negotiated solution that leads to peace and the much-desired stability of the country".
Before the Marian prayer, Francis, commented on today's Gospel (Jn 1: 29-34), underlining the John the Baptist’s attitude vis-à-vis Jesus when the latter went to be baptised.
Speaking before 30,000 people in St Peter’s Square, the pontiff noted that "The Baptist could not hold back the urgent desire to give testimony to Jesus when he said: ‘I saw and testified’. John saw something shocking, that is, the beloved Son of God in solidarity with sinners; and the Holy Spirit made him understand the unheard-of novelty, a true reversal. In fact, whilst in every religion it is man who offers and sacrifices something to God, in this Jesus event, it is God who offers his Son for the salvation of humanity.”
"John shows his amazement and consent about this novelty brought by Jesus, through a meaningful expression that we repeat every time at Mass: ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’ (Jn 1: 29). John the Baptist's testimony invites us to start afresh on our journey of faith: to start afresh from Jesus Christ, the Lamb full of mercy that the Father has given for us. Let us be surprised again by God’s choice to be on our side, to be in solidarity with us sinners, and to save the world from evil by taking total charge of it.”
“Let us learn from John the Baptist not to presume that we already know Jesus, that we already know everything about him (Jn 1: 31). It is not the case. Let us stop on the Gospel, perhaps even contemplate an icon of Christ, a 'holy face'. Let us contemplate with the eyes and even more with the heart, and let ourselves be instructed by the Holy Spirit, who tells us inside: It is Him! It is the Son of God who made himself into lamb, immolated for love. He, and He alone carried, suffered, atoned for the sin of each of us, the sin of the world, and also my sins. All of them. He carried them all on himself and took them away from us, so that we might finally be free, no longer slaves to evil. Yes, we are still poor, sinners but not slaves, no; children, children of God!”
After the Angelus, Francesco said that “2020 has been designated as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Nurses are the largest group of health workers, and midwifery is perhaps the most noble of professions. Let us pray for all of them, that they may perform their precious work in the best possible way.”
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