Pope Francis says "And please, let's continue to pray for the martyred Ukraine... and also for Palestine and Israel, may there be peace, so that the dialogue is strengthened.." and Wishes Orthodox a Happy Easter - FULL TEXT
At 12 noon today, the VI Sunday of Easter, the Holy Father Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Regina Caeli with the approximately 20 thousand faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.
These are the words of the Pope in introducing the Marian prayer:
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today the Gospel tells us about Jesus who says to the Apostles: "I no longer call you servants, but friends" (see John 15:15). What does this mean?
In the Bible, the "servants" of God are special people, to whom He entrusts important missions, such as Moses (see Exodus 14.31), King David (see 2 Sam 7.8), the prophet Elijah (see 1 Kings 18.36), up to the Virgin Mary (see Luke 1.38). They are people into whose hands God places his treasures (see Mt 25:21).
But all this is not enough, according to Jesus, to say who we are for Him, it is not enough, we need more, something greater, which goes beyond goods and projects themselves: we need friendship.
Since we are children we learn how beautiful this experience is: we offer our friends our toys and the most beautiful gifts; then as we grow up, as teenagers, we confide our first secrets to them; when we are young we offer loyalty; as adults we share satisfactions and worries; as old people we share memories, considerations and silences of long days. The Word of God, in the Book of Proverbs, tells us that "perfume and incense cheer the heart, and the advice of a friend softens the soul" (27.9). Let's think for a moment about our friends, and thank the Lord for them! A space to think about them…
Friendship is not the result of calculation, nor of coercion: it arises spontaneously when we recognize something of ourselves in the other. And, if it is true, the friendship is so strong that it does not fail even in the face of betrayal. “A friend always loves you” (Pr 17,17) – the Book of Proverbs states again –, as Jesus shows us when he says to Judas, who betrays him with a kiss: “Friend, that's why you are here!” (Mt 26.50). A true friend doesn't abandon you, even when you make a mistake: he corrects you, maybe scolds you, but he forgives you and doesn't abandon you.
And today Jesus, in the Gospel, tells us that we are precisely this for him, friends: dear people beyond all merit and all expectations, to whom he extends his hand and offers his love, his grace, his Word; with whom - with us, friends - he shares what he holds most dear, everything he has heard from the Father (see John 15:15). To the point of becoming fragile for us, of putting himself in our hands without defenses and without pretensions, because he loves us. The Lord loves us, as a friend he wants our good and wants us to share in him.
So let's ask ourselves: what face does the Lord have for me? The face of a friend or a stranger? Do I feel loved by Him like a loved one? And what is the face of Jesus that I witness to others, especially to those who make mistakes and need forgiveness?
May Mary help us to grow in friendship with her Son and to spread it around us.
___________________
AFTER REGINA CAELI
Dear brothers and sisters!
I send my best wishes with great affection to the brothers and sisters of the Orthodox Churches and some Eastern Catholic Churches who today, according to the Julian calendar, celebrate Holy Easter. May the risen Lord fill all communities with joy and peace, and comfort those who are in trial. To them, Happy Easter!
I assure you of my prayers for the populations of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, affected by major floods. May the Lord welcome the deceased and comfort the family members and those who have had to leave their homes.
I greet the faithful of Rome and of different parts of Italy and the world, in particular the pilgrims coming from Texas, the archdiocese of Chicago and Berlin; the students of the Saint-Jean de Passy School in Paris and the Human Life International group. I greet the young people of Certaldo and Lainate; the faithful of Ancona and Rossano Cariati; the children of the Confirmation of Cassano D'Adda, of the pastoral unit of Tesino and of the parish of S. Maria del Rosario in Rome. And I greet and thank the musical bands from various parts of Italy: thanks to you, who played so well, and I hope you continue to play a little. Thank you! I greet the “Francigeni Monteviale” group; as well as the citizens of Livorno and Collesalvetti, who have long been waiting for the cleanup of the most polluted areas, let us pray for them.
I address a warm greeting to the new Swiss Guards and their families, on the occasion of the celebration of this historic and meritorious Corps. A round of applause for the Swiss Guards!
I welcome the "Meter" Association with pleasure, committed to combating all forms of child abuse. Thank you, thank you for your commitment! And continue your important work with courage.
These are the words of the Pope in introducing the Marian prayer:
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today the Gospel tells us about Jesus who says to the Apostles: "I no longer call you servants, but friends" (see John 15:15). What does this mean?
In the Bible, the "servants" of God are special people, to whom He entrusts important missions, such as Moses (see Exodus 14.31), King David (see 2 Sam 7.8), the prophet Elijah (see 1 Kings 18.36), up to the Virgin Mary (see Luke 1.38). They are people into whose hands God places his treasures (see Mt 25:21).
But all this is not enough, according to Jesus, to say who we are for Him, it is not enough, we need more, something greater, which goes beyond goods and projects themselves: we need friendship.
Since we are children we learn how beautiful this experience is: we offer our friends our toys and the most beautiful gifts; then as we grow up, as teenagers, we confide our first secrets to them; when we are young we offer loyalty; as adults we share satisfactions and worries; as old people we share memories, considerations and silences of long days. The Word of God, in the Book of Proverbs, tells us that "perfume and incense cheer the heart, and the advice of a friend softens the soul" (27.9). Let's think for a moment about our friends, and thank the Lord for them! A space to think about them…
Friendship is not the result of calculation, nor of coercion: it arises spontaneously when we recognize something of ourselves in the other. And, if it is true, the friendship is so strong that it does not fail even in the face of betrayal. “A friend always loves you” (Pr 17,17) – the Book of Proverbs states again –, as Jesus shows us when he says to Judas, who betrays him with a kiss: “Friend, that's why you are here!” (Mt 26.50). A true friend doesn't abandon you, even when you make a mistake: he corrects you, maybe scolds you, but he forgives you and doesn't abandon you.
And today Jesus, in the Gospel, tells us that we are precisely this for him, friends: dear people beyond all merit and all expectations, to whom he extends his hand and offers his love, his grace, his Word; with whom - with us, friends - he shares what he holds most dear, everything he has heard from the Father (see John 15:15). To the point of becoming fragile for us, of putting himself in our hands without defenses and without pretensions, because he loves us. The Lord loves us, as a friend he wants our good and wants us to share in him.
So let's ask ourselves: what face does the Lord have for me? The face of a friend or a stranger? Do I feel loved by Him like a loved one? And what is the face of Jesus that I witness to others, especially to those who make mistakes and need forgiveness?
May Mary help us to grow in friendship with her Son and to spread it around us.
___________________
AFTER REGINA CAELI
Dear brothers and sisters!
I send my best wishes with great affection to the brothers and sisters of the Orthodox Churches and some Eastern Catholic Churches who today, according to the Julian calendar, celebrate Holy Easter. May the risen Lord fill all communities with joy and peace, and comfort those who are in trial. To them, Happy Easter!
I assure you of my prayers for the populations of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, affected by major floods. May the Lord welcome the deceased and comfort the family members and those who have had to leave their homes.
I greet the faithful of Rome and of different parts of Italy and the world, in particular the pilgrims coming from Texas, the archdiocese of Chicago and Berlin; the students of the Saint-Jean de Passy School in Paris and the Human Life International group. I greet the young people of Certaldo and Lainate; the faithful of Ancona and Rossano Cariati; the children of the Confirmation of Cassano D'Adda, of the pastoral unit of Tesino and of the parish of S. Maria del Rosario in Rome. And I greet and thank the musical bands from various parts of Italy: thanks to you, who played so well, and I hope you continue to play a little. Thank you! I greet the “Francigeni Monteviale” group; as well as the citizens of Livorno and Collesalvetti, who have long been waiting for the cleanup of the most polluted areas, let us pray for them.
I address a warm greeting to the new Swiss Guards and their families, on the occasion of the celebration of this historic and meritorious Corps. A round of applause for the Swiss Guards!
I welcome the "Meter" Association with pleasure, committed to combating all forms of child abuse. Thank you, thank you for your commitment! And continue your important work with courage.
And please, let's continue to pray for the tormented Ukraine – it suffers so much! – and also for Palestine and Israel, may there be peace, so that the dialogue is strengthened and bears good fruit. No to war, yes to dialogue!
I wish everyone a good Sunday. Please don't forget to pray for me. I greet the boys of the Immaculate Conception, so good. Have a nice lunch and see you!
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