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 gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the usual Sunday appointment.
Today’s Gospel presents us Jesus who, on his way towards Caesarea Philippi, asks the disciples: Who do people say that I am? (Mk 8:27). They respond that some believe he is John the Baptist reborn, others Elijah or one of the great Prophets. The people appreciated Jesus, they considered him to be God-sent, but still could not recognize him as the foretold and long-awaited Messiah. But who do you say that I am? (Mk 8:29). This is the most important question, with which Jesus speaks directly to those who have followed him, to verify their faith. Peter, in the name of all, exclaims candidly: You are the Christ (Mk 8:29). Jesus remains struck by Peter’s faith, He recognizes that it is the fruit of a special grace of God the Father. And now He openly reveals to the disciples that which awaits Him in Jerusalem: that the Son of Man must suffer greatly...be killed, and rise after three days (Mk 8:31).
The same Peter, who just professed his faith in Jesus as Messiah, is scandalized by these words. He takes the Master aside and reproaches him. And how does Jesus react? He in turn reproaches Peter, with very severe words: Get behind me, Satan! He calls him Satan! You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do (Mk 8:33). Jesus sees that in Peter, as in the other disciples - and in each one of us! - the temptation by the Evil One opposes the grace of the Father, that it wants to deter us from the will of God. Announcing that He must suffer and be put to death in order to then rise, Jesus wants those who follow Him to understand that He is a humble, servant Messiah. He is the Servant, obedient to the will of the Father, including the complete sacrifice of His own life. For this reason, turning towards the whole crowd there, He declares that he who wishes to become his disciple must accept being a servant, as He has made himself a servant, and warns: Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me (Is 8:35).
To undertake the discipleship of Jesus means to take up your cross - it's the same for all of us - we must accompany Him on His path, an uncomfortable path that is not based on success or passing glory, but that which takes us to the true freedom, freedom from selfishness and from sin. It is a matter of a clear rejection of that worldly mentality that places one’s I and one's own interests at the centre of existence. That is not what Jesus wants from us. Instead Jesus invites us to lose our life for Him and for the sake of the Gospel, to receive it renewed, realized and authentic. We are sure, thanks to Jesus, that this path brings us to the Resurrection, to the full and definitive life with God. To decide to follow Him, our Master and Lord who made Himself the Servant of all, requires strong union with Him, attentive and assiduous listening to His Word - remember to read a passage from the Gospel every day - and the grace of the Sacraments. There are young people here in the square, young men and women. I only want to ask you: have you felt the desire to follow Jesus more closely? Think about it, pray and allow the Lord to speak to you.
May the Virgin Mary, who followed Jesus to Calvary, help us to always purify our faith from false images of God, to adhere fully to Christ and his Gospel.
After reciting the Angelus, the Pope said the following:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today in South Africa is proclaimed Blessed Samuel Benedict Daswa, a father of a family, killed in 1990 - almost 25 years ago - he was killed for his fidelity to the Gospel. In his life, he always showed consistency, courageously taking on Christian attitudes and refusing worldly and pagan customs. May his witness especially help families to spread the truth and charity of Christ, and may his witness, united with the witness of so many of our brothers and sisters - youth, elderly, boys and girls, children - all persecuted, kicked out, and killed for proclaiming Jesus Christ. To all these martyrs, to Samuel Benedict Daswa and to all of them, let us say thank you for their witness and we ask that they intercede for us. I affectionately greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims from different countries: families, parish groups and associations.
I greet the faithful of the diocese of Freyburg, the Zacchaeus’ Tree Association from Aosta, the faithful from Corte Franca and Orzinuovi, the Catholic Action youth from Alpago and the group of motorcyclists from Ravenna.
I greet the temporary teachers who have come from Sardegna, and I hope that the problems in the world of labor may be addressed by taking families and their needs concretely into account.
To all of you, I wish a good Sunday. And please, do not forget to pray for me.
Have a good lunch and goodbye!
Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Today’s Gospel presents us Jesus who, on his way towards Caesarea Philippi, asks the disciples: Who do people say that I am? (Mk 8:27). They respond that some believe he is John the Baptist reborn, others Elijah or one of the great Prophets. The people appreciated Jesus, they considered him to be God-sent, but still could not recognize him as the foretold and long-awaited Messiah. But who do you say that I am? (Mk 8:29). This is the most important question, with which Jesus speaks directly to those who have followed him, to verify their faith. Peter, in the name of all, exclaims candidly: You are the Christ (Mk 8:29). Jesus remains struck by Peter’s faith, He recognizes that it is the fruit of a special grace of God the Father. And now He openly reveals to the disciples that which awaits Him in Jerusalem: that the Son of Man must suffer greatly...be killed, and rise after three days (Mk 8:31).
The same Peter, who just professed his faith in Jesus as Messiah, is scandalized by these words. He takes the Master aside and reproaches him. And how does Jesus react? He in turn reproaches Peter, with very severe words: Get behind me, Satan! He calls him Satan! You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do (Mk 8:33). Jesus sees that in Peter, as in the other disciples - and in each one of us! - the temptation by the Evil One opposes the grace of the Father, that it wants to deter us from the will of God. Announcing that He must suffer and be put to death in order to then rise, Jesus wants those who follow Him to understand that He is a humble, servant Messiah. He is the Servant, obedient to the will of the Father, including the complete sacrifice of His own life. For this reason, turning towards the whole crowd there, He declares that he who wishes to become his disciple must accept being a servant, as He has made himself a servant, and warns: Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me (Is 8:35).
To undertake the discipleship of Jesus means to take up your cross - it's the same for all of us - we must accompany Him on His path, an uncomfortable path that is not based on success or passing glory, but that which takes us to the true freedom, freedom from selfishness and from sin. It is a matter of a clear rejection of that worldly mentality that places one’s I and one's own interests at the centre of existence. That is not what Jesus wants from us. Instead Jesus invites us to lose our life for Him and for the sake of the Gospel, to receive it renewed, realized and authentic. We are sure, thanks to Jesus, that this path brings us to the Resurrection, to the full and definitive life with God. To decide to follow Him, our Master and Lord who made Himself the Servant of all, requires strong union with Him, attentive and assiduous listening to His Word - remember to read a passage from the Gospel every day - and the grace of the Sacraments. There are young people here in the square, young men and women. I only want to ask you: have you felt the desire to follow Jesus more closely? Think about it, pray and allow the Lord to speak to you.
May the Virgin Mary, who followed Jesus to Calvary, help us to always purify our faith from false images of God, to adhere fully to Christ and his Gospel.
After reciting the Angelus, the Pope said the following:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today in South Africa is proclaimed Blessed Samuel Benedict Daswa, a father of a family, killed in 1990 - almost 25 years ago - he was killed for his fidelity to the Gospel. In his life, he always showed consistency, courageously taking on Christian attitudes and refusing worldly and pagan customs. May his witness especially help families to spread the truth and charity of Christ, and may his witness, united with the witness of so many of our brothers and sisters - youth, elderly, boys and girls, children - all persecuted, kicked out, and killed for proclaiming Jesus Christ. To all these martyrs, to Samuel Benedict Daswa and to all of them, let us say thank you for their witness and we ask that they intercede for us. I affectionately greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims from different countries: families, parish groups and associations.
I greet the faithful of the diocese of Freyburg, the Zacchaeus’ Tree Association from Aosta, the faithful from Corte Franca and Orzinuovi, the Catholic Action youth from Alpago and the group of motorcyclists from Ravenna.
I greet the temporary teachers who have come from Sardegna, and I hope that the problems in the world of labor may be addressed by taking families and their needs concretely into account.
To all of you, I wish a good Sunday. And please, do not forget to pray for me.
Have a good lunch and goodbye!
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