Pope Francis: God is a father, who will never abandon us

At the weekly General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis spoke on “The Fatherhood of God: the Wellspring of our Hope.” He was continuing his series of catechetical instruction on Christian Hope.

Pope Francis’ catechesis focused on the most important Christian prayer, the Our Father. “The whole mystery of Christian prayer,” he said, “is summed up here, in having the courage to call God Father.”

The ability to call God Father, the Pope said, is not insignificant. It would be normal for humans to invoke God using the highest titles, on account of His infinite greatness; instead, the use of the word “Father” puts us “in a relationship of trust with Him, as a child who turns to his dad, knowing he is loved and cared for by him.” The mystery of God’s transcendence always fascinates us, and makes us feel small, but, he said, we are no longer afraid, we do not feel crushed or anguished.

God is a Father, the Pope continued, but he is not like human fathers; instead, Jesus offers the parable of the prodigal son, where the father welcomes his child with forgiveness and love. That, he says, is perhaps why St Paul, when referring to this mystery, prefers not to translate the term “abba,” which is more intimate than father, and might better be translated as “papa” or “daddy.”

“Dear brothers and sisters,” Pope Francis said, “we are never alone.” Even when we are distant or even hostile to God, even when we might claim to be “without God,” God the Father does not remain distant from us: “He will never be a God ‘without man.’” This providential plan of God is a great mystery. Whatever our needs, whatever our problems, the Pope reminded us that God is our Father, who is always watching over us with love, a Father who will never abandon us.”

Pope Francis concluded the audience by asking those in St Peter’s Square to think about their necessities, their problems, and to turn to God in confidence and hope, before leading them in the recitation of the Our Father.

During the General Audience Pope Francis blessed an altar destined for a Marian sanctuary in South Korea. The ‘Adoratio Domini in unitate et pace’ will be placed in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary in Namyang, South Korea.

Mentioning the altar in his greetings to Polish pilgrims, he said the request for his blessing of the altar was made by the Queen of Peace Community Association in Radom, Poland. The association is setting up 12 centres for Eucharistic Adoration and perpetual prayer for peace in 'hotspots' around the world.

The Pope said the group drew its inspiration for the Adoration centres from the ’12 stars in the crown of Mary, Queen of Peace.’

Pope Francis also appealed for the One Minute for Peace initiative - see: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/32758