At noon on October 23, the Holy Father prayed to the Archangel from the window of the Apostolic Palace in the presence of about thirty-five thousand believers. After his reflection on the Gospel, he recalled the World Missions Day, signed up for the youth meeting in Lisbon, remembered the newly blessed, as well as the peoples suffering from various calamities.
Illustrated by a parable, he asked us to examine whether we have the "conceit to think we are righteous" (cf. Lk 18:9), which leads us to despise others.
This is what happens, for example, when we seek praise and constantly list our merits and good deeds, when we worry more about what others think of us than what we are, when we allow ourselves to fall into the trap of narcissism and exhibitionism. said the pope. Let us beware of self-righteous narcissism and exhibitionism, which prompt us, Christians, priests, and bishops, to always have a word on our lips. Which word? "I": "I did this, I wrote that, I said it, I understood it before you", and so on.
Where there is too much self, there is too little God.
Today we celebrate World Missions Day, the theme of which is "You will be my witnesses". This is an important occasion to awaken in all the baptized the desire to participate in the universal mission of the Church by witnessing to the Gospel and proclaiming the Gospel. I encourage everyone to support the missionaries with prayer and concrete solidarity so that they can continue their work of evangelization and the advancement of humanity around the world.
Registration for the World Youth Summit, which will take place in Lisbon in August 2023, opens today. I have invited two Portuguese youths to be here with me when I also apply as a pilgrim. That's what I'm going to do now (clicks on tablet). Yes, I signed up. [He asks the young people standing next to him:] Have you signed up yet? Click! And you, have you registered yet? Click! You are ready! Stay here. Dear young people, I encourage you to sign up for this meeting, at which - after a long period -
we can rediscover the joy of brotherly embrace between peoples and generations, which we need so much!
Yesterday in Madrid, Vicente Nicasio Renuncio Toribio and his eleven companions, members of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, who were killed in Spain in 1936 out of hatred for the faith, were beatified. Let the example of these martyrs of Christ inspire us to be coherent and courageous; may their intercession support all those who are today trying to sow the seeds of the Gospel in the world. Let's applaud the new happy ones!
Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 25, I will go to the Coliseum to pray for peace in Ukraine and the world together with representatives of Christian churches and communities and world religions. Representatives of the world's religions gathered in Rome for a meeting with the motto "Cry for Peace". I encourage you to join spiritually in this great prayer addressed to God: prayer is the power of peace! Let's pray, let's continue to pray for the tormented Ukraine!
And today, when a new government begins its work, let us pray for the unity and peace of Italy!
Source and full article: Magyar Kurír
Featured image: Vatican Media
