by Marco Roncalli
Last October he was asked to present the fourth encyclical of Pope Francis in the Vatican press room, the Dilexit nos. “A key text for the pontificate” that “in the midst of wars and fragmentation challenges us to look up and make courageous choices, sometimes apparently losing, but necessary for the good of all”. And on 11 January – two months ago – Pope Francis always reserved the words of praise by meeting him at the helm of a few thousands of pilgrims of the archdiocese of Chieti -Vasto where – despite the renunciation of the completion of the 75 years last year – he will remain by the will of the Pope at least until 2026 Millions and millions of believers who pray for the Pope and follow the newspapers of the doctors with good and less good news. «I think that a key to reading what the Pope is experiencing and how he is experiencing it can come from the words of the angelus on Sunday 2 March. In this text we find at least three statements that seem relevant to me, “says Archbishop.
And which one?
«The first concerns the call to the gaze of care and not condemnation. The correction if it is not fraternal is not correction, says the pontiff. Almost an invitation to look at what is also happening to him as an expression of the mercy of God who puts the test yes, but certainly does not miss his help. As if to say that even in a condition of fragility the work is of God. The Pope himself is a tool in the hands of God, an instrument that helps us to discern the drawings of God and the signs that sends us ».
The second element …
“The Pope in Sunday angelus invites us to escape from everything is malice, falsehood, futility, to seek rather honesty and justice in the ways of relating to us, to communicate in the life of the Church and society. Thus, Pope Francis launches a message: instead of wasting time in unnecessary discussions – succession. Resignation, conclave, etc. – we make construction discussions. We see all the good that there is also in this moment of trial and we discover what God is saying to the Church, namely that even a Pope in conditions of fragility is a tool in the hands of God. Finally, Pope Francis is giving us the testimony of how a believer lives suffering and also the possibility of meeting death. In the angelus on Sunday 2 March he admits the fragility of the body, but testifies his faith as strong as the rock. Pope Francis reminds us of welcoming every fragility and of offering it to God, living it in him and with him ».
What do you think of this extraordinary participation that constantly looks at the Gemelli hospital where is it hospitalized?
«What is happening is the realization full of what Pope Francis asked the moment of his election, when he asked the crowd to bless him. Yes, now it is the whole church that supports the Pope. It is a church-comunion, that of always and renewed with the council … and the Pope warns this and feels supported by the people. It is the blessing of God through his people on the universal shepherd in the time of his fragility ».
Another question: is the pope showing that he has put into practice what he said many times about the disease, suffering, on this particular time?
“Yes, but the fact that he is also experiencing this time with words of great abandonment offers us a lesson on time in general, to be measured not with quantitative criteria, but qualitative, not as a single chronological measure, but as a time of grace and occasion of salvation for everyone”.
