Without humility there is war, discord, division, says Pope at general audience
The pontiff issues a new appeal for peace from St Peter's, asking the world not to forget “martyred Ukraine", Israel, Palestine, and Myanmar, at “this time of world war". In his catechesis, he praised humility, his last reflection in the cycle dedicated to vices and virtues. Greeting a group of novices, he mentioned the shortage of vocations to consecrated life in Italy, inviting them to pray.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis once again extended his invitation to pray for peace during the Wednesday general audience held in St. Peter's Square.
“We need peace. The world is at war", he said this morning, followed by the request not to forget countries crushed by war.
“Let us not forget martyred Ukraine that is suffering so much. Let us not forget Palestine, Israel: may this war stop. Let us not forget Myanmar,” he reiterated.
Francis, who spoke about a "piecemeal world war” on several occasions, now spoke of “this time of world war”.
He also focused on peace in the catechesis read at the opening of the audience, dedicated to the virtue of humility.
“[H]umility is the source of peace in the world and in the Church. Where there is no humility, there is war, there is discord, there is division,” he said.
At the end of the gathering, he greeted Italian-speaking pilgrims, and addressed the novices present. Citing the shortage of vocations, he expressed hope that more would show a "desire to be drawn more and more to Christ”.
“I see these novices and I ask myself: how many are Italian? Few. There is a shortage of vocations in Italy. Let us think and pray for vocations to the consecrated life."
He greeted the University of Nursing and Physiotherapy in Brindisi, encouraging healthcare professionals "to always place the human person at the centre, especially in delicate moments of life such as that of illness".
Afterwards he turned his thoughts to young people and students. “May the Holy Spirit, whose presence in the Church we remembered on the recent Solemnity of Pentecost, dwell always in your hearts and help you be strong in faith, generous in charity, and persevering in hope.”
Following the reading in various languages of the passage from the Gospel of Matthew (Lk 1:46-48), in which Mary pronounces the Magnificat after the Angel's announcement, Pope Francis shared with the faithful in St Peter's Square his reflection on humility, ending the cycle of catechesis he read in recent weeks at the Wednesday general audiences, dedicated to the topic of “Vices and Virtues”.
Humility is a virtue that is not part of the seven cardinal and theological virtues, but "is at the base of Christian life”, framed as a great adversary of "the most mortal of vices, namely arrogance.”
The Holy Father explained that “humility restores everything to it correct dimension", countering the rise of the “delirium of omnipotence” in human hearts.
“It takes very little to free ourselves from arrogance,” he explained. All it requires is looking up at “a starry sky to restore the correct measure”.
Such contemplation comes with the ability of modern science to extend the horizon, and “feel the mystery that surrounds us and which we inhabit even more.”
Humility is closely linked to the perception of one's own "smallness". People who are able to recognise it "are preserved from an ugly vice: arrogance.” Jesus is the first to mention them in the Beatitudes. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 5:3).
The first Beatitude is the basis of all the others, and "the gateway to all the virtues.” For instance, the Annunciation of the Angel took place in the out-country, in Nazareth, not “at the gates of Jerusalem”. Mary, the "chosen heroine” is not a celebrity, but an “unknown girl”.
“God is – so to speak – attracted by the smallness of Mary, which is above all an inner smallness. And He is also attracted by our smallness, when we accept it.” Those who are humble do not boast about it. Despite hardships, humility was a "granitic virtue" in Mary.
“This smallness of hers is her invincible strength,” Francis said in concluding. She “remains at the foot of the cross, while the illusion of a triumphant Messiah is shattered.”
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