Even if Church is persecuted and
chained, it never tires of welcoming
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| Pope Francis during the General Audience |
Pope Francis, concluding his catechesis on the Acts of the
Apostles tells pilgrims that even if the Church is persecuted and chained, it
never tires of welcoming with a motherly heart.
By Vatican News
Joining pilgrims in the Paul VI hall on Wednesday, Pope
Francis concluded his catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles with the last
missionary stage of Saint Paul; his journey to Rome.
The Pope told those gathered for the weekly General Audience
that “Paul's journey, which was one with that of the Gospel, is proof that
man's journeys, if lived in faith, can become a space of transit for God's
salvation,… capable of transforming situations and opening up new paths.”
The power of God’s word can never be chained
The Pontiff noted that “Luke ends the Book of Acts not with
Paul’s martyrdom but by describing his tireless proclamation of the Gospel,
showing the power of God’s word which can never be chained.”
He went on to say that “Paul’s missionary journeys,
culminating in this City, reveal the power of God’s grace to open hearts to the
Gospel and its saving message.”
During his catechesis, Pope Francis recalled that “in Rome,
Paul first of all meets his brothers and sisters in Christ, who welcome him and
give him courage and whose warm hospitality makes one think of how much his
arrival was awaited and desired.”
Despite his condition as a prisoner, said the Pope, “Paul
could meet with notable Jews to explain why he was forced to appeal to Caesar
and to speak to them about the kingdom of God. He tries to convince them about
Jesus, starting from the Scriptures and showing the continuity between the
newness of Christ and the ‘hope of Israel’.”
The Kingdom of God
The Pope continued by saying that, “Paul announces the
kingdom of God and tries to open his interlocutors to faith in Jesus…”
“Since not everyone is convinced, said Pope Francis, “he
denounces the hardening of the heart of God's people, the cause of their
condemnation and celebrates with passion the salvation of nations which show
themselves to be sensitive to God and capable of listening to the word of the
Gospel of life.”
At this point in the narrative, the Pope pointed out, “Luke
concludes his work by showing us not the death of Paul but the dynamism of his
sermon, of a Word that "is not chained".
“Paul does not have the freedom to move but is free to speak
because the Word is not chained - but is a Word ready to be sown with full
hands by the Apostle, he explained.
A Church of welcome
Pope Francis said, that Paul does this "’with all
frankness and without impediment’ in a house where he welcomes those who want
to receive the proclamation of the kingdom of God and to know Christ. This
house open to all hearts in search is the image of the Church which, though
persecuted, misunderstood and chained, never tires of welcoming with a motherly
heart every man and woman to proclaim to them the love of the Father who made
himself visible in Jesus.”
At the end of the Audience, Pope Francis in greetings to
Arabic speaking pilgrims said, "Don't hold back the fear of making
mistakes and fear of taking new paths, because our poverty is not an obstacle,
but a tool…because God's grace loves to manifest itself precisely in
weakness."
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