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 focused on the theme: Christian hope: the enemies of hope and then he issued a call to representatives of Caritas International on the occasion of the beginning of their Campaign entitled Share the Journey, which was officially launched during this morning's General Audience.
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 Benediction.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
In this time we are talking about hope; however, today I would like to reflect with you on the enemies of hope, because hope has its enemies, as every good in this world has its enemies.
And there came to mind the ancient myth of Pandora’s box: the opening of the box set off so many disasters for the history of the world. Few however, remember the last part of the story, which opens a chink of light: after all the evils have come out of the mouth of the box, a miniscule gift seems to take revenge in the face of all the evil that is spilling out. Pandora, the woman who is guarding the box perceives the last - the Greeks call it elpis - which means hope.
This myth tells us why hope is so important for humanity. It is not true that so long as there is life there is hope, as is usually said. If anything, it’s the contrary: it is hope that keeps life upright, that protects it, guards it and makes it grow. If men had not cultivated hope, if they were not supported by this virtue, they would never have comes out of the caves, and would have left no trace in the history of the world. It is the most divine thing that can exist in man’s heart.
A French poet — Charles Peguy – has left us wonderful pages on hope (cf The Portal of the Mystery of Hope). He says, poetically, that God is not so astonished by the faith of human beings or by their charity, but what really fills Him with wonder and emotion is people’s hope: That those poor children – he writes – see how things are going and believe that it will be better tomorrow morning. The poet’s image recalls the faces of the many people who have passed through this world — peasants, poor labourers, migrants in search of a better future — that have fought tenaciously despite the bitterness of a difficult today, full of so many trials, encouraged, however, by the confidence that the children would have a more just and more serene life. They struggled for their children; they struggled in hope.
Hope is the thrust in the heart of one who sets out, leaving home, land, sometimes family and relatives – I think of migrants — to seek a better life, more fitting for himself and his dear ones. And it’s also a thrust in the heart of one who receives: the desire to encounter one another, to get to know one another, to dialogue . . . Hope is the thrust to share the journey, because the journey is done in two: those who come to our land, and we who go to their heart, to understand them, to understand their culture, their language. It’s a journey of two, but without hope that journey can’t be done. Hope is the thrust to share the journey of life, as the Caritas Campaign - which officially opens today - reminds us. Brothers and sisters, let’s not be afraid to share the journey! Let’s not be afraid to share hope!
Hope is not a virtue for people with a full stomach. See why the poor have always been the first bearers of hope. And in this connection we can say that the poor, including beggars, are the protagonists of History. God had need of them in order to enter into the world: Joseph, Mary and the shepherds of Bethlehem. On the night of the first Christmas, there was a world that was sleeping, comfortable in so many acquired certainties. However, the humble were preparing a revolution of kindness in hiding. They were poor in every way, some floated a bit above the threshold of survival, but they were rich in the most precious good that exists in the world, namely, the desire for change.
Sometimes, to have had everything in life is a misfortune. Think of a young person who has not been taught the virtues of waiting and patience, who hasn’t had to sweat for anything, who has forged ahead and at 20 knows already how the world runs: he is destined for the worst condemnation: that of not desiring anything more. He seems a youth; instead, autumn has already fallen on his heart. They are the young people of autumn.
To have an empty mind is the worst obstacle to hope. It’s a risk of which no one can say to himself that he is excluded, because to be tempted against hope can also happen when one is following the way of the Christian life. The monks of antiquity denounced one of the worst enemies of fervour. They said it thus: that midday demon that goes out to extinguish a life of commitment, precisely while the sun burns on high. This temptation surprises us when we least expect it: the days become monotonous and boring, no value seems worthy of hard work anymore. This attitude is called accidia, which erodes life from inside until leaving it as an empty shell.
When this happens, a Christian knows that this condition must be combatted, never accepted supinely. God has created us for joy and happiness, and not to bask in melancholic thoughts. See why it’s important to guard one’s heart, opposing temptations to unhappiness, which certainly don’t come from God. And there, where our strength seems weak and the battle against anguish is particularly hard, we can always resort to Jesus’ name. We can repeat that simple prayer, of which we also find traces in the Gospels and which has become the foundation of so many Christian spiritual traditions: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner! – a beautiful prayer. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner! This is a prayer of hope, because I turn to him who can open wide the doors and resolve the problem, and make me look at the horizon, the horizon of hope.
Brothers and sisters, we’re not alone in battling against despair. If Jesus has overcome the world, He is able to overcome in us all that is opposed to the good. If God is with us, no one will rob us of that virtue of which we are in absolute need to live. No one will rob us of hope. Let’s go forward!
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and His Holiness offered personal greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in the Audience, particularly the groups from England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Canada and the United States of America. Today marks the start of the worldwide Caritas campaign “Share the Journey”, to assist families forced to migrate. I encourage you to support this praiseworthy initiative as an expression of our solidarity with our many brothers and sisters in need. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the conclusion of the General Audience, the Holy Father issued the following call for prayer:
I am pleased to welcome the representatives from Caritas who are present to mark the official beginning of their campaign Share the Journey - Condividiamo il Viaggio. This is a beautiful name for your campaign: share the journey - the beginning of which I wanted to coincide with this audience. I welcome the migrants, asylum seekers and refugees who, together with the representatives from Caritas Italy and other Catholic organizations, are signs of a Church that seeks to be open, inclusive and welcoming. Thank you to all of you for your untiring service. You have already applauded them, but they truly merit recognition, all of them!
With your daily commitment, you recall the fact that Christ himself is asking you to welcome our brothers and sisters who are migrants and refugees with arms, with arms wide open. To welcome in this way, with arms wide open. When arms are open, they are ready to impart a sincere embrace, an affectionate hug, an embracing hug, somewhat like this colonnade here in this Square, which represents the mother Church who embraces everyone who is sharing in a common journey.
I also welcome the representatives from many other organizations in civil society who are committed to assisting migrants and refugees. Together with Caritas, you have given your support to the collection of signatures in support a new immigration law that is more relevant to the current context. Welcome to all of you.
In his speech, the Pope focused on the theme: Christian hope: the enemies of hope and then he issued a call to representatives of Caritas International on the occasion of the beginning of their Campaign entitled Share the Journey, which was officially launched during this morning's General Audience.
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 Benediction.
Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
In this time we are talking about hope; however, today I would like to reflect with you on the enemies of hope, because hope has its enemies, as every good in this world has its enemies.
And there came to mind the ancient myth of Pandora’s box: the opening of the box set off so many disasters for the history of the world. Few however, remember the last part of the story, which opens a chink of light: after all the evils have come out of the mouth of the box, a miniscule gift seems to take revenge in the face of all the evil that is spilling out. Pandora, the woman who is guarding the box perceives the last - the Greeks call it elpis - which means hope.
This myth tells us why hope is so important for humanity. It is not true that so long as there is life there is hope, as is usually said. If anything, it’s the contrary: it is hope that keeps life upright, that protects it, guards it and makes it grow. If men had not cultivated hope, if they were not supported by this virtue, they would never have comes out of the caves, and would have left no trace in the history of the world. It is the most divine thing that can exist in man’s heart.
A French poet — Charles Peguy – has left us wonderful pages on hope (cf The Portal of the Mystery of Hope). He says, poetically, that God is not so astonished by the faith of human beings or by their charity, but what really fills Him with wonder and emotion is people’s hope: That those poor children – he writes – see how things are going and believe that it will be better tomorrow morning. The poet’s image recalls the faces of the many people who have passed through this world — peasants, poor labourers, migrants in search of a better future — that have fought tenaciously despite the bitterness of a difficult today, full of so many trials, encouraged, however, by the confidence that the children would have a more just and more serene life. They struggled for their children; they struggled in hope.
Hope is the thrust in the heart of one who sets out, leaving home, land, sometimes family and relatives – I think of migrants — to seek a better life, more fitting for himself and his dear ones. And it’s also a thrust in the heart of one who receives: the desire to encounter one another, to get to know one another, to dialogue . . . Hope is the thrust to share the journey, because the journey is done in two: those who come to our land, and we who go to their heart, to understand them, to understand their culture, their language. It’s a journey of two, but without hope that journey can’t be done. Hope is the thrust to share the journey of life, as the Caritas Campaign - which officially opens today - reminds us. Brothers and sisters, let’s not be afraid to share the journey! Let’s not be afraid to share hope!
Hope is not a virtue for people with a full stomach. See why the poor have always been the first bearers of hope. And in this connection we can say that the poor, including beggars, are the protagonists of History. God had need of them in order to enter into the world: Joseph, Mary and the shepherds of Bethlehem. On the night of the first Christmas, there was a world that was sleeping, comfortable in so many acquired certainties. However, the humble were preparing a revolution of kindness in hiding. They were poor in every way, some floated a bit above the threshold of survival, but they were rich in the most precious good that exists in the world, namely, the desire for change.
Sometimes, to have had everything in life is a misfortune. Think of a young person who has not been taught the virtues of waiting and patience, who hasn’t had to sweat for anything, who has forged ahead and at 20 knows already how the world runs: he is destined for the worst condemnation: that of not desiring anything more. He seems a youth; instead, autumn has already fallen on his heart. They are the young people of autumn.
To have an empty mind is the worst obstacle to hope. It’s a risk of which no one can say to himself that he is excluded, because to be tempted against hope can also happen when one is following the way of the Christian life. The monks of antiquity denounced one of the worst enemies of fervour. They said it thus: that midday demon that goes out to extinguish a life of commitment, precisely while the sun burns on high. This temptation surprises us when we least expect it: the days become monotonous and boring, no value seems worthy of hard work anymore. This attitude is called accidia, which erodes life from inside until leaving it as an empty shell.
When this happens, a Christian knows that this condition must be combatted, never accepted supinely. God has created us for joy and happiness, and not to bask in melancholic thoughts. See why it’s important to guard one’s heart, opposing temptations to unhappiness, which certainly don’t come from God. And there, where our strength seems weak and the battle against anguish is particularly hard, we can always resort to Jesus’ name. We can repeat that simple prayer, of which we also find traces in the Gospels and which has become the foundation of so many Christian spiritual traditions: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner! – a beautiful prayer. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner! This is a prayer of hope, because I turn to him who can open wide the doors and resolve the problem, and make me look at the horizon, the horizon of hope.
Brothers and sisters, we’re not alone in battling against despair. If Jesus has overcome the world, He is able to overcome in us all that is opposed to the good. If God is with us, no one will rob us of that virtue of which we are in absolute need to live. No one will rob us of hope. Let’s go forward!
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and His Holiness offered personal greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking visitors, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in the Audience, particularly the groups from England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Canada and the United States of America. Today marks the start of the worldwide Caritas campaign “Share the Journey”, to assist families forced to migrate. I encourage you to support this praiseworthy initiative as an expression of our solidarity with our many brothers and sisters in need. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the conclusion of the General Audience, the Holy Father issued the following call for prayer:
I am pleased to welcome the representatives from Caritas who are present to mark the official beginning of their campaign Share the Journey - Condividiamo il Viaggio. This is a beautiful name for your campaign: share the journey - the beginning of which I wanted to coincide with this audience. I welcome the migrants, asylum seekers and refugees who, together with the representatives from Caritas Italy and other Catholic organizations, are signs of a Church that seeks to be open, inclusive and welcoming. Thank you to all of you for your untiring service. You have already applauded them, but they truly merit recognition, all of them!
With your daily commitment, you recall the fact that Christ himself is asking you to welcome our brothers and sisters who are migrants and refugees with arms, with arms wide open. To welcome in this way, with arms wide open. When arms are open, they are ready to impart a sincere embrace, an affectionate hug, an embracing hug, somewhat like this colonnade here in this Square, which represents the mother Church who embraces everyone who is sharing in a common journey.
I also welcome the representatives from many other organizations in civil society who are committed to assisting migrants and refugees. Together with Caritas, you have given your support to the collection of signatures in support a new immigration law that is more relevant to the current context. Welcome to all of you.
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