This morning's General Audience began at 9:30am in Saint Peter's Square, where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from every corner of the world.
In his speech, the Pope shared his meditation on the theme: The Risen Christ, our hope (cf 1 Cor 15).
After summarizing his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
We meet today in the light of Easter, which we celebrated and are still celebrating with the Liturgy. For this reason, in our itinerary of catecheses on Christian hope, I wish to speak with you today about the Risen Christ, our hope, a subject that Saint Paul presents in the first Letter to the Corinthians (cf 1 Cor 15).
The apostle wishes to address a problem which was surely the focus of discussions among the members of the Corinthian community of Christians. Resurrection is the last subject dealt with in the Letter, but probably, in order of importance, it was ranked first: everything else was and is based on this supposition.
Speaking to the Christian community, Paul begins with an inexplicable point, which is not the fruit of reflection by a wise man but in fact a simple fact that has played a part in some people's lives. Christianity is born out of the resurrection. It is not an ideology; it is not a philosophical system of belief; rather it is a journey in faith that begins with an event that was witnessed by the first of Jesus' disciples. Paul sums it up in this way: Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose and appeared to Peter and to the Twelve (cf 1 Cor 15:3-5). These are the facts: he died, he was buried, he rose and he appeared. That is to say, Jesus is alive! This is the core of the Christian message.
Proclaiming this event, which is the central point of faith, Paul insists above all on the final element of the Easter mystery - the fact that Jesus is risen. If in fact, everything ended with death, in Him, we would have an example of supreme dedication, but this alone would not be enough to bring about our faith. He was a hero. No! He died, but he is risen. Faith is born in the resurrection. To accept that Christ died, and that he died on a cross, is not an act of faith; it is historic fact. However, to believe that he is risen, yes. Our faith was born on Easter morning. Paul made a list of persons to whom the risen Jesus appeared (cf 1 Cor 15:5-7). Here we have a small summary of the Easter stories and all the people who entered into contact with the risen Jesus. At the top of the list is Cephas, who is Peter, and the other disciples, then five hundred of the brothers many of whom could still give their testimony, then there is James' account. Lastly on the list - the least worthy of all - is Paul himself. Paul says of himself: as to one untimely born (cf 1 Cor 15:8).
Paul used this expression because his personal history was dramatic: he was not a cleric but rather one who had persecuted the Church, filled with pride about his own beliefs; he felt as though he were a man who had arrived, with very clear ideas about what his life was about and what his duties were. But, in the midst of this perfect picture - everything about Paul was perfect, he knew everything - in this perfect picture of life, one thing was absolutely unforeseeable: his encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. There, he was not only a man who had fallen to the ground: he was a person gripped by an event that would redefine his sense of life. The persecutor became a disciple, why? Because he had seen the living Jesus! I have seen the risen Christ! This is the foundation of Paul's faith, and the basis of the other apostles' faith too, and the foundation of the Church's faith, and the basis of our faith.
How beautiful it is to think that this is the essential point of Christianity! It is not so much about our search for God - a foolish search for truth - but rather God's search for us. Jesus took hold of us, grabbed hold of us, conquered us so that we could no longer leave him. Christianity is a grace, a surprise, and for this reason it presupposes a heart (our heart) that is surprised. A closed heart, a heart that is based on reason alone is incapable of surprise, and cannot comprehend what Christianity is all about. Christianity is grace, and grace can only be perceived, and more importantly encountered in the amazement of encounter.
And so, even though we are sinners - we are all sinners - if our good intentions remain on paper, or if, as we look at our lives, we realize that we have encountered many failures ... On Easter morning, we can do as those people of whom the gospel speaks: go to Christ's tomb, see the large stone that has been rolled away and think that God is creating for me, for all of us, an unexpected future. To go to our tomb: each of us has a little one hidden within us. To go there, and to see how God is capable of rising from there. Here we encounter happiness, here we find joy, life, where everyone thought that there was only sadness, defeat and shadows. God makes his most beautiful flowers grow in the midst of the most arid of stones.
To be Christians means not beginning with death, but with God's love for us. God has defeated our bitter enemy. God is greater than the emptiness of defeat; it is enough to have one candle in order to overcome even the darkest of nights. Paul cried out, echoing the voices of the prophets: O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting (1 Cor 15:55). In these days of the Easter season, let us carry this cry within our hearts. And if others ask us to explain the reason for the smiles we give and for the patience we share, we can respond that Jesus is here, that he is alive within and among us, that Jesus is here in the Square, with us: alive and risen.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and His Holiness offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly the groups from England, Sweden, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Canada and the United States of America. I offer a particular greeting to the newly-ordained deacons from the Pontifical Irish College, together with families and friends. In the joy of the Risen Christ, I invoke upon you and your families the loving mercy of God our Father. May the Lord bless you all!
In his speech, the Pope shared his meditation on the theme: The Risen Christ, our hope (cf 1 Cor 15).
After summarizing his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
We meet today in the light of Easter, which we celebrated and are still celebrating with the Liturgy. For this reason, in our itinerary of catecheses on Christian hope, I wish to speak with you today about the Risen Christ, our hope, a subject that Saint Paul presents in the first Letter to the Corinthians (cf 1 Cor 15).
The apostle wishes to address a problem which was surely the focus of discussions among the members of the Corinthian community of Christians. Resurrection is the last subject dealt with in the Letter, but probably, in order of importance, it was ranked first: everything else was and is based on this supposition.
Speaking to the Christian community, Paul begins with an inexplicable point, which is not the fruit of reflection by a wise man but in fact a simple fact that has played a part in some people's lives. Christianity is born out of the resurrection. It is not an ideology; it is not a philosophical system of belief; rather it is a journey in faith that begins with an event that was witnessed by the first of Jesus' disciples. Paul sums it up in this way: Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose and appeared to Peter and to the Twelve (cf 1 Cor 15:3-5). These are the facts: he died, he was buried, he rose and he appeared. That is to say, Jesus is alive! This is the core of the Christian message.
Proclaiming this event, which is the central point of faith, Paul insists above all on the final element of the Easter mystery - the fact that Jesus is risen. If in fact, everything ended with death, in Him, we would have an example of supreme dedication, but this alone would not be enough to bring about our faith. He was a hero. No! He died, but he is risen. Faith is born in the resurrection. To accept that Christ died, and that he died on a cross, is not an act of faith; it is historic fact. However, to believe that he is risen, yes. Our faith was born on Easter morning. Paul made a list of persons to whom the risen Jesus appeared (cf 1 Cor 15:5-7). Here we have a small summary of the Easter stories and all the people who entered into contact with the risen Jesus. At the top of the list is Cephas, who is Peter, and the other disciples, then five hundred of the brothers many of whom could still give their testimony, then there is James' account. Lastly on the list - the least worthy of all - is Paul himself. Paul says of himself: as to one untimely born (cf 1 Cor 15:8).
Paul used this expression because his personal history was dramatic: he was not a cleric but rather one who had persecuted the Church, filled with pride about his own beliefs; he felt as though he were a man who had arrived, with very clear ideas about what his life was about and what his duties were. But, in the midst of this perfect picture - everything about Paul was perfect, he knew everything - in this perfect picture of life, one thing was absolutely unforeseeable: his encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. There, he was not only a man who had fallen to the ground: he was a person gripped by an event that would redefine his sense of life. The persecutor became a disciple, why? Because he had seen the living Jesus! I have seen the risen Christ! This is the foundation of Paul's faith, and the basis of the other apostles' faith too, and the foundation of the Church's faith, and the basis of our faith.
How beautiful it is to think that this is the essential point of Christianity! It is not so much about our search for God - a foolish search for truth - but rather God's search for us. Jesus took hold of us, grabbed hold of us, conquered us so that we could no longer leave him. Christianity is a grace, a surprise, and for this reason it presupposes a heart (our heart) that is surprised. A closed heart, a heart that is based on reason alone is incapable of surprise, and cannot comprehend what Christianity is all about. Christianity is grace, and grace can only be perceived, and more importantly encountered in the amazement of encounter.
And so, even though we are sinners - we are all sinners - if our good intentions remain on paper, or if, as we look at our lives, we realize that we have encountered many failures ... On Easter morning, we can do as those people of whom the gospel speaks: go to Christ's tomb, see the large stone that has been rolled away and think that God is creating for me, for all of us, an unexpected future. To go to our tomb: each of us has a little one hidden within us. To go there, and to see how God is capable of rising from there. Here we encounter happiness, here we find joy, life, where everyone thought that there was only sadness, defeat and shadows. God makes his most beautiful flowers grow in the midst of the most arid of stones.
To be Christians means not beginning with death, but with God's love for us. God has defeated our bitter enemy. God is greater than the emptiness of defeat; it is enough to have one candle in order to overcome even the darkest of nights. Paul cried out, echoing the voices of the prophets: O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting (1 Cor 15:55). In these days of the Easter season, let us carry this cry within our hearts. And if others ask us to explain the reason for the smiles we give and for the patience we share, we can respond that Jesus is here, that he is alive within and among us, that Jesus is here in the Square, with us: alive and risen.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and His Holiness offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly the groups from England, Sweden, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Canada and the United States of America. I offer a particular greeting to the newly-ordained deacons from the Pontifical Irish College, together with families and friends. In the joy of the Risen Christ, I invoke upon you and your families the loving mercy of God our Father. May the Lord bless you all!
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