“Starting next week, the catechesis for the weekly general audience will also be translated into Chinese.” Pope Francis made this surprise announcement during his greetings to the Italian-speaking faithful, which, as is customary, conclude the Wednesday audience in St Peter’s Square. “And let us not forget the suffering Ukrainian people. They are suffering greatly”, was the Pope’s heartfelt appeal at the end of the audience. “And you, children, young people, think of the children and young Ukrainians who are suffering at this time, without heating, in a very hard, very severe winter”, the request to the group of children and young people who attended the Wednesday audience from the steps of the parvis in St Peter’s Square, at the foot of the podium where the Pope greeted them “in a special way”. “Pray for the Ukrainian children and young people,” he asked. “And let us also pray for peace in the Holy Land: in Palestine, in Israel,” Francis continued: “May there be peace. People are suffering so much. Let us pray together for peace.”
“All of us, without distinction, can and must be charitable, patient, humble workers for peace, and so on. All of us must be charitable, must be patient, must be humble, workers for peace and not war”,
the Pope said in the opening lines for today’s catechesis, devoted to the fruits of the Spirit that “are the result of cooperation between grace and our freedom.” “These fruits always express the creativity of the person, in which faith works through love, sometimes in a surprising and joyful way”, the Pope remarked, dwelling in particular on joy. “Not everyone in the Church can be an apostle, not everyone can be a prophet, not everyone can be an evangelist, but all of us, without distinction, can and must be charitable, patient, humble workers for peace, and so on”, he said.
“With Jesus joy is constantly born anew”,
Francis assured. “There will be sad moments at times, but there is always peace. With Jesus there is joy and peace”, Francis added in unscripted remarks. He explained: “Joy, fruit of the Spirit, has in common with any other human joy a certain feeling of fullness and fulfilment, which makes one wish it would last forever.” “We know from experience, however, that this is not the case, because everything here passes quickly: youth, youthfulness – it passes quickly; health, strength, well-being, friendships, loves… They last a hundred years, but then… no more”, the Pope’s analysis: “Besides, even if these things do not pass quickly, after a while they are no longer enough, or even become boring, because, as Saint Augustine said to God: ‘You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You’”. “There is the restlessness of the heart to seek beauty, peace, love, joy”, he added off-text.
“A true joy is shared with others; it even spreads”,
Bergoglio said recalling the example of Saint Philip Neri, “the saint of joy”, who lived in Rome five centuries ago. He used to say to the poor and abandoned children of his Oratory: “My children, be cheerful; I do not want qualms or melancholy; it is enough for me that you do not sin”. And again: “Be good, if you can!”. “Saint Philip Neri had such love for God that at times it seemed his heart might burst in his chest”, Pope Francis remarked: “His joy was, in the fullest sense, a fruit of the Spirit. The Saint participated in the Jubilee of 1575, which he enriched with the practice, maintained thereafter, of the visit to the Seven Churches. He was, in his time, a true evangelizer through joy.” For the Pope, Saint Philip Neri “had this, like Jesus who always forgave, who forgave everything”, Francis said referring to the “saint of joy.” “Perhaps some of us might think: ‘But I have committed this sin, and this will not be forgiven…’”, he added off-text: “God forgives everything, God always forgives. And this is joy: being forgiven by God. And I always say to priests and confessors: do not ask too many questions; but forgive everything, and always.”
“It cannot be communicated with a long face and sombre countenance,
but with the joy of those who have found the hidden treasure and the precious pearl”, Francis’ recommendation, who recalled Saint Paul’s exhortation to the believers of the Church of Philippi, which he now addresses to us all: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all.” “Dear brothers and sisters, be glad, with the joy of Jesus in our heart”: the Pope’s invitation to the faithful that concludes the catechesis.
