Pope Francis in General Audience: The Church has no frontiers, she is the mother of all

Published on Aug 7, 2019

After a month without a General Audience, pilgrims were eager to see the pope again, and Pope Francis did not disappoint. He spent a long time greeting people before beginning the catechesis. It was also the 280th General Audience of Pope Francis’ pontificate.

The pope resumed his catechesis series on the Acts of the Apostles. He spoke about the first miracle performed by Peter and John, the healing of a poor, paralyzed man at the door of the temple. Pope Francis explained that not only do they help this excluded person walk again, but they offer him something more.

POPE FRANCIS
The apostles established a relationship, because this is the way in which God loves to manifest Himself. This is through a relationship, always though dialogue, always through presence, always with the inspiration of the heart. These are God’s relationships with us through a real encounter between people that can only happen through love.

For this reason, the pope lamented how many parishes are more concerned about issues that have nothing to do with fulfilling their authentic mission.

POPE FRANCIS
How often I think about this when I see parishes that think money is more important than the Sacraments. Please, a poor Church. Let us ask the Lord.

Pope Francis stressed how the apostles did not give anything material to the beggar. However, they helped him to regain his dignity, thus reflecting how the Church accompanies the needy.

POPE FRANCIS
Here appears the portrait of the Church, which sees those in difficulty. The Church does not close its eyes, She knows how to look humanity in the face and to create meaningful relationships, bridges of friendship and solidarity instead of barriers. The face of ‘a Church without frontiers that feels like the mother of all,’ that knows how to take one’s hand and to lift them up, not to condemn. Jesus always, always holds out His hand. He always tries to console.

Finally, the pope recalled that in order to approach other people, the Christian must not place his trust only in the means, but in the true richness that is the relationship with Christ.

Pope in General Audience: Church is called to look for those in need and lift them up

Published on Aug 7, 2019

In his weekly General Audience, Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles. This week he focused on the first account of healing in the Acts.

The pope said the lame man Peter and John encounter represents “the excluded and discarded members of society.” He added instead of offering silver and gold to the beggar they give him the “greatest gift of all: the salvation to be found in Jesus Christ.”

Pope Francis noted how the two Apostles create a relationship with the beggar. He said this is how “God desires to reveal himself: through a loving encounter between people.”

The pope concluded by stressing how the lame man is an image of the resurrection and the importance to look for those in need and lift them up. Pope Francis invited everyone to recognize their own need for “that greatest treasure, which is our relationship with the Risen Lord.”

SUMMARY OF POPE’S CATECHESIS

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 In our continuing catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles, we now see how the Apostles preached the Gospel of salvation not only in words but in concrete actions.

The first account of healing in Acts bears witness to this. Peter and John encounter a man born lame at the entrance to the Temple. This poor beggar, who represents the excluded and discarded members of society, is looking for alms. The two Apostles fix their gaze on him, inviting him to a different way of seeing things. They offer him not silver or gold, but the greatest gift of all: the salvation to be found in Jesus Christ.

They create a relationship with him, for this is how God desires to reveal himself: through a loving encounter between people.

Saint John Chrysostom saw in this act of raising up a lame person an image of the resurrection. It is also an image of the Church, called to look for those in need and to lift them up.

As we also strive to help others, let us, like Peter and John, always recognize our own need for that greatest treasure, which is our relationship with the Risen Lord.

© Vatican Media

Pope Francis Resumes Wednesday General Audiences, Continues Catechesis on Acts of Apostles

A Special Greeting for English Speakers

AUGUST 07, 2019 15:55 BY JIM FAIR