Pope Francis: Love the world that persecutes you

Wednesday's Audience - screenshot

Source: Vatican News

During his General Audience on Wednesday, streamed from the Library of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis focused on the last of the Beatitudes: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

The Holy Father noted that the happiness promised in this final Beatitude is the same as that of the first: the Kingdom of Heaven. "Thus we understand that we have arrived at the end of a unified journey" that gradually unfolded as Christ proclaimed each succeeding Beatitude, the Pope explained. "The Path of the Beatitudes is an Easter journey that leads from a life according to the world to a life according to God."

This path however, cannot be approved by "the world, with its idols, its compromises, and its priorities," the Pope said. The all-too-human "structures of sin" that we find in the world can only reject the Gospel values of poverty, or meekness, or purity, "and declare that a life lived according to the Gospel is an error and a problem."

So, the Pope said, when the world sees people living the beatitudes, there is discomfort that calls for a decision: either to be open to discussion and goodness; or "to refuse that light and harden the heart, even to the point of opposition and rage."

This shows "the drama of persecution," he said, but also reveals "the place of liberation from subjugation to success, vainglory, and the compromises of the world".

Those who reject the trappings of worldliness because of Christ are happy and blessed, Pope Francis said, "because they have found something more valuable than the whole world.

The Holy Father once more noted, with sorrow, the ongoing persecution of Christians, which is greater now than it was even in the early centuries of Christianity. He said: "we must hope and pray that their tribulation will be ended as soon as possible," and urged Christians to express their closeness to their persecuted brothers and sisters, "the bleeding members of the Body of Christ, which is the Church.

He warned though, that hearing the final Beatitude should not lead to a self-pitying attitude, or a victim mentality. When Christians are despised by others, it is not always synonymous with persecution. Sometimes we are at fault, he said, because "we have lost the taste of Christ and of the Gospel."

Pointing to the example of St Paul, Pope Francis noted that when Paul thought he was righteous, he was in fact a persecutor. It was only after he realized that he was such that he converted, and became "a man of love, who faced gladly the persecution he suffered".

Pope Francis concluded by saying that facing exclusion and persecution, "if God grants us the grace, will make our lives resemble the life of Christ, Who for our sake was "despised and rejected by men." Accepting Christ's Spirit in our lives can lead us to truly love the world, even to the point of offering our lives, "without compromising with its deceptions, and even accepting its rejection" of us. This, said Pope Francis, "is the life of the Kingdom of Heaven, the greatest joy, and true happiness."

In his greetings in various languages at the end of the General Audience, Pope Francis recalled once again, as he had done earlier at his morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, that Wednesday is the feast of Saint Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church and one of the patrons of Italy and of Europe.

The Holy Father noted that this "courageous young woman" did not hesitate to appeal to civil and religious leaders. She called them to action and at times even rebuked them. Pope Francis mentioned in particular her work to bring peace to Italy, and to call for the Pope's return to Rome from Avignon.

"May her example help everyone understand how to be united, with Christian consistency, an intense love for the Church with an effective solicitude for the civil community, especially in this time of trial," the Pope said. "I ask St Catherine to protect Italy during this pandemic, and to protect Europe, because she is the Patroness of Europe; to protect the whole of Europe so that it may remain united."

Pope Francis also noted the upcoming feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, which occurs this Friday, 1 May. "Through his intercession I entrust to the mercy of God all those who have been struck by unemployment because of the current pandemic." The Holy Father prayed, "May the Lord be the Providence of all those in need, and encourage us to help them."

The Pope went on to encourage everyone to pray the Rosary, especially during the month of May - the subject of Letter he had addressed to all the faithful just a few days earlier.

In his greetings to the faithful who speak Polish, the Holy Father said that now, when so many people are called to remain in their homes, it is a good opportunity "to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary, and the tradition of Marian devotions."

He concluded, calling on everyone "to fix your gaze in every moment on the Face of Christ, and on the heart of Mary…May her maternal intercession help you to face this time of particular trial."

Watch the General Audience on the Vatican Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfzvxUj02wk