This morning's General Audience began at 10:00am in the Paul VI Hall where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from all corners of the world.
During his speech, the Pope continued the catechesis on mercy, adding his meditation on the theme: To advise and to teach (cf Lk 10:21-22).
After having summarized 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!
The Jubilee is finished, today we return to normal, but we are still reflecting on the works of mercy and so we continue along the way.
Our reflection on the spiritual works of mercy focuses today on two actions that are strongly connected to each other: advising the doubtful and teaching the ignorant, that is to say those who do not know. The word ignorant is too strong, but it refers to those who do not know something and who should be taught. These are works that can be experienced either in a simple, familiar way, available to everyone, or - especially the second one, that of instructing - on a more institutional , organizational level. We can think for example of the many children who still suffer from illiteracy. It is hard to understand this: in a world where technical-scientific progress has taken us so far, there are still illiterate children! This is an injustice. How many children suffer from a lack of instruction. This is a condition of great injustice that affects the dignity of persons. Without instruction, the uneducated easily become prey to exploitation and various forms of social unrest.
Throughout the centuries, the Church has felt the need to engage in education because her mission of evangelization includes a commitment to restore dignity to the poor. Beginning with the first example of a school founded right here in Rome by Saint Justin, in the second century, to help Christians to better know and understand the sacred Scriptures, up to Saint Joseph Calasanz, who opened the first free schools in Europe, there is a long list of Saints who in various eras offered instruction to the most disadvantaged, knowing that in this way they would be able to overcome suffering and discrimination. Many Christians, lay people, consecrated brothers and sisters and priests have dedicated their lives to teaching, to the education of children and youth. This is wonderful: I invite you to thank them all with your applause (the crowd applauded). These pioneers in education fully understood this work of mercy, and dedicated their lives to transforming society. Through this simple work, with few structures in place, they were able to restore dignity to many people! And the instruction they gave was often also focused on work. We can consider Saint John Bosco, who prepared first by working with youth in the streets, with the Oratory and then with schools and offices. In this way, we have given rise to many professional schools that prepare people for work while educating them in human and Christian values. Therefore, education is a particular form of evangelization.
The more education grows, the more people will acquire the certainties and awarenesses that we all need in life. Good instruction teaches us to be critical, including a certain kind of doubt, useful for asking questions and for verifying the results that are attained, always with a view to greater knowledge. But the work of mercy which entails instructing the doubtful does not involve this kind of doubt. Instead, expressing mercy to the doubtful is more about soothing the doubt and the suffering the come from fear and the anxieties that are the consequence of doubt. It is therefore truly an act of love with which we seek to support a person the weakness that is caused by uncertainty.
I think that someone might ask me: But Father, I have many doubts about faith, what should I do? Do you never have doubts? I have many ... Certainly, everyone has doubts at one time or another! Doubts that involve our faith, in a positive manner, are signs that we want deeper, better knowledge of God, Jesus and the mystery of his love for us. But, I have this doubt: I seek, I study, I see or I ask for advice about what to do. These are doubts that make us grow! Therefore, it is good that we should question our faith because doing so leads us to deepen it. However, doubts must also be overcome. In order for this to happen, we must listen to the Word of God, and understand what it teaches us. One path that helps us a lot in this regard is catechesis, through which the proclamation of faith meets us in the reality of our personal and communal lives. At the same time, we have another path that is equally important, the path of living our faith as much as possible. Let us not make our faith a matter of abstract theories where doubts can be multiplied. Rather, let us see in our faith a source of life. Let us always seek to practice our faith in service to our brothers, especially those who are in need. In this way, many doubts disappear because we feel the presence of God and the truth of the gospel of love which, without any merit on our part, lives within us and can be shared by us with others.
As you can see, dear brothers and sisters, these two works of mercy too are not far distant from our lives. Every one of us can commit ourselves to putting the words of the Lord into practice; he says that the mystery of God's love was not revealed to the wise and the intelligent, but to little ones (cf Lk 10:21; Mt 11:25-26). Therefore, the most profound teaching that we are called to pass on is the surest certainty for resolving our doubt: the love of God with which we are called to love (cf Jn 4:10). A great love that is always freely given. God never changes his mind about his love! He always continues with this aspect; he gives his love for all times, and therefore we must always feel strongly responsible to be witnesses, offering mercy to our brothers and sisters. Thank you.
This catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father 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 those from England, Scotland, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and the United States of America. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke an abundance of joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
During his speech, the Pope continued the catechesis on mercy, adding his meditation on the theme: To advise and to teach (cf Lk 10:21-22).
After having summarized 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 His Holiness, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The Jubilee is finished, today we return to normal, but we are still reflecting on the works of mercy and so we continue along the way.
Our reflection on the spiritual works of mercy focuses today on two actions that are strongly connected to each other: advising the doubtful and teaching the ignorant, that is to say those who do not know. The word ignorant is too strong, but it refers to those who do not know something and who should be taught. These are works that can be experienced either in a simple, familiar way, available to everyone, or - especially the second one, that of instructing - on a more institutional , organizational level. We can think for example of the many children who still suffer from illiteracy. It is hard to understand this: in a world where technical-scientific progress has taken us so far, there are still illiterate children! This is an injustice. How many children suffer from a lack of instruction. This is a condition of great injustice that affects the dignity of persons. Without instruction, the uneducated easily become prey to exploitation and various forms of social unrest.
Throughout the centuries, the Church has felt the need to engage in education because her mission of evangelization includes a commitment to restore dignity to the poor. Beginning with the first example of a school founded right here in Rome by Saint Justin, in the second century, to help Christians to better know and understand the sacred Scriptures, up to Saint Joseph Calasanz, who opened the first free schools in Europe, there is a long list of Saints who in various eras offered instruction to the most disadvantaged, knowing that in this way they would be able to overcome suffering and discrimination. Many Christians, lay people, consecrated brothers and sisters and priests have dedicated their lives to teaching, to the education of children and youth. This is wonderful: I invite you to thank them all with your applause (the crowd applauded). These pioneers in education fully understood this work of mercy, and dedicated their lives to transforming society. Through this simple work, with few structures in place, they were able to restore dignity to many people! And the instruction they gave was often also focused on work. We can consider Saint John Bosco, who prepared first by working with youth in the streets, with the Oratory and then with schools and offices. In this way, we have given rise to many professional schools that prepare people for work while educating them in human and Christian values. Therefore, education is a particular form of evangelization.
The more education grows, the more people will acquire the certainties and awarenesses that we all need in life. Good instruction teaches us to be critical, including a certain kind of doubt, useful for asking questions and for verifying the results that are attained, always with a view to greater knowledge. But the work of mercy which entails instructing the doubtful does not involve this kind of doubt. Instead, expressing mercy to the doubtful is more about soothing the doubt and the suffering the come from fear and the anxieties that are the consequence of doubt. It is therefore truly an act of love with which we seek to support a person the weakness that is caused by uncertainty.
I think that someone might ask me: But Father, I have many doubts about faith, what should I do? Do you never have doubts? I have many ... Certainly, everyone has doubts at one time or another! Doubts that involve our faith, in a positive manner, are signs that we want deeper, better knowledge of God, Jesus and the mystery of his love for us. But, I have this doubt: I seek, I study, I see or I ask for advice about what to do. These are doubts that make us grow! Therefore, it is good that we should question our faith because doing so leads us to deepen it. However, doubts must also be overcome. In order for this to happen, we must listen to the Word of God, and understand what it teaches us. One path that helps us a lot in this regard is catechesis, through which the proclamation of faith meets us in the reality of our personal and communal lives. At the same time, we have another path that is equally important, the path of living our faith as much as possible. Let us not make our faith a matter of abstract theories where doubts can be multiplied. Rather, let us see in our faith a source of life. Let us always seek to practice our faith in service to our brothers, especially those who are in need. In this way, many doubts disappear because we feel the presence of God and the truth of the gospel of love which, without any merit on our part, lives within us and can be shared by us with others.
As you can see, dear brothers and sisters, these two works of mercy too are not far distant from our lives. Every one of us can commit ourselves to putting the words of the Lord into practice; he says that the mystery of God's love was not revealed to the wise and the intelligent, but to little ones (cf Lk 10:21; Mt 11:25-26). Therefore, the most profound teaching that we are called to pass on is the surest certainty for resolving our doubt: the love of God with which we are called to love (cf Jn 4:10). A great love that is always freely given. God never changes his mind about his love! He always continues with this aspect; he gives his love for all times, and therefore we must always feel strongly responsible to be witnesses, offering mercy to our brothers and sisters. Thank you.
This catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father 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 those from England, Scotland, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and the United States of America. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke an abundance of joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
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