This morning, at 10:00am local time in Saint Peter's Square, the Jubilee Audience was held. These audiences were introduced by the Holy Father in order to meet the numerous groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from other parts of the world who are coming to Rome during the Year of Mercy.
In his speech, the Pope added a meditation on the theme: Mercy and Dialogue (cf Jn 4:5-27).
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The Jubilee Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The passage from John's gospel that we have just heard (cf Jn 4:6-15) narrates the meeting of Jesus with a Samaritan woman. It is worth noting that in this encounter, the dialogue between the woman and Jesus is very familiar. This allows us today to point out a very important aspect about mercy, which is found precisely in dialogue.
Dialogue permits people to converse and to understand the expectations we have of each other. First of all, it is a sign of great respect, because it puts people in an attitude of listening and in a position to interpret the best aspects of the speaker. Second, dialogue is an expression of charity for, while not ignoring differences, we can help each other to find and to share our common good. In addition, dialogue invites us question ourselves in the light of the other person, attempting to see this other one as a gift from God, both challenging us and asking to be recognized.
Many times, we are not present to our brothers, even if we should see them standing beside us, most often when we insist on making our own positions known and valued above those of others. We do not enter into dialogue when we do not listen enough or when we tend to interrupt the other in order to demonstrate that we are correct. But how often, how often do we truly listen to someone else? How often do we stop them in mid-sentence and say to them: No! No! That's not true! ... instead of allowing the person to finish explaining what they want to say? This habit is an impediment to true dialogue: it is a sign of aggression. True dialogue, however, necessitates moments of silence in which we can welcome the extraordinary gift of God's presence in the one standing before us.
Dear brothers and sisters, dialogue helps people to humanize our relationships and to overcome our misconceptions. There is so much need for dialogue in our families, and how much more easily would questions be resolved if we were to learn how to listen closely to others! This is true in the relationship between a husband and a wife, between parents and children. Dialogue can also help a great deal in the relationships between teachers and their students, and dialogue can also help managers and workers to discover together the major demands of their jobs.
The Church too draws its life from dialogue with men and women of every time in order to understand the needs that are in the hearts of every person and in order to contribute to the bringing about of the common good. We can think for instance of the great gift of creation and the responsibility that we all have to care for our common home: dialogue focused on a central theme is an unavoidable requirement. We can also think of dialogue between religions, in order to discover the profound truth of their missions in the midst of all mankind, and the ways they can contribute to the building up of peace and a network of respect and fraternity (cf Laudato Si', 201).
In conclusion, all forms of dialogue are expressions of great commitment to the love of God, who reaches out to everyone and plants the seeds of its goodness in every heart, so that we might work together in advancing his creating work. Dialogue tears down walls of division and misunderstanding; it creates bridges of communication and does not allow anyone to be isolated or closed in upon our own little worlds. Let us not forget: to enter into dialogue and to listen to what others have to say and to speak with humility that which I myself have to say. If things can develop in this way, our families, our neighbourhoods, our places of work will all be better. But if I don't allow others to say everything that is in their hearts and rather begin to scream - today, there is much too much shouting - the relationships between us will never be good; relationships between husbands and wives, between parents and their children will never be as good as they can be. Listen, explain, with meekness, and don't bark at each other, don't scream, but try to have an open heart.
Jesus knew very well what was in the heart of the Samaritan woman, she was a great sinner; nevertheless, he did not stop her from expressing herself, he allowed her to speak until she was done, and little by little he entered into the mystery of her life. This teaching is equally valid for us. Through dialogue, we can help the signs of God's mercy to grow and we can begin to use them as instruments of welcome and respect.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages and he himself offered greetings to each group of pilgrims in attendance. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Scotland, Indonesia, Malaysia and the United States of America. With prayerful good wishes that the Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
In his speech, the Pope added a meditation on the theme: Mercy and Dialogue (cf Jn 4:5-27).
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The Jubilee Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the Jubilee Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The passage from John's gospel that we have just heard (cf Jn 4:6-15) narrates the meeting of Jesus with a Samaritan woman. It is worth noting that in this encounter, the dialogue between the woman and Jesus is very familiar. This allows us today to point out a very important aspect about mercy, which is found precisely in dialogue.
Dialogue permits people to converse and to understand the expectations we have of each other. First of all, it is a sign of great respect, because it puts people in an attitude of listening and in a position to interpret the best aspects of the speaker. Second, dialogue is an expression of charity for, while not ignoring differences, we can help each other to find and to share our common good. In addition, dialogue invites us question ourselves in the light of the other person, attempting to see this other one as a gift from God, both challenging us and asking to be recognized.
Many times, we are not present to our brothers, even if we should see them standing beside us, most often when we insist on making our own positions known and valued above those of others. We do not enter into dialogue when we do not listen enough or when we tend to interrupt the other in order to demonstrate that we are correct. But how often, how often do we truly listen to someone else? How often do we stop them in mid-sentence and say to them: No! No! That's not true! ... instead of allowing the person to finish explaining what they want to say? This habit is an impediment to true dialogue: it is a sign of aggression. True dialogue, however, necessitates moments of silence in which we can welcome the extraordinary gift of God's presence in the one standing before us.
Dear brothers and sisters, dialogue helps people to humanize our relationships and to overcome our misconceptions. There is so much need for dialogue in our families, and how much more easily would questions be resolved if we were to learn how to listen closely to others! This is true in the relationship between a husband and a wife, between parents and children. Dialogue can also help a great deal in the relationships between teachers and their students, and dialogue can also help managers and workers to discover together the major demands of their jobs.
The Church too draws its life from dialogue with men and women of every time in order to understand the needs that are in the hearts of every person and in order to contribute to the bringing about of the common good. We can think for instance of the great gift of creation and the responsibility that we all have to care for our common home: dialogue focused on a central theme is an unavoidable requirement. We can also think of dialogue between religions, in order to discover the profound truth of their missions in the midst of all mankind, and the ways they can contribute to the building up of peace and a network of respect and fraternity (cf Laudato Si', 201).
In conclusion, all forms of dialogue are expressions of great commitment to the love of God, who reaches out to everyone and plants the seeds of its goodness in every heart, so that we might work together in advancing his creating work. Dialogue tears down walls of division and misunderstanding; it creates bridges of communication and does not allow anyone to be isolated or closed in upon our own little worlds. Let us not forget: to enter into dialogue and to listen to what others have to say and to speak with humility that which I myself have to say. If things can develop in this way, our families, our neighbourhoods, our places of work will all be better. But if I don't allow others to say everything that is in their hearts and rather begin to scream - today, there is much too much shouting - the relationships between us will never be good; relationships between husbands and wives, between parents and their children will never be as good as they can be. Listen, explain, with meekness, and don't bark at each other, don't scream, but try to have an open heart.
Jesus knew very well what was in the heart of the Samaritan woman, she was a great sinner; nevertheless, he did not stop her from expressing herself, he allowed her to speak until she was done, and little by little he entered into the mystery of her life. This teaching is equally valid for us. Through dialogue, we can help the signs of God's mercy to grow and we can begin to use them as instruments of welcome and respect.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages and he himself offered greetings to each group of pilgrims in attendance. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Scotland, Indonesia, Malaysia and the United States of America. With prayerful good wishes that the Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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