General Audience on the reality of the Church

This morning's General Audience began at 10:00am in Saint Peter's Square.  The Holy Father, Pope Francis met there with groups of pilgrims and the faithful who had come from Italy and from every corner of the world.

During his address, the Pope continued the cycle of catecheses dedicated to the Church, adding a meditation on the spiritual and visible reality of the Church.

Following the summaries of his teaching, offered in various languages, the Holy Father addressed particular greetings to the various groups of the faithful who were present.  His Holiness then addressed a call to the international community, calling them to mobilize in the face of the worsening epidemic of Ebola.

The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the imparting of the Apostolic Blessing.

Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the General Audience

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In the previous catechesis we highlighted how the Church is spiritual in nature: it is the Body of Christ, built in the Holy Spirit. When we refer to the Church, however, our thoughts turn immediately to our communities, our parishes, our diocese, to the structures in which we usually gather together and, of course, to the component and institutional figures which guide and govern it. This is the visible reality of the Church. We must ask, then: Are they two different things or the One Church? And, if it is the One Church, how can we understand the relationship between its visible and spiritual reality?

First, when we speak of the visible reality of the Church - we said there are two: the visible reality which we see and the spiritual one - we must not think only of the Pope, Bishops, priests and consecrated persons. The visible reality of the Church is made up of the many baptized brothers and sisters around the world who believe, hope and love. (Departing from the prepared text) Often, we hear people say: the Church doesn’t do this … the Church doesn’t do that! Tell me who is the Church? – Well the Church is the priests, the bishops, the Pope … We are all the Church! All of us all of us Baptized! We are the Church, the Church of Jesus.

Of all those who follow the Lord Jesus and, in His name, are close to the poor and the suffering, trying to offer some relief, comfort and peace. (Departing from the prepared text) All of those who do these things, which the Lord sent us to do are the Church.  Thus we understand that the visible reality of the Church cannot be measured, it cannot be known in all its fullness: how can one know of all the good that is done? (Departing from the prepared text) So many acts of love, so much faithfulness in families, so much work in educating children, to carry on, to transmit the faith, so much suffering in the sick who offer their suffering to the Lord.  We cannot measure this! It is so great, so great! How can one know of all the wonderful things that, through us, Christ is able to accomplish in the hearts and lives of each person? You see: the reality of the visible Church goes beyond our control, beyond our strength, and it is a mysterious reality because it comes from God.

To understand the relationship, in the Church, between her visible and spiritual reality, there is no other way but to look to Christ, whose Body is the Church and from which the Church is generated, in an act of infinite love. Even in Christ, in fact, through the mystery of the Incarnation, we recognize a human nature and a divine nature, united in the same person in a wonderful and indissoluble way. This applies in a similar manner to the Church. Just as in Christ, human nature serves the divine in accordance with the fulfillment of Salvation, so, in a similar way, does the visible reality serve the spiritual reality of the Church. The Church, therefore, is also a mystery, in which what is not seen is more important than what is seen, and can only be recognized with the eyes of faith (cf Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, 8).

In the case of the Church, however, we must ask ourselves: How can the visible reality be at the service of the spiritual? Again, we can understand it by looking to Christ. (Departing from the prepared text) But Christ is the model and the Church is His Body, He is the model for all Christians, all of us! Look to Christ, you can’t go wrong!. The Gospel of Luke tells how Jesus came to Nazareth, where he grew up, went into the synagogue and read, referring to himself in the passage from the prophet Isaiah where it is written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free (4,18-19). Look, how Christ used his humanity – because he was also a man -  to announce and carry out God's plan of Redemption and Salvation, so it must be for the Church. Through its visible reality – everything we see - the Sacraments and testimony of all of us Christians - the Church is called every day to draw closer to every person, starting with the poor, those who suffer and those who are marginalized, in order to continue to help all people feel the compassionate and merciful gaze of Jesus.

Dear brothers and sisters, often as a Church we experience our fragility and our limitations, all of us, we all have them.  We are all sinners, no one can say I am not a sinner. And this fragility, these limitations, these our sins, it is right that these should provoke in us a profound displeasure, especially when we give bad example and we realize that we are becoming a source of scandal. How often have we heard, in our neighbourhoods: That person there is always in Church but gossips about everyone, denigrates others – what a bad example! This is not Christian! This is a bad example.  So people say: If this is a Christian, I prefer to be an atheist! ... because people go by our witness.

Then, let us ask for the gift of faith, so that we can understand how, despite our smallness and our poverty, the Lord has really made us means of grace and a visible sign of His love for all mankind. Yes, we can become a source of scandal but we can also be a source of hope through our lives our witness, just as Jesus wants! Thank you.

Translations of this catechesis were then offered in summary, and the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of the faithful who were present.  To English-language pilgrims, he said:

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, including the various groups from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Nigeria, India, Canada and the United States of America. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke joy and peace in the Lord Jesus. God bless you all!

Finally, the Pope issued a call for increasing efforts to combat the growing effects of Ebola:

Faced with the worsening effects of the Ebola epidemic, I wish to express my deep concern about this relentless disease which continues to spread especially on the African continent, above all among populations which are most disadvantaged.  I am close to them all with affection and prayer, and to the doctors, the nurses, the volunteers, the religious institutions and the associations who are working heroically to assist our brothers and sisters who are sick.  I renew my call to the international community, that it may enact every necessary effort to combat this virus, in order to concretely alleviate the hardship and suffering of those who are so painfully effected by it.

I invite you all to pray for them and for all those who have lost their lives.

Angelus on the love of God and neighbour

At noon today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who had come to Saint Peter's Square for the weekly appointment.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters,

Today’s Gospel reminds us that the Divine Law can be summed up in the love for God and for neighbour. The evangelist Matthew says that some Pharisees agreed to put Jesus to the test (cf Mt 22: 34-35). One of these, an expert of the Law, asks Him this question: Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law? (v. 36). Jesus, citing the book of Deuteronomy, responds: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment (vv. 37-38). He could have stopped there. Instead, Jesus adds something else that was not asked by the expert of the Law. He said: And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself” (v. 39). Even this second commandment is not invented by Jesus, but rather taken from the Book of Leviticus. Its newness consists precisely in putting together these two commandments - the love for God and love for the neighbour -  revealing that they are inseparable and complementary, they are two sides of the same coin. You cannot love God without loving your neighbour and you can’t love your neighbour without loving God. Pope Benedict has left us a beautiful commentary about this in his first Encyclical Deus Caritas Est (DCE, 16-18).

In fact, the visible sign that a Christian can show to give witness to the world, to others, to their family, of the love of God is the love of the brethren. The commandment of love for God and neighbour is the first, not because it is the first in the list of commandments. Jesus does not place it at the top, but at the centre because it is the heart from which everything has to start and from which everyone must return to and reference.

Already in the Old Testament the need to be holy, in the image of God who is holy, included the duty to take care of the most vulnerable such as the foreigner, the orphan, the widow (cf Ex. 22, 20-26). Jesus fulfills this law of the covenant, He who unites in Himself, in his flesh, divinity and humanity into one single mystery of love.

Now, in the light of the words of Jesus, love is the measure of faith, and faith is the soul of love. We can never separate religious life from the service of our brothers and sisters, to those concrete brethren we meet. We can never divide prayer, the encounter with God in the Sacraments, from listening to others, from being close to their lives, especially from their wounds. Remember this: love is the measure of faith. How much do you love? And each one should respond to this: How is your faith? My faith is seen in how I love. Faith is the soul of love.

In the midst of the dense forest of rules and regulations - the legalisms of yesterday and today - Jesus creates an opening that allows us to see two faces: the face of the Father and that of our brothers and sisters. He does not give us two rules or two precepts, but two faces. No! Not precepts or rules, He gives us two faces! Actually, it is one face: that of God that is reflected in the faces of so many, because in the face of every brother and sister, especially the smallest, the most fragile, the helpless and the needy, the very image of God is present. We should ask ourselves when we meet one of these brothers or sisters: Are we able to recognize in them the face of God? Are we capable of doing this?

In this way, Jesus offers every man and woman the fundamental criteria on which to base their lives. But above all, He gives us his Spirit, which allows us to love God and neighbour like Him, with a free and generous heart. Through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, let us open ourselves to receive this gift of love, to walk always in this law, of two faces that are one face, in the law of love.

After the Angelus prayer, the Holy Father said the following:

Dear brothers and sisters,

Yesterday in Sao Paolo Brazil, Mother Assunta Marcheta was proclaimed Blessed. She was born in Italy and was co-founder of the Missionary Sisters of Saint Charles Borromeo - the Scalabrinis. She was a nun who was exemplary in the service of orphans, and of Italian immigrants. She saw Jesus present in the poor, in the orphans, in the sick, in the migrants. Let us give thanks to the Lord for this woman, a model of tireless missionary spirit and courageous dedication in the service of charity.

I affectionately greet the pilgrims from Italy and various countries, beginning with the devotees of Our Lady of the Sea from Bova Marina. I gladly welcome the faithful from Lugana in Sirmione, Usini, Portobuffolé, Arteselle, Latina and Guidonia; as well as those from Losanna (Switzerland) and Marseille (France). A special thought goes to the Peruvian community of Rome who are here present with the sacred image of Our Lord of the Miracles.

I also greet the pilgrims from Schönstatt. I can see the image of Our Mother from here.

I thank you all and affectionately greet you.

Please, pray for me. Do not forget. Have a Good Sunday and a good lunch. Goodbye.

General Audience on the Church as the Body of Christ

Today's General Audience began at 10:00am in Saint Peter's Square where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful who had come from Italy and from every corner of the world.

In his address, the Pope, continuing the cycle of catechesis dedicated to the Church, added a meditation on the Church as the Body of Christ.

Following the summaries of His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father addressed particular greetings to each group of the faithful who were present.

The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the imparting of the Apostolic Blessing.

Catechesis of His Holiness, Pope Francis

for the General Audience

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.

The image of the body is used when one wants to show how the elements that make up a reality are closely united with one another and form together one thing. Beginning with the apostle Paul, this expression is applied to the Church and is recognized as his most profound and beautiful distinctive trait. Today, we wish to ask ourselves: in what sense does the Church form the body? And why is it defined as the body of Christ?

In the Book of Ezechiel, there is a peculiar vision that is described, impressive, but capable of instilling confidence and hope in our hearts. God shows the prophet a valley of bones, detached from each other and dry. A desolate scenario. Imagine, an entire hill full of bones. God asks him, then, to invoke the Spirit upon them. At that moment, the bones begin to draw closer and unite, first the nerves grow on them and then the flesh and thus the body is formed, complete and full of life. (Ez 37: 1-14). This is the Church! I  recommend, today when you are home, that you read Ezechiel, Chapter 37. Do not forget! It is beautiful. It is a masterpiece, a masterpiece of the Spirit, in which the new life of the Risen One is infused and puts one next to the other, one at the service and support of the other, thus making us all one body, built in communion and love.

The Church, however, is not only a body built in the Spirit: the Church is the body of Christ! And it is not simply a way of saying: we truly are! It is the great gift that we receive on the day of our Baptism! In the Sacrament of Baptism, in fact, Christ makes us His, welcoming us into the heart of the mystery of the Cross, the supreme mystery of his love for us, to make us rise again with Him, as new creatures. Behold: that is how the Church is born, that is how the Church is recognized as the body of Christ. Baptism constitutes a true rebirth, that regenerates us in Christ, makes us a part of Him, and unites us intimately among us, as members of the same body, of which He is the head (cf Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 12:12-13).

That which emerges, then, is a profound communion of love. In this sense, it is enlightening how Paul, exhorting husbands to love their wives as their own body, he states: As Christ also does with the Church, because we are members of his body (Eph 5:28-30). It would be beautiful if we remembered more often what we are, of what the Lord Jesus has made us: we are His Body, that Body that nothing and no one can ever tear us from and that he covers all with his passion and His love, just like a husband with his wife. This thought, however, should heighten within us the desire to respond to the Lord and to share his love among us, as living members of his body. In the time of Paul, the community of Corinth found many difficulties in that sense, living, as we too often experience: the experience of division, of jealousies, of misunderstandings and marginalizations.

All these things are not good because, instead of building and making the Church grow as the body of Christ, it shatters into many pieces, it dismembers it.

And even this happens in our days. Think about the Christian communities, parishes, think about our neighbourhoods. How many divisions, how many jealousies, talking behind one’s back, so many misunderstandings and marginalizations!

And what does this do? It dismembers us! It is the start of war. War does not begin in the field of battle. Wars begin in the heart of these misunderstandings, divisions, jealousies with this struggle with others. And the community of Corinth was like this. They were experts!

And so the Apostle gave the Corinthians some concrete advice that applies to us: do not be jealous, but appreciate in our communities the gifts and qualities of our brothers and sisters;

Jealousies ... I look at that one who has bought a new car and I start to feel jealous. That one won the lottery, another jealousy. And that one does something well, yet another jealousy. This dismembers, it hurts us! You shouldn’t do it! Because jealousies grow and fill the heart. A jealous heart, is a bitter heart, a heart that instead of blood looks like its full of vinegar. It is a heart that is never happy. It is a heart that dismembers the community.

But what should we do? Appreciate in our community the gifts, the qualities of others, of our brothers and sisters. But when we are jealous, because it comes to all, we are all sinners. When you become jealous, say Thank you Lord because you gave this to that person.

Appreciate the qualities; be close and participate in the sufferings of the least ones and of those most needy; express your gratitude to all.

Say thank you! The heart that knows how to say thank you is a good heart, a noble heart, a heart that is happy. Know how to say thank you. I ask myself: all of us, do we always know how to say thank you? Not always, eh! Because envy, jealousy ... it stops us a bit.

And lastly, this is a word of advice that the apostle Paul gives to the Corinthians and we should give to ourselves: do not esteem anyone as superior to the other.

How many people feel they are superior to others! Even we many times say like the Pharisee in the parable: I thank you Lord because I am not like that one, I am superior. This is awful! Don’t ever do it! And when this thought comes to you, remember your sins, those that no one knows about, humble yourself before God and say, You Lord, you know who is superior. I will close my mouth. This does us well.

And always in charity consider yourselves members one to another, that you may live and give to the benefit of all (cf 1 Cor 12-14).

Dear brothers and sisters, like the prophet Ezechiel and like the apostle Paul, let us also invoke the Holy Spirit, so that His grace and the abundance of His gifts may help us to live always as the body of Christ, united as a family, like the body of Christ and as a visible and beautiful sign of the love of Christ.

Following the above catechesis, summaries of this text were shared in various languages and the Holy Father shared particular greetings to each linguistic group of pilgrims who were present.  To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, including the various groups from England, Ireland, Denmark, Lithuania, Nigeria, Vietnam, China, Japan, Qatar and the United States of America. In a particular way, my greeting goes to the Irish pilgrims from the Diocese of Limerick, accompanied by their Bishop. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke joy and peace in the Lord Jesus. God bless you all!

An apostolic voyage to Turkey

Today, the Director of the Holy See Press Centre announced that the Holy Father has accepted the invitation issued by the President of the Republic of Turkey, by His Holiness, Bartholomew I and by the President of the Turkish Episcopal Conference to visit Ankara and Istanbul from November 28 to 30 of this year.

Program for the Apostolic Voyage

of His Holiness, Pope Francis

to Turkey

Friday, November 28, 2014
9:00am
Departure by aircraft from Rome's Fumicino Airport

1:00pm
Arrival at the Esemboğa Airport in Ankara
Official welcome

Visit to the Mausoleum of Ataturk

Presidential Palace
Welcoming ceremony
Courtesy visit with the President of the Republic
Meeting with civil authorities (The Holy Father will share a speech)

Audience with the Prime Minister

Visit with the President of Religious Affairs at the Diyanet

Saturday, November 29, 2014
9:30am  Departure by aircraft from the Esemboğa airport in Ankara

10:30am Arrival at the Ataturk International airport in Istanbul

Visit to the Museum of Santa Sofia

Visit to the Sultan Ahmet Mosque

Holy Mass in the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Homily by the Holy Father)

Ecumenical prayer in the Patriarchal Church of Saint George
Private meeting with His Holiness, Bartholomew I in the Patriarchal Palace

Sunday, November 30, 2014
Holy Mass in private at the Apostolic Delegation

Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Church of Saint George
Ecumenical blessing and signing of a joint declaration
Lunch with His Holiness, Bartholomew I at the Ecumenical Patriarchate (speech by the Holy Father)

4:45pm  Departure ceremony at the Ataturk airport in Istanbul

5:00pm  Departure from the Ataturk international airport in Istanbul

6:40pm  Arrival at the Ciampino airport in Rome

The Middle East discussed

Here is the unofficial summary of the meeting which took place today at the Vatican: the Consistory which was convoked by the Holy Father in order to consider two cases for canonization and to discuss the current situation in the Middle East.

Ordinary consistory

Unofficial Summary of the interventions

Holy Father: present
Present - 86 Cardinals and Patriarchs, and the Superiors of the Secretariat of State.

The Ordinary Consistory began with greetings from the Holy Father and the report from the Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, on the meeting of apostolic nuncios and diplomatic representatives in the Middle East, which took place in the Vatican from 2 to 4 October.

Immediately after, the Cardinals and Patriarchs present in the Synod Hall intervened. The Patriarchs of the Middle Eastern Churches described the situations and principal problems faced by the Churches in the countries concerned (Iraq, Syria, Egypt, the Holy Land, Jordan, Lebanon). There were approximately thirty interventions, focusing mainly on the need for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, the defence of religious freedom, support for local communities, the great importance of education for creating new generations able to engage in dialogue, and the role of the international community.

With regard to the first point, it was underlined that the Middle East urgently needs to redefine its future; the importance of Jerusalem was highlighted, in its role as capital of faith for the three great monotheistic religions, and the need was emphasized for a solution to the Israeli-Palestine and Syrian conflicts. In relation to the violence perpetrated by ISIS, it was reiterated that no-one may kill in the name of God.

In relation to religious freedom, it was remarked that, along with freedom of worship and conscience, it is a fundamental human right, innate and universal, and a value for all humanity. Alongside this right, the need was underlined for Christians to recognize the civil rights of other citizens, especially in countries where religion is not currently separate from the State.

Furthermore, with regard to the support for local communities in the region, it was repeated that a Middle East without Christians would be a grave loss for all, as they have a fundamental role in maintaining equilibrium in the region, and have important commitments in the education sector. It is therefore essential to encourage Christians to stay in the Middle East and to persevere in their mission, as they have always contributed to the wellbeing of the countries where they live. From this perspective, there was a reflection on the problem of the migration of Christians: they must be welcomed in the Churches and in the States to which they emigrate, where it is hoped there will be adequate pastoral structures for the various rites. Moreover, it was requested that humanitarian aid to the Middle East be continued, to encourage Christians to remain in the area, and that the various manifestations of solidarity possible on the part of the Churches of other countries be cultivated, also by means of journeys and pilgrimages.

In relation to education, it was noted that in many Middle Eastern countries, school text books do not refer positively to beliefs other than the State religion, and that this requires reflection on the part of local institutions. From this point of view, it was hoped that greater inter-religious dialogue with Muslims, starting from the common foundation of reason, would be of use, along with lively ecumenical cooperation, so that all the Churches of the Middle East might make their voices heard as one.

A request was made for the International community to guarantee to Christian refugees the possibility of returning to their homes as soon as possible, creating safety zones, for instance on the Nineveh Plain. Finally, an appeal was made for all those who have been kidnapped in the Middle East, in order that the world not forget about them.

Pope introduces a special Consistory to discuss the Middle East

This morning at 9:00am local time in the Synod Hall at the Vatican, during the recitation of the liturgical hour of Mid-morning Prayer, the Holy Father held a Consistory for the naming of new Saints and in order to discuss the current situation in the Middle East.

During that meeting, Pope Francis decreed that Blessed Giuseppe Vaz, a priest of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, founder of the Oratory of the Miraculous Holy Cross in Goa and an apostle from Celon (Sri Lanka) and Canara (India) will be canonized on January 14, 2015.

A second case for canonization: that of Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception (born Adelaide Brando), founder of the Congregation of Sisters Expiatory Victims of the Blessed Sacrament, was also entertained, but a date for her canonization was not determined at that time.

Introducing the work of the Consistory concerning the current situation in the Middle East, before listening to the report of the Cardinal Secretary of State, and other interventions presented by Cardinals and Patriarchs, the Pope shared a few words with those who were present.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the Consistory to discuss the current situation in the Middle East

Your Eminences, dear Patriarchs and brothers in the Episcopate,

Following the closure of the third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the family, I want to dedicate this Consistory, in addition to some causes for canonization, to another question which is very close to my heart, namely the Middle East, and in particular the situation facing the Christians of that region.  I am grateful for your presence.

We share the desire for peace and stability in the Middle East and the willingness to work toward the resolution of the conflict through dialogue, reconciliation and political commitment.  At the same time, we want to provide the most help possible to the Christian community in order to support their permanence in the region.

As I have had occasion to repeat on several occasions, we cannot be resigned to thinking of the Middle East without Christians, who for two thousand years have confessed the name of Jesus.  The latest events, above all in Iraq and in Syria, are very worrying.  We are witnessing a phenomenon of terrorism of previously unimaginable dimensions.  Many of our brothers are being persecuted and have had to leave their homes, sometimes in brutal fashion.  It seems that they have lost any awareness of the value of human life, it seems that the human person no longer is of value, and can be sacrificed for the sake of other interests.  And all this, unfortunately, seems to be met by indifference on the part of many.

This unjust situation requires, in addition to our constant prayer, an adequate response on the part of the International community.  I am sure that, with the help of the Lord, our meeting today will bear fruit, including thoughtful reflection and suggestions which will be of assistance to our brothers who are suffering and in response to the drama of the decline in the Christian presence in the land where it was born and from where Christianity spread.

Courage to speak and humility to listen

Here is the text of the homily I prepared for this Sunday's liturgies, some thoughts inspired by the wisdom of the scriptures and by the current happenings of the day.

Speak clearly; listen with humility

For two weeks now, there has been a special meeting, called a Synod, taking place at the Vatican.  The topic that’s being discussed is The pastoral challenges facing the family in the context of evangelization. There are about three hundred voices gathered around that table: the Pope is there, along with many bishops and Cardinals, and there are a number of lay people there too, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, people who can speak their truth from lived experience about the challenges they face every day.  On the first day of the meeting, the Holy Father asked all the bishops and Cardinals to do two things: to speak clearly and to listen with humility.  These two attitudes are essential for open and honest dialogue.  Speak clearly, he said, for yours is a great responsibility, to transmit the realities and the problems of the Church, in order to help her to walk the path that is the gospel of the family; and listen with humility: welcome with open hearts, the words that others will speak.

Today’s gospel shows us what often can happen when people don’t speak clearly, and when they are unable or unwilling to listen with humility.  The Pharisees were feeling threatened by the words that Jesus had been speaking.  They wanted to entrap him in what he said, so they sent their disciples to him to ask him a question that was bound to put him to the test.  If the Pharisees had been willing to speak clearly, they themselves would have confronted Jesus, but perhaps they were afraid that they themselves might have been the ones to fall into the trap.   If they had been willing to listen with humility, the conversation would probably have turned out very differently.

What about us?  Have there been times when we have been unable to speak clearly, to express the truth that is in our hearts without fearing the possibility that we might be judged based on something that we say or that we will not be listened to at all?  Have there been situations where we have been too afraid of hearing a truth that we know, and yet don’t want to admit, so we try to find ways to hide?

The prophet Isaiah speaks today of another time in history when someone called Cyrus, someone who had no claim to fame was chosen to speak a truth that needed to be spoken: I arm you, the Lord told him, so that all may know from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord and there is no other.  God gave Cyrus the gift of courage so that he would be able to speak the truth that was in his heart.  Courage is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the divine gift that allows all of us to speak clearly the truth that is in our hearts.  We should always give thanks to God for this gift, and for the gift of those who by their works of faith, labours of love and steadfastness in hope have taught us how to listen humbly for words of guidance and to discover the wisdom that such words often contain.

Over the last two weeks, the discussions that have taken place at the Synod have indeed been open and honest.  There is great wisdom being shared, some hard truths being spoken.  Let us all pray that these truths will be welcomed in a spirit of humility so that we may all learn from the wisdom they contain.

Angelus for Blessed Paul VI

At the conclusion of the Mass this morning at the Vatican, the Holy Father, Pope Francis recited the Angelus with the faithful and the pilgrims who were present in Saint Peter's Square.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters,

At the conclusion of this solemn celebration, I wish to greet the pilgrims from Italy and from various countries, with a respectful greeting to the official Delegations. In particular, I greet the faithful from the Dioceses of Brescia, Milan and Rome, who are significantly linked to the life and ministry of Pope Montini. I thank you all for your presence and exhort you to faithfully follow the teachings and example of the newly Blessed.

He was a staunch supporter of the mission ad gentes (to the people); a testimony of this is the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi with which he intended to awaken the enthusiasm and commitment to the mission of the Church. It is important to consider this aspect of the Pontificate of Paul VI, especially today as we celebrate World Mission Day.

Before invoking Our Lady all together with the Angelus prayer, I would like to highlight the profound Marian devotion of Blessed Paul VI. To this Pontiff, the Christian people will always be grateful for the Apostolic Exhortation Marialis cultus and for having proclaimed Mary as The Mother of the Church, on the occasion of the closing of the third session of the Second Vatican Council.

Mary, Queen of Heaven, help us to carry out faithfully in our lives the will of the Lord, as the newly Blessed did.

Angelus domini …

Homily for a Beatification

At 10:30 this morning in Saint Peter's Square, the Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrated the closing Mass of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which was convoked in the Vatican on the theme of The pastoral challenges facing the family in the context of evangelization.  During this liturgy, the Pope also celebrated the rite of Beatification of the Servant of God, Pope Paul VI (1897-1978).

Present to concelebrate this Mass with the Holy Father were the Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops and priests who participated in the Synod.

Following the rite of Beatification and the proclamation of the gospel, the Pope shared the following homily with those who were present:

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the Mass celebrating the closure of the

III Extraordinary General Assembly of the

Synod of Bishops on the Family

We have just heard one of the most famous phrases in the entire Gospel: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s (Mt22:21).

Goaded by the Pharisees who wanted, as it were, to give him an exam in religion and catch him in error, Jesus gives this ironic and brilliant reply. It is a striking phrase which the Lord has bequeathed to all those who experience qualms of conscience, particularly when their comfort, their wealth, their prestige, their power and their reputation are in question. This happens all the time; it always has.

Certainly Jesus puts the stress on the second part of the phrase: and (render) to God the things that are God’s. This calls for acknowledging and professing – in the face of any sort of power – that God alone is the Lord of mankind, that there is no other. This is the perennial newness to be discovered each day, and it requires mastering the fear which we often feel at God’s surprises.

God is not afraid of new things! That is why he is continually surprising us, opening our hearts and guiding us in unexpected ways. He renews us: he constantly makes us new. A Christian who lives the Gospel is God’s newness in the Church and in the world. How much God loves this newness!

Rendering to God the things that are God’s means being docile to his will, devoting our lives to him and working for his kingdom of mercy, love and peace.

Here is where our true strength is found; here is the leaven which makes it grow and the salt which gives flavour to all our efforts to combat the prevalent pessimism which the world proposes to us. Here too is where our hope is found, for when we put our hope in God we are neither fleeing from reality nor seeking an alibi: instead, we are striving to render to God what is God’s. That is why we Christians look to the future, God’s future. It is so that we can live this life to the fullest – with our feet firmly planted on the ground – and respond courageously to whatever new challenges come our way.

In these days, during the extraordinary Synod of Bishops, we have seen how true this is. Synod means journeying together. And indeed pastors and lay people from every part of the world have come to Rome, bringing the voice of their particular Churches in order to help today’s families walk the path the Gospel with their gaze fixed on Jesus. It has been a great experience, in which we have lived synodality and collegiality, and felt the power of the Holy Spirit who constantly guides and renews the Church. For the Church is called to waste no time in seeking to bind up open wounds and to rekindle hope in so many people who have lost hope.

For the gift of this Synod and for the constructive spirit which everyone has shown, in union with the Apostle Paul we give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers (1 Thes 1:2). May the Holy Spirit, who during these busy days has enabled us to work generously, in true freedom and humble creativity, continue to guide the journey which, in the Churches throughout the world, is bringing us to the Ordinary Synod of Bishops in October 2015. We have sown and we continued to sow, patiently and perseveringly, in the certainty that it is the Lord who gives growth to what we have sown (cf 1 Cor 3:6).

On this day of the Beatification of Pope Paul VI, I think of the words with which he established the Synod of Bishops: by carefully surveying the signs of the times, we are making every effort to adapt ways and methods… to the growing needs of our time and the changing conditions of society (Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Apostolica Sollicitudo).

When we look to this great Pope, this courageous Christian, this tireless apostle, we cannot but say in the sight of God a word as simple as it is heartfelt and important: thanks! Thank you, our dear and beloved Pope Paul VI! Thank you for your humble and prophetic witness of love for Christ and his Church!

In his personal journal, the great helmsman of the Council wrote, at the conclusion of its final session: Perhaps the Lord has called me and preserved me for this service not because I am particularly fit for it, or so that I can govern and rescue the Church from her present difficulties, but so that I can suffer something for the Church, and in that way it will be clear that he, and no other, is her guide and saviour (P. Macchi, Paolo VI nella sua parola, Brescia, 2001, pp. 120-121). In this humility the grandeur of Blessed Paul VI shines forth: before the advent of a secularized and hostile society, he could hold fast, with farsightedness and wisdom – and at times alone – to the helm of the barque of Peter, while never losing his joy and his trust in the Lord.

Paul VI truly rendered to God what is God’s by devoting his whole life to the sacred, solemn and grave task of continuing in history and extending on earth the mission of Christ (Homily for the Rite of Coronation: Insegnamenti I, 1963, p. 26), loving the Church and leading her so that she might be a loving mother of the whole human family and at the same time the minister of its salvation (Encyclical Letter Ecclesiam Suam, Prologue).

A final word

Yesterday afternoon, during the fifteenth and final General Congregation of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family, the Holy Father, Pope Francis shared a few words with the Synod Fathers and with all the participants who were present in the Synod Hall.

Before he shared his thoughts, His Eminence, Raymondo Damasceno Assis, President Delegate of the Synod offered a few words of greeting.

Greetings offered by His Eminence, Raymondo Assis

Archbishop of Aparecida (Brazil)

President Delegate of the Synod

Holy Father, we who are assembled here wish to thank you, in the name of all the Church, for this splendid occasion that you have furnished, calling together this Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.  This was a precious opportunity to seek together to deepen our reflection on a subject that is so dear to the life of the Church and to the life of all of humanity, that of the family.

You invited us to contemplate the Gospel of the Family, or of human love lived according to the plan of God, as an inexhaustible source of human fulfillment, beauty, joy and peace.  But we were not only gathered together with the Bishop of Rome and the Successor of Peter merely to contemplate.

As Pastors, we reflected on how to heal the wounds that are caused by forms of living human love which do not correspond to the will of God.  As a Church, we must always seek ways of helping families to rediscover themselves as domestic Churches, privileged places for living the gospel.

The Synod continues ... and we, with the boldness of Pastors, are already envisaging together with the universal Pastor of the Church, the next steps of this synodal journey on the family.  The Church's lifestyle, the pilgrim people of God is truly synodal, and also the Christian family we might say which itself is like a miniature synod. But along the way, we have the certitude of Our Lord who is in our midst.  This gives us strength and fills us with joy.  We still have a long way to go!  We have confidence, even the certitude that we will discover the right way to serve families as they live together and journey toward God.  This certitude comes from the presence of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in our midst.

Beloved brothers and sisters, Your Eminences and Your Excellencies, let us now return to our particular Churches with the joy of having lived this synodal experience which has already borne so much pastoral and spiritual fruit.

May the Lord Jesus who desired to live on this earth the marvelous adventure of being Himself a member of a family, illumine and bless our journey together!

Some final words from His Holiness, Pope Francis

for the Synod Fathers and the participants

at the Synod on the Family

Your Eminences, Your Beatitudes, Your Excellencies, brothers and sisters.

With a heart filled with thanksgiving and gratitude, I want to thank, along with you, the Lord who has accompanied us and who has guided us in these past days, with the light of the Holy Spirit!

I sincerely thank Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod, His Excellency, Fabio Fabene, Under-secretary, and with them, I thank the Relator, Cardinal Péter Erdő, who worked so hard during these days, and the Special Secretary, His Excellency, Bruno Forte, the three President Delegates, the writers, the consultors, the translators and those who have remained anonymous, all those who have worked relentlessly behind the scenes with such fidelity and total dedication to the Church.  Thank you very much!

I thank all of you as well, dear Synod fathers, Fraternal Delegates, Auditors, and Assessors, for your active and fruitful participation. I will keep you in prayer asking the Lord to reward you with the abundance of His gifts of grace!

I can happily say that with a spirit of collegiality and of synodality, we have truly lived the experience of Synod, a path of solidarity, a journey together.

And it has been a journey and like every journey there were moments of running fast, as if wanting to conquer time and reach the goal as soon as possible; other moments of fatigue, as if wanting to say enough; other moments of enthusiasm and ardour. There were moments of profound consolation: listening to the testimony of true pastors, who wisely carry in their hearts the joys and the tears of their faithful people. Moments of consolation and grace and comfort: hearing the testimonies of the families who participated in the Synod and shared with us the beauty and the joy of their married life. A journey where the stronger feel compelled to help the less strong, where the more experienced are led to serve others, even through confrontations. And since it is a journey of human beings, along with the consolations, there were also moments of desolation, of tensions and temptations, of which a few possibilities could be mentioned:

• One, a temptation to hostile inflexibility, that is, wanting to close oneself within the written word, (the letter) and not allowing oneself to be surprised by God, by the God of surprises, (the spirit); within the law, within the certitude of what we know and not of what we still need to learn and to achieve. From the time of Christ, it is the temptation of the zealous, of the scrupulous, of the solicitous and of the so-called (today) traditionalists and also of the intellectuals.

• The temptation to a destructive tendency to goodness (ie. the appearance of goodness), that in the name of a deceptive mercy binds the wounds without first curing them and treating them; that treats the symptoms and not the causes and the roots. This is the temptation of the do-gooders, of the fearful, and also of the so-called progressives and liberals.

• The temptation to transform stones into bread to break the long, heavy, and painful fast (cf. Lk 4:1-4); and also to transform the bread into a stone and cast it against the sinners, the weak, and the sick (cf Jn 8:7), that is, to transform it into unbearable burdens (Lk 11:46).

• The temptation to come down off the Cross, to please the people, and not stay there, in order to fulfil the will of the Father; to bow down to a worldly spirit instead of purifying it and bending it to the Spirit of God.

• The temptation to neglect the depositum fidei (the deposit of faith), not thinking of ourselves as guardians but as owners or masters (of it); or, on the other hand, the temptation to neglect reality, making use of meticulous language and a language of smoothing to say so many things and to say nothing! They call them byzantinisms, I think, these things.

Dear brothers and sisters, the temptations must not frighten or disconcert us, or even discourage us, because no disciple is greater than his master; so if Jesus Himself was tempted and even called Beelzebul (cf Mt 12:24), His disciples should not expect better treatment.

Personally I would be very worried and saddened if it were not for these temptations and these animated discussions; this movement of the spirits, as St Ignatius called it (Spiritual Exercises, 6), if all were in a state of agreement, or silent in a false and quietist peace. Instead, I have seen and I have heard with joy and appreciation, speeches and interventions full of faith, of pastoral and doctrinal zeal, of wisdom, of frankness and of courage: and of parresia. And I have felt that what was set before our eyes was the good of the Church, of families, and the supreme law, the good of souls (cf Code of Canon Law, 1752). And this always we have said it here in the Hall without ever putting into question the fundamental truths of the Sacrament of marriage: the indissolubility, the unity, the faithfulness, the fruitfulness, that openness to life (cf Canons 1055, 1056; and Gaudium et spes, 48).

And this is the Church, the vineyard of the Lord, the fertile Mother and the caring Teacher, who is not afraid to roll up her sleeves to pour oil and wine on peoples' wounds; who doesn't see humanity as a house of glass to judge or categorize people. This is the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and composed of sinners, in need of Gods mercy. This is the Church, the true bride of Christ, who seeks to be faithful to her spouse and to her doctrine. It is the Church that is not afraid to eat and drink with prostitutes and publicans. The Church that has the doors wide open to receive the needy, the penitent, and not only the just or those who believe they are perfect! The Church that is not ashamed of the fallen brother and pretends not to see him, but on the contrary feels involved and almost obliged to lift him up and to encourage him to take up the journey again and accompany him toward a definitive encounter with her Spouse, in the heavenly Jerusalem.

This is the Church, our Mother! And when the Church, in the variety of her charisms, expresses herself in communion, she cannot err: it is the beauty and the strength of the sensus fidei, of that supernatural sense of the faith which is bestowed by the Holy Spirit so that, together, we can all enter into the heart of the Gospel and learn to follow Jesus in our life. And this should never be seen as a source of confusion and discord.

Many commentators, or people who talk, have imagined that they see a disputatious Church where one part is against the other, doubting even the Holy Spirit, the true promoter and guarantor of the unity and harmony of the Church the Holy Spirit who throughout history has always guided the barque, through her Ministers, even when the sea was rough and choppy, and the ministers unfaithful and sinners.

And, as I have dared to tell you, as I told you from the beginning of the Synod, it was necessary to live through all this with tranquillity, and with interior peace, so that the Synod would take place cum Petro and sub Petro (with Peter and under Peter), and the presence of the Pope is the guarantee of it all.

We will speak a little bit about the Pope now, in relation to the Bishops (laughing). So, the duty of the Pope is that of guaranteeing the unity of the Church; it is that of reminding the faithful of their duty to faithfully follow the Gospel of Christ; it is that of reminding the pastors that their first duty is to nourish the flock to nourish the flock that the Lord has entrusted to them, and to seek to welcome with fatherly care and mercy, and without false fears the lost sheep. I made a mistake here. I said welcome: I should have said rather, to go out and find them.

His duty is to remind everyone that authority in the Church is a service, as Pope Benedict XVI clearly explained, with words I cite verbatim: The Church is called and commits herself to exercise this kind of authority which is service and exercises it not in her own name, but in the name of Jesus Christ through the Pastors of the Church, in fact: it is he who guides, protects and corrects them, because he loves them deeply. But the Lord Jesus, the supreme Shepherd of our souls, has willed that the Apostolic College, today the Bishops, in communion with the Successor of Peter to participate in his mission of taking care of God's People, of educating them in the faith and of guiding, inspiring and sustaining the Christian community, or, as the Council puts it, to see to it ... that each member of the faithful shall be led in the Holy Spirit to the full development of his own vocation in accordance with Gospel preaching, and to sincere and active charity and to exercise that liberty with which Christ has set us free (cf. Presbyterorum Ordinis, 6) and it is through us, Pope Benedict continues, that the Lord reaches souls, instructs, guards and guides them. Saint Augustine, in his Commentary on the Gospel of Saint John, says: let it therefore be a commitment of love to feed the flock of the Lord (cf. 123, 5); this is the supreme rule of conduct for the ministers of God, an unconditional love, like that of the Good Shepherd, full of joy, given to all, attentive to those close to us and solicitous for those who are distant (cf St Augustine, Discourse 340, 1; Discourse 46, 15), gentle towards the weakest, the little ones, the simple, the sinners, to manifest the infinite mercy of God with the reassuring words of hope (cf ibid., Epistle, 95, 1).

So, the Church is Christ's, she is His bride and all the bishops, in communion with the Successor of Peter, have the task and the duty of guarding her and serving her, not as masters but as servants. The Pope, in this context, is not the supreme lord but rather the supreme servant the servant of the servants of God; the guarantor of the obedience and the conformity of the Church to the will of God, to the Gospel of Christ, and to the Tradition of the Church, putting aside every personal whim, despite being by the will of Christ Himself the supreme Pastor and Teacher of all the faithful (Canon 749) and despite enjoying supreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power in the Church (cf Canons 331-334).

Dear brothers and sisters, now we still have one year to mature, with true spiritual discernment, the proposed ideas and to find concrete solutions to so many difficulties and innumerable challenges that families must confront; to give answers to the many discouragements that surround and suffocate families.

One year to work on the Synodal Relatio which is the faithful and clear summary of everything that has been said and discussed in this hall and in the small groups. It is presented to the Episcopal Conferences as lineamenta (guidelines).

May the Lord accompany us, and guide us in this journey for the glory of His Name, with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of Saint Joseph. And please, do not forget to pray for me! Thank you!

Vietnam at the Vatican

Yesterday, His Holiness, Pope Francis received in audience the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Mr Nguyên Tân Dũng. Subsequently, the Prime Minister met with the Secretary of State, His Eminence, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.

In the course of the cordial conversations, the Parties expressed their satisfaction at yesterday’s meeting, which marks an important step in the process of strengthening bilateral relations between the Holy See and Vietnam, this being the second visit of Prime Minister Dũng to the Vatican, following that of 2007. The Church’s commitment to contributing to the development of the country, thanks to its presence in various areas which benefit society as a whole, was highlighted. In this context, sincere appreciation was expressed for the support given by the Authorities to the Catholic community in keeping with the developments sanctioned by the Constitution of 2013 with regard to religious policy, as well as for the assistance given to the non-resident Papal Representative of the Holy See to Vietnam in the discharge of his mission, which is aimed at promoting relations between Church and State with a view also to the common objective of diplomatic relations. The Parties then discussed some issues which, it is hoped, will be further examined and resolved through the existing channels of dialogue.

Finally, there was an exchange of views on some current regional and international issues, with particular reference to initiatives aimed at promoting peace and stability in the Asian continent.

Concluding message of the Synod

At 1:00pm today, in the John Paul II Hall at the Holy See Press Centre, there was a Press Conference held to present the Message of the III Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, held from October 5 to 19, 2014 at the Vatican on the theme: The pastoral challenges facing the family in the context of evangelization.

Present at the Press Conference to provide input were His Eminence, Raymundo Damasceno Cardinal Assis, Archbishop of Aparecida (Brazil), the President Delegate; His Eminence, Gianfranco Cardinal Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture; and His Eminence, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay (India), President of the Commission for the Message.

III Extraordinary General Assembly

of the Synod of Bishops

            We, Synod Fathers, gathered in Rome together with Pope Francis in the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, greet all families of the different continents and in particular all who follow Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We admire and are grateful for the daily witness which you offer us and the world with your fidelity, faith, hope, and love.

            Each of us, pastors of the Church, grew up in a family, and we come from a great variety of backgrounds and experiences. As priests and bishops we have lived alongside families who have spoken to us and shown us the saga of their joys and their difficulties.

            The preparation for this synod assembly, beginning with the questionnaire sent to the Churches around the world, has given us the opportunity to listen to the experience of many families. Our dialogue during the Synod has been mutually enriching, helping us to look at the complex situations which face families today.

            We offer you the words of Christ: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me (Rev 3:20). On his journeys along the roads of the Holy Land, Jesus would enter village houses. He continues to pass even today along the streets of our cities. In your homes there are light and shadow. Challenges often present themselves and at times even great trials. The darkness can grow deep to the point of becoming a dense shadow when evil and sin work into the heart of the family.

            We recognize the great challenge to remain faithful in conjugal love. Enfeebled faith and indifference to true values, individualism, impoverishment of relationships, and stress that excludes reflection leave their mark on family life. There are often crises in marriage, often confronted in haste and without the courage to have patience and reflect, to make sacrifices and to forgive one another. Failures give rise to new relationships, new couples, new civil unions, and new marriages, creating family situations which are complex and problematic, where the Christian choice is not obvious.

            We think also of the burden imposed by life in the suffering that can arise with a child with special needs, with grave illness, in deterioration of old age, or in the death of a loved one. We admire the fidelity of so many families who endure these trials with courage, faith, and love. They see them not as a burden inflicted on them, but as something in which they themselves give, seeing the suffering Christ in the weakness of the flesh.

            We recall the difficulties caused by economic systems, by the the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose (Evangelii gaudium, 55) which weakens the dignity of people. We remember unemployed parents who are powerless to provide basic needs for their families, and youth who see before them days of empty expectation, who are prey to drugs and crime.

            We think of so many poor families, of those who cling to boats in order to reach a shore of survival, of refugees wandering without hope in the desert, of those persecuted because of their faith and the human and spiritual values which they hold. These are stricken by the brutality of war and oppression. We remember the women who suffer violence and exploitation, victims of human trafficking, children abused by those who ought to have protected them and fostered their development, and the members of so many families who have been degraded and burdened with difficulties. The culture of prosperity deadens us…. all those lives stunted for lack of opportunity seem a mere spectacle; they fail to move us (Evangelii gaudium, 54). We call on governments and international organizations to promote the rights of the family for the common good.

            Christ wanted his Church to be a house with doors always open to welcome everyone. We warmly thank our pastors, lay faithful, and communities who accompany couples and families and care for their wounds.

***

            There is also the evening light behind the windowpanes in the houses of the cities, in modest residences of suburbs and villages, and even in mere shacks, which shines out brightly, warming bodies and souls. This light—the light of a wedding story—shines from the encounter between spouses: it is a gift, a grace expressed, as the Book of Genesis says (2:18), when the two are face to face as equal and mutual helpers. The love of man and woman teaches us that each needs the other in order to be truly self. Each remains different from the other that opens self and is revealed in the reciprocal gift. It is this that the bride of the Song of Songs sings in her canticle: My beloved is mine and I am his… I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 2:16; 6:3).

            This authentic encounter begins with courtship, a time of waiting and preparation. It is realized in the sacrament where God sets his seal, his presence, and grace. This path also includes sexual relationship, tenderness, intimacy, and beauty capable of lasting longer than the vigor and freshness of youth. Such love, of its nature, strives to be forever to the point of laying down one’s life for the beloved (cf Jn 15:13). In this light, conjugal love, which is unique and indissoluble, endures despite many difficulties. It is one of the most beautiful of all miracles and the most common.

This love spreads through fertility and generativity, which involves not only the procreation of children but also the gift of divine life in baptism, their catechesis, and their education. It includes the capacity to offer life, affection, and values—an experience possible even for those who have not been able to bear children. Families who live this light-filled adventure become a sign for all, especially for young people.

            This journey is sometimes a mountainous trek with hardships and falls. God is always there to accompany us. The family experiences his presence in affection and dialogue between husband and wife, parents and children, sisters and brothers. They embrace him in family prayer and listening to the Word of God—a small, daily oasis of the spirit. They discover him every day as they educate their children in the faith and in the beauty of a life lived according to the Gospel, a life of holiness. Grandparents also share in this task with great affection and dedication. The family is thus an authentic domestic Church that expands to become the family of families which is the ecclesial community. Christian spouses are called to become teachers of faith and of love for young couples as well.

            Another expression of fraternal communion is charity, giving, nearness to those who are last, marginalized, poor, lonely, sick, strangers, and families in crisis, aware of the Lord’s word, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). It is a gift of goods, of fellowship, of love and mercy, and also a witness to the truth, to light, and to the meaning of life.

            The high point which sums up all the threads of communion with God and neighbor is the Sunday Eucharist when the family and the whole Church sits at table with the Lord. He gives himself to all of us, pilgrims through history towards the goal of the final encounter when Christ is all and in all (Col 3:11). In the first stage of our Synod itinerary, therefore, we have reflected on how to accompany those who have been divorced and remarried and on their participation in the sacraments.

            We Synod Fathers ask you to walk with us towards the next Synod. The presence of the family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in their modest home hovers over you. United to the Family of Nazareth, we raise to the Father of all, our petition for the families of the world:

            Father, grant to all families the presence of strong and wise spouses who may be the source of a free and united family.

            Father, grant that parents may have a home in which to live in peace with their families.

            Father, grant that children may be a sign of trust and hope and that young people may have the courage to forge life-long, faithful commitments.

            Father, grant to all that they may be able to earn bread with their hands, that they may enjoy serenity of spirit and that they may keep aflame the torch of faith even in periods of darkness.

            Father, grant that we may all see flourish a Church that is ever more faithful and credible, a just and humane city, a world that loves truth, justice and mercy.