Pope: the Trinity is not taught in books but by living for others

At the Angelus Francis "apologizes" to the people of the DR Congo and South Sudan whom he will not be able to visit in July: "We pray that with God's help and medical care I will be able to come as soon as possible." Speaking of 10 nuns killed by the Red Army proclaimed blessed yesterday in Poland, he recalls the witness of faith of persecuted Christians even today. The invitation not to forget the Ukrainian population wounded by war and the millions of children forced into child labor.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Celebrating the Trinity is not so much a theological exercise, but a revolution in our way of life." Pope Francis said this today while addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus prayer.

Taking his cue from today's solemnity that invites us to contemplate the mystery of God in the unity between His three Persons, Francis recalled that "the Holy Spirit speaks, but not of Himself: He proclaims Jesus and reveals the Father. And the Father, who possesses everything, because he is the origin of all things, gives to the Son all that he possesses: he withholds nothing for himself and gives himself entirely to the Son."

The pope went on to invite the faithful to carefully consider, "what we talk about and what we possess. When we speak, we always want to be spoken well of and often we speak only about ourselves and what we do. And, about what we possess, how jealous we are of it and how hard we struggle to share it with others, even those who lack the necessities. In words it is easy, but then in practice it is very difficult."

The mystery of God "in which each Person lives for the other" therefore provokes us "to live with others and for others. I, who profess faith in God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," the pontiff invited to ask, "do I really believe that in order to live I need others, I need to give myself to others, I need to serve others? Do I affirm this with words or with life?"

For Francis, the Trinity "is transmitted less through books and more through the witness of life. Let us think of the good, generous, meek people we have met: by remembering their way of thinking and acting, we can have a small reflection of God-Love. In short, the Trinity teaches us that we can never be without each other. We are not islands, we are in the world to live in the image of God: open, in need of others and in need of helping others." In this sense, the pontiff concluded by inviting people to ask themselves, "Does the sign of the cross I make every day remain a gesture as an end in itself or does it inspire my way of speaking, of meeting, of responding, of judging, of forgiving?"

At the end of the Angelus prayer Pope Francis then addressed the African populations of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, who were expecting him in early July for the apostolic journey he was forced to postpone due to knee pain. "I really feel great regret," the pontiff told them, "I apologize for this. Let us pray together that with God's help and medical treatment I can come to you as soon as possible. We are hopeful."

The pope then remembered Sister Maria Paschalis Jahn and her 9 sisters of the Congregation of St. Elizabeth who were killed by the Red Army in 1945 in Poland and proclaimed blessed yesterday in Wroclaw. "They stayed by the side of the elderly and the sick despite the dangers," he commented. "May their example of fidelity to Christ help all of us and especially persecuted Christians in so many parts of the world to witness to the Gospel with courage.

Francis finally urged not to forget the people of Ukraine afflicted by war. "The time that passes," he admonished, "does not cool our pain and concern. Let us not get used to this tragic reality, let us pray and fight for peace." As well - on the International Day against Child Labor, which is celebrated today - he recalled this dramatic reality that continues to afflict millions of children around the world: "Let us all commit ourselves," he concluded, "to eliminate this scourge, so that no child or girl is deprived of his or her fundamental rights and forced or compelled to work."

• Vatican
• Pope Francis
• Angelus