During the Angelus, Francis called on the faithful to pray for his trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines, which he undertakes tomorrow. With Jesus' baptism, which is celebrated today, the time of "closed skies", i.e. the separation between God and man, is over. For the pontiff, "The earth has become God's dwelling among men and women".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Under a rainy sky, Pope Francis spoke to 40,000 people, gathered in St Peter's Square for the Angelus, telling them that with the baptism of Jesus, which is celebrated today, the time of "closed skies", i.e. the separation between God and man, was over. In his address, the pope also called on those present to pray for the trip he is starting tomorrow in Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

"The earth has become God's dwelling among men and women, and each of us has the opportunity to meet the Son of God, experiencing all his love and infinite mercy." We can meet him in the sacraments, "we can recognise him in the faces of our brothers and sisters, especially the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the refugees. They are the living flesh of the suffering Christ and the visible image of the invisible God."

"With Jesus' baptism," said the pontiff before the Angelus, "not only do the heavens open up, but God speaks again in a resounding voice, 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased' (Mark, 1:11). The Father's voice proclaims the mystery that dwells in the Man baptised by John the Baptist. Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, is also the definitive Word that the Father wanted to tell the world. Only by listening, following and witnessing this Word, can we fully make fruitful our experience of faith, whose seed was placed in us on the day of our Baptism."

"The Holy Spirit's descent, in the form of a dove, allows Christ, the Consecrated of the Lord, to inaugurate his salvific mission for all of us. The Holy Spirit, which wholly animated Jesus' life and ministry, is the same Spirit that guides the Christian life."

"Placing under the action of the Holy Spirit our lives as Christians as well as the mission, which we all received by virtue of the Baptism, means finding the necessary apostolic courage to overcome easy worldly accommodations. Christians and communities that are 'deaf' to the voice of the Holy Spirit, which leads us to bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth and society, also become 'mute' Christians and communities who do not speak and do not evangelise."

Finally, "Tomorrow night," said the pope after the Marian prayer, "I leave for an apostolic trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines. I call on you, please, to accompany me with your prayers. I also call on the Sri Lankans and Filipinos who are in Rome to pray for my journey."

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