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Pope reflects on Christian hope; meets Golden Circus performers


Pope with artists from Golden Circus

Pope with artists from Golden Circus

Pope Francis returned to the theme of 'Christian hope' in his catechesis today, during the General Audience in the Paul VI Hall.

Focussing on the figure of Abram, who became Abraham, our "father in faith and in hope," Pope Francis said St Paul pointed to Abram "to indicate the way of faith and of hope." Abram's confidence in God's promise to give him a son was truly a hope "against every hope", precisely because he and his wife Sara were old. But Abram believed, and his faith gave way to a new hope, a hope which, to all appearances was unreasonable.

His hope "opens new horizons, making him capable of dreaming what is unimaginable." Hope, the Holy Father said, allows us "to enter into the darkness of an uncertain future to journey in the light."

It is a difficult journey, though, the Pope said. Even Abram had moments of crisis and discouragement. In the Gospel passage where Abram questions God at night, in his heart there is the darkness of disappointment, of discouragement. Even though he spoke familiarly with God, Abram in these moments felt alone, old and tired, with death on his doorstep.

But Pope Francis said, this moment of questioning by Abram is a form of faith. Despite his disappointment, Abram continued to believe in God - or else why would he complain to Him? Faith, the Pope said, "is not only silence that accepts everything without reply, hope is not a certainty that makes you secure from doubts and perplexity." Faith can also be "struggling with God, showing our bitterness without 'pious' fictions." And hope, he continued, "is also not being afraid to see reality for what it is and to accept the contradictions."

The sign that God gives to Abram: "Look at the heavens and count the stars... just so will your descendants be" - is "a call to continue to believe and to hope." To believe, the Pope concluded, "it is necessary to know how to see with the eyes of faith: They are only stars, which everyone can see, but for Abram they have to become the sign of the faithfulness of God."

This, Pope Francis said, is the journey of hope that each one of us must walk.

Among the guests at today's audience was a group of performers from the Golden Circus. Now in its 33rd year, the Golden Circus Festival is a regular feature of Roman life over the Christmas holidays.

Source: Vatican Radio/Facebook

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