Pope Leo XIV overlooks the square with his hand. “Dear brothers and sisters, good Sunday!”, He begins in a powerful voice, immediately making a personal reference: «I am still at the beginning of my ministry in the midst of you and I wish to thank you for the affection you are manifesting me, while I ask you to support me with your prayer and closeness. The Lord calls us, in the path of life as well as on the journey of faith, we sometimes feel inadequate the Lord calls us, in the path of life as well as on the path of faith, we sometimes feel inadequate. However, the Gospel of this Sunday tells us that we must not look at our strength, but to the mercy of the Lord who has chosen us, sure that the Holy Spirit guides us and teaches us everything ».
After commenting on the Gospel, in the ways that we will report, and recited Queen Coeli, the Pope turned to the square: remembering the beatification of Stanisław Kostka Strecz, a diocesan priest killed in hatred of faith for his work in favor of the poor and workers who annoyed the followers of communist ideology. “His example,” said the Pope, he can stimulate priests in particular to spend generously for the Gospel and the brothers. Then always remembering yesterday on the occasion of the liturgical memory of Mary Help of Christians the day of prayer for the Church in China, established by Pope Benedict XVI, “as a sign of concern and affection for Chinese Catholics and their communion with the universal Church”.
The connection is an opportunity to affirm: “Our prayer embraces all the peoples who suffer because of the war. We invoke courage and perseverance for those who are engaged in dialogue and sincere research of peace ». And again: «Ten years ago Pope Francis signed the encyclical Laudato dedicated to the care of the common house. It has had an extraordinary diffusion, inspiring countless initiatives and teaching everyone to listen to the double cry of the earth and the poor. I greet and encourage the Laudato movement yes and all those who carry on this commitment ».
“Even if I am fragile, the Lord is not ashamed of my humanity”
“To the apostles who, on the eve of the master’s death, are disturbed and distressed and wonder how they can be continuing and witnesses of the kingdom of God, Jesus announces the gift of the Holy Spirit, with this wonderful promise:” If one loves me, he will observe my Word and my Father will love him and we will come to him and we will take residence with him “. Thus, Jesus frees the disciples from all anguish and concern and can say to them: “Your heart is not troubled and is not afraid”. If we remain in his love, in fact, he himself takes up residence in us, our life becomes the temple of God and this love illuminates us, we make room in our way of thinking and in our choices, until we expand also towards others and irradiate all the situations of our existence. Here, brothers and sisters, this dwelling of God in us is precisely the gift of the Holy Spirit, who takes us by the hand and makes us experiment, even in everyday life, the presence and closeness of God, making us live. It is nice that, looking at our call, the realities and people who have been entrusted to us, to the commitments that we carry on, to our service in the Church, each of us can say with confidence: even if they are fragile, the Lord is not ashamed of my humanity, indeed, he comes to take home within me. He accompanies me with his spirit, illuminates me and makes me an instrument of his love for others, for society, for the world. Dear, on the foundation of this promise, we walk in the joy of faith, to be a Holy Temple of the Lord.
“Let’s commit ourselves to bringing his love everywhere,” continues Leone XIV, “reminding us that every sister and brother is the home of God, and that his presence turns out to be especially in the little ones, in the poor and in those who suffer, asking us to be careful and compassionate Christians. And let’s all rely on the intercession of Mary Most Holy. For the work of the Spirit, she has become “dwelling consecrated to God”. With her, we too can experience the joy of welcoming the Lord and being a sign and tool of his love ».
