Pope: stop the war in Syria and "dare" an inner change to defend life
At the Angelus Francis launches appeals also to eradicate new forms of slavery and sends greetings of peace and serenity for the Chinese New Year. He asks for prayers for the meeting with "my brother Kirill." "The essentials" of Christianity is "the essence of Christianity: to spread the regenerating and gratuitous love of God, with attitude of welcome and mercy to everyone, so that everyone can meet the tenderness of God and have the fullness of life."
Vatican City (AsiaNews) –Pope Francis urged a political solution to end the war in Syria, called upon people to "dare" to have an inner change to defend life and stop and make every effort to eradicate new forms of slavery, during his Angelus address Sunday.
Following the Marian prayer he also appealed for prayers for his upcoming trip to Mexico "and also the meeting that I will have in Havana with my dear brother Kirill" and addressed wishes for peace and serenity to families who will mark the lunar New Year tomorrow.
Commenting on today's Gospel, he had spoken about "the essence of Christianity: to spread the regenerating and gratuitous love of God, with a welcoming and merciful attitude towards all, so everyone may encounter the tenderness of God and have the fullness of life".
To 40 thousand people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the Marian prayer, Francis first recalled the call of the first apostles, as recorded in Luke's Gospel (Lk 5,1-11). Faced with the extraordinary event of the miraculous catch, the Pope said, "the fishermen are overcome with amazement. Simon Peter fell at Jesus' feet, saying: "Lord, leave me, for I am a sinner." The miraculous sign convinced him that Jesus is not only a great teacher, whose word is true and powerful, but that He is the Lord, the manifestation of God. And this close presence arouses in Peter a strong sense of his own unworthiness. From a human point of view, he thinks there should be distance between the sinner and the saint. In truth, his own sinful condition means that the Lord can not turn away from him, the same way a doctor can not abandon people who are sick. "
"Jesus' response to Simon Peter is reassuring and firm:" Do not fear; from now on you will be the fisher of men”. And again the fisherman from Galilee, placing his trust in this word, leaves everything and follows Him who has become his Master and Lord. And so did James and John, Simon’s fellow workers. This is the logic that drives the mission of Jesus and the mission of the Church: to seek out, 'fisher' men and women not to proselytize, but to restore full dignity and freedom to everyone, through the forgiveness of sins. This is the essence of Christianity: to spread the regenerating and gratuitous love of God, with welcoming and merciful attitude, so that everyone can meet the tenderness of God and have the fullness of life. And here in a particular I think of the confessors, who are the first to have to give the Father's mercy, following the example of Jesus as did the holy fathers, Leopold and Padre Pio”.
"The Gospel challenges us today: do we truly trust the word of the Lord? Or do we let ourselves be discouraged by our failures? In this Holy Year of Mercy, we are called to comfort those who feel unworthy sinners before the Lord and weighed down by their mistakes, telling them the words of Jesus: 'Fear not', God’s mercy is greater than your sins, fear not! May the Virgin Mary help us to increasingly understand that discipleship means to put our feet on the footprints left by the Master: they are the footprints of divine grace that regenerates life for all".
Following the midday prayer the Pope made a series of appeals. "With deep concern - he said - I follow the dramatic fate of civilian populations involved in heavy fighting in the beloved Syria and who are forced to abandon everything to escape the horrors of war . I hope that, with generous solidarity, all necessary aid be provided to ensure their survival and dignity, and I appeal to the international community to spare no effort to urgently bring the parties involved to the negotiating table. Only a political solution to the conflict will be able to guarantee a future of reconciliation and peace in that beloved and martyred country, for which I invite you to pray hard, right now, all together. " The Pope then led the crowd in a recitation of a Hail Mary.
"Dear brothers and sisters - he added - Today, in Italy, we celebrate the Day for Life, on the theme 'Mercy makes life blossom'. I join the Italian Bishops to wish on the part of various educational and social institutions, renewed commitment in favor of human life from conception to its natural end. Our society must be helped to heal from all the attacks on life, daring an inner change, which is shown by the works of mercy. I greet and encourage university teachers in Rome and those who are committed to witness the culture of life ".
"Tomorrow - he continued - we celebrate the Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking, which gives everyone the opportunity to help the new slaves today to break the heavy chains of exploitation to regain their freedom and dignity. I think in particular of so many women and men, and to so many children! We must make every effort to stamp out this crime, and this unbearable shame ".
"And again tomorrow - he concluded - in the Far East and in various parts of the world, millions of men and women celebrate the Lunar New Year. I wish everyone to experience serenity and peace within their families, which are the first place where you experience and transmit the values of love and brotherhood, coexistence and sharing, attention and care of others . May the New Year bring fruits of compassion, mercy and solidarity. And we greet these our brothers and sisters who tomorrow celebrate the Lunar New Year with applause ".
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03/02/2008
24/10/2019 17:56
