Pope recalled the 10th anniversary of the canonization of Saint John Paul II, praying for peace
Vatican City, 24 April 2024 (Ecclesia) – The Pope appealed today, in the Vatican, to the promotion of human life and the rejection of the “culture of death”, evoking the figure of Saint John Paul II (1920-2005), who canonized on April 27, 2014.
“Promote life and do not be fooled by the culture of death. Through his intercession, let us ask God for the gift of peace, for which he, as Pope, worked so hard”, he said, at the end of the weekly public audience, which he presided over in Saint Peter’s Square.
Francis recalled the journey of the Polish pontiff, Pope between 1978 and 2005.
“Looking at his life, we can see what man can achieve by accepting and developing within himself the gifts of God: faith, hope and charity. Remain faithful to his heritage,” he urged the pilgrims from Poland, present at the general audience.
The Pope wanted to remember the suffering of the populations in “martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, which are at war, and so many other countries”.
“War is always a defeat, the ones who gain the most are the weapons manufacturers. Please let us pray for peace, let us pray for the martyred Ukraine, which is suffering so, so much,” he declared.
The young soldiers, who walk towards their death… let us pray. And let us also pray for the Middle East, for Gaza, where they suffer so much in the war. Let us pray for peace between Palestine and Israel, that they will be two states, free and with good relations. Let us pray for peace.”
After a cycle of reflections on the cardinal virtues – prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance –, the Pope pointed to the “fundamental attitudes” that characterize the lives of Christians, the so-called “theological” virtues: faith, hope and charity.
The intervention spoke of theological virtues as “the great antidote to self-sufficiency”.
“How often certain morally impeccable men and women run the risk of becoming, in the eyes of those who know them, presumptuous and arrogant”, he warned.
The great gift of theological virtues is the existence lived in the Holy Spirit. The Christian is never alone. He does good not through a titanic effort of personal commitment, but because, as a humble disciple, he walks behind the master Jesus.
Francisco pointed out that pride is “a powerful poison”, of which “one drop is enough to ruin an entire life characterized by good”, because it places the “self” at the center of everything.
“Good is not only an end, but also a way. Good needs a lot of discretion, a lot of kindness. Above all, good needs to strip itself of that sometimes too uncomfortable presence that is our self,” she explained.
After reflection, the Pope greeted the groups present in Saint Peter’s Square, including Portuguese-speaking pilgrims, including a group from Braga.
“Let us open our hearts to the action of the Holy Spirit, so that he may make faith, hope and love grow in us”, he appealed.
Francisco recalled that, this Thursday, the liturgical feast of Saint Mark is celebrated, “the evangelist who described in a living and concrete way the mystery of the person of Jesus of Nazareth”.
“I invite everyone to let themselves be fascinated by Christ, to collaborate with enthusiasm and fidelity in the construction of the Kingdom of God”, he concluded.
O.C.
