This morning's General Audience began at 9:25am 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 added his meditation on Christian hope focusing on a passage from the Psalms: Give an explanation for the reason for the hope that is within you (cf 1 Peter 3:8-17).
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. Then, he issued two calls concerning the attack in Saint Petersburg (Russia) and the latest massacre in Syria.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The first Letter of the Apostle Peter carries within it an extraordinary character! We need to read it once, twice, three times in order to understand this extraordinary character: it can infuse great consolation and peace, helping us to understand how the Lord is always beside us and will never abandon us, especially in the most delicate and difficult moments of our lives. But what is the secret contained in this Letter, the particular character of the passage we have just heard (cf 1 Peter 3:8-17)? This is a question. I know that today you will take out the New Testament, you will look for the first Letter of Peter and you will read it slowly, slowly, in order to understand the secret and the strength of this Letter. What is the secret to this Letter?
1. The secret lies in the fact that this passage is rooted directly in the Passover, in the heart of the mystery that we are about to celebrate, helping us to perceive all the light and the joy that comes from the death and resurrection of Christ. Christ is truly risen, and this is a nice way for us to greet one another on Easter Sunday: Christ is risen! Christ is risen!, as many people do. Let us remember that Christ is risen, he is truly among us, he is alive and living within each one of us. This is the reason why Saint Peter invites us with strength to adore him in our hearts (cf 1 Peter 3:16). There, the Lord has taken up residence, since the moment of our Baptism, and from there, he continues to renew us and our lives, enveloping us with his love and the fullness of his Spirit. This is the reason why the Apostle recommends that we account for the hope that is within us (cf 1 Peter 3:16): our hope is not a concept, it is not a sentiment, it is not a cell phone, it is not a pile of riches! Our hope is a Person, it is the Lord Jesus who we recognize - alive and present - in us and in our brothers, for Christ is risen. When the Slavic people greet one another, instead of saying good morning, good evening, during the season of Easter, they greet each other with these words: Christ is risen! Christos voskrese! - they say to each other; and they are happy to say these words! This i the way that they say good morning and good evening: Christ is risen!
2. Therefore we understand that this hope is not proven to be a correct theory through the use of words, but above all through the witness of our lives, and this is true both within the Christian community and beyond its borders. If Christ is alive and living in us, in our hearts, then we should also allow him to be made visible, we should not hide him, he is present and acting in us. This means that the Lord Jesus should always become, more and more our model: a model for life and for what we should learn to act as he does, to do what Jesus would do. Therefore, the hope that lives within us cannot remain hidden within us, in our hearts; that would be a faint hope that does not have the courage to come out and to make itself known. Rather, our hope - as can be seen in Psalm 33 as it was quoted by Peter - should necessarily emanate outward, taking the exquisite and unique form of gentleness, of respect, and of good will toward our neighbour, going so far as to forgive those who have done us harm. A person who does not have hope cannot forgive, cannot gie the consolation of forgiveness and possess the consolation of forgiving. Yes, because this is what Jesus did, and what he continues to do through those who make room for him in their hearts and in their lives, knowing that evil does not triumph through evil, but with humility, mercy and meekness. Members of the mafia think that evil can be overcome with evil, therefore they carry out vendettas and do many things that we are all aware of. But they do not know humility, mercy and meekness. And why is this? Because members of the mafia have no hope. Think about it.
3. This is why Saint Peter affirms that it is better to suffer for doing good rather than for doing evil (1 Peter 3:17): this does not mean that it is good to suffer, but that, when we suffer for the sake of good, we are in communion with the Lord, who agreed to suffer and to be put to death on the cross for our salvation. Therefore, when we too - in smaller or larger situations in our lives - accept to suffer for the sake of good, it is as though we are scattering around us seeds of the Resurrection, scattering seeds of life and allowing them to shine the light of Easter in the darkness that surrounds us. This is the reason why the Apostle exhorts us to always respond by wishing for good (1 Peter 3:9): this blessing is not a formality, not only a sign of courtesy, but a great gift that we ourselves have received and which we now have the possibility of sharing with our brothers. It is the proclamation of God, an immense love that does not end, that is never fails and that constitutes the true foundation of our hope.
Dear friends, we also understand why the Apostle Peter calls us blessed when we must suffer for the sake of justice (cf 1 Peter 3:13). It is not only a moral or ascetic motivation, but we do this because every time we take the side of the weak, the marginalized or that we choose not to respond to evil with evil but with forgiveness, without any thought of vengeance, forgiving and blessing, every time that we do this, we are resplendent signs of life and luminous signs of hope, acting as instruments of consolation and peace, according to the heart of God. In this way, we continue along the path of life with gentleness, meekness, being loving and doing good even for the sake of those who do not love us, or those who seek to harm us. Let's go!
The above catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of pilgrims 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, Ireland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Korea, Vietnam and the United States of America. I offer a particular greeting to the priests of the Institute for Continuing Theological Education at the Pontifical North American College. May this Lenten journey bring us to Easter with hearts purified and renewed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Upon you and your families I invoke joy and peace in Christ our Redeemer. God bless you all!
At the conclusion of the General Audience, the Holy Father issued the following calls for prayer:
My thoughts are now focused on the serious attack that took place a few days ago in the metropolis of Saint Petersburg, which has resulted in casualties and losses of life among the population. While I confide to the mercy of God all those who have died so tragically, I express my spiritual closeness to the families and to all those who are suffering because of this dramatic event.
We are hearing horrifying news in recent days from Syria. I express my firm disapproval of the unacceptable massacre that took place yesterday in the province of Idlib, where dozens of civilians have been killed, including many children. I am praying for the victims and for their families and I appeal to the consciences of all those who have political responsibilities at local and international levels, to cease this tragedy and bring relief to those beloved people who have have been exhausted for far too long by the effects of war. In addition, I encourage the efforts of all those who, despite their own insecurity and discomfort, strive to assist the inhabitants of that region.
In his speech, the Pope added his meditation on Christian hope focusing on a passage from the Psalms: Give an explanation for the reason for the hope that is within you (cf 1 Peter 3:8-17).
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. Then, he issued two calls concerning the attack in Saint Petersburg (Russia) and the latest massacre in Syria.
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!
The first Letter of the Apostle Peter carries within it an extraordinary character! We need to read it once, twice, three times in order to understand this extraordinary character: it can infuse great consolation and peace, helping us to understand how the Lord is always beside us and will never abandon us, especially in the most delicate and difficult moments of our lives. But what is the secret contained in this Letter, the particular character of the passage we have just heard (cf 1 Peter 3:8-17)? This is a question. I know that today you will take out the New Testament, you will look for the first Letter of Peter and you will read it slowly, slowly, in order to understand the secret and the strength of this Letter. What is the secret to this Letter?
1. The secret lies in the fact that this passage is rooted directly in the Passover, in the heart of the mystery that we are about to celebrate, helping us to perceive all the light and the joy that comes from the death and resurrection of Christ. Christ is truly risen, and this is a nice way for us to greet one another on Easter Sunday: Christ is risen! Christ is risen!, as many people do. Let us remember that Christ is risen, he is truly among us, he is alive and living within each one of us. This is the reason why Saint Peter invites us with strength to adore him in our hearts (cf 1 Peter 3:16). There, the Lord has taken up residence, since the moment of our Baptism, and from there, he continues to renew us and our lives, enveloping us with his love and the fullness of his Spirit. This is the reason why the Apostle recommends that we account for the hope that is within us (cf 1 Peter 3:16): our hope is not a concept, it is not a sentiment, it is not a cell phone, it is not a pile of riches! Our hope is a Person, it is the Lord Jesus who we recognize - alive and present - in us and in our brothers, for Christ is risen. When the Slavic people greet one another, instead of saying good morning, good evening, during the season of Easter, they greet each other with these words: Christ is risen! Christos voskrese! - they say to each other; and they are happy to say these words! This i the way that they say good morning and good evening: Christ is risen!
2. Therefore we understand that this hope is not proven to be a correct theory through the use of words, but above all through the witness of our lives, and this is true both within the Christian community and beyond its borders. If Christ is alive and living in us, in our hearts, then we should also allow him to be made visible, we should not hide him, he is present and acting in us. This means that the Lord Jesus should always become, more and more our model: a model for life and for what we should learn to act as he does, to do what Jesus would do. Therefore, the hope that lives within us cannot remain hidden within us, in our hearts; that would be a faint hope that does not have the courage to come out and to make itself known. Rather, our hope - as can be seen in Psalm 33 as it was quoted by Peter - should necessarily emanate outward, taking the exquisite and unique form of gentleness, of respect, and of good will toward our neighbour, going so far as to forgive those who have done us harm. A person who does not have hope cannot forgive, cannot gie the consolation of forgiveness and possess the consolation of forgiving. Yes, because this is what Jesus did, and what he continues to do through those who make room for him in their hearts and in their lives, knowing that evil does not triumph through evil, but with humility, mercy and meekness. Members of the mafia think that evil can be overcome with evil, therefore they carry out vendettas and do many things that we are all aware of. But they do not know humility, mercy and meekness. And why is this? Because members of the mafia have no hope. Think about it.
3. This is why Saint Peter affirms that it is better to suffer for doing good rather than for doing evil (1 Peter 3:17): this does not mean that it is good to suffer, but that, when we suffer for the sake of good, we are in communion with the Lord, who agreed to suffer and to be put to death on the cross for our salvation. Therefore, when we too - in smaller or larger situations in our lives - accept to suffer for the sake of good, it is as though we are scattering around us seeds of the Resurrection, scattering seeds of life and allowing them to shine the light of Easter in the darkness that surrounds us. This is the reason why the Apostle exhorts us to always respond by wishing for good (1 Peter 3:9): this blessing is not a formality, not only a sign of courtesy, but a great gift that we ourselves have received and which we now have the possibility of sharing with our brothers. It is the proclamation of God, an immense love that does not end, that is never fails and that constitutes the true foundation of our hope.
Dear friends, we also understand why the Apostle Peter calls us blessed when we must suffer for the sake of justice (cf 1 Peter 3:13). It is not only a moral or ascetic motivation, but we do this because every time we take the side of the weak, the marginalized or that we choose not to respond to evil with evil but with forgiveness, without any thought of vengeance, forgiving and blessing, every time that we do this, we are resplendent signs of life and luminous signs of hope, acting as instruments of consolation and peace, according to the heart of God. In this way, we continue along the path of life with gentleness, meekness, being loving and doing good even for the sake of those who do not love us, or those who seek to harm us. Let's go!
The above catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of pilgrims 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, Ireland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Korea, Vietnam and the United States of America. I offer a particular greeting to the priests of the Institute for Continuing Theological Education at the Pontifical North American College. May this Lenten journey bring us to Easter with hearts purified and renewed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Upon you and your families I invoke joy and peace in Christ our Redeemer. God bless you all!
At the conclusion of the General Audience, the Holy Father issued the following calls for prayer:
My thoughts are now focused on the serious attack that took place a few days ago in the metropolis of Saint Petersburg, which has resulted in casualties and losses of life among the population. While I confide to the mercy of God all those who have died so tragically, I express my spiritual closeness to the families and to all those who are suffering because of this dramatic event.
We are hearing horrifying news in recent days from Syria. I express my firm disapproval of the unacceptable massacre that took place yesterday in the province of Idlib, where dozens of civilians have been killed, including many children. I am praying for the victims and for their families and I appeal to the consciences of all those who have political responsibilities at local and international levels, to cease this tragedy and bring relief to those beloved people who have have been exhausted for far too long by the effects of war. In addition, I encourage the efforts of all those who, despite their own insecurity and discomfort, strive to assist the inhabitants of that region.
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