Pope Francis: Be missionaries of hope
(Vatican
Radio) In a sunny St Peter’s Square on Wednesday, Pope Francis during his General
Audience didn’t disappoint those pilgrims who had come to hear his
continuing catechesis on Christian hope. This week the Holy
Father turned his attention to the Christian’s calling to be a missionary of
hope.
Example of St Francis
As an example, he chose a great Saint of the Church and his
own namesake St Francis, whose feast day is celebrated on October 4th, calling
him “a true missionary of the joyful hope born of Christ’s victory over death…”
He went on to says that, “Jesus asks us to be witnesses of
that same hope, confident in the transforming power of his Spirit at work in
our hearts and in our world. Joy, the Pope underlined, “ is the sure sign
of true Christian hope, but he also noted that, there are times when the gift
of hope proves costly.
Persecuted Christians
The Holy Father was referring to “fellow Christians who
presently experience persecution” and all the martyrs down through the
centuries. He said that, “their witness inspires us to continue to hope in
Christ’s promises. As missionaries of hope, may we rejoice in God’s
saving power, never lose heart, and help others to look to the future with
confidence.”
The Pope noted that the task of Christians in this world is
to open a space for salvation, adding that, “when the sky is cloudy, it is a
blessing for those who know the sun.”
Behold, the true Christian is this, said Pope Francis,
“not complacent and angry, but convinced, by the strength of the
resurrection…”
Middle East
Concluding his Audience the Holy Father greeted all the
English speaking pilgrims present and in words to visitors from Egypt, the Pope
prayed that the Lord would bless them and protect their country, the Middle
East and the whole world from all evil and terrorism.
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