Mission
“The works of mercy are the best remedy in a world that, unfortunately, is affected by the virus of indifference”. Pope Francis said this in his catechesis today, delivered in front of 32,000 faithful, in which he stressed that “it is often the people who are close to us who need our help”. “We do not have to perform extraordinary feats”, Pope Francis said, giving clear indications: “It is better to start with simple gestures, those that the Lord shows us to be the most urgent”. According to Pope Francis, the works of mercy “educate us to be attentive to the most basic needs of the least of our brothers and sisters, in whom Jesus is present”. “To recognise His face in the faces of those who are in need is a real challenge to our indifference”, he continued: “It helps us to be always vigilant, to avoid that Christ passes by without us recognising Him”. Then Pope Francis cited the words of St Augustine: “Timeo Iesum transeuntem”. “I asked myself, why did St Augustine say he feared Jesus passing by?”, the Pope continued: “Unfortunately, the answer is in our behaviour: indeed, we are often distracted, indifferent, and when the Lord passes by in front of us, we miss the opportunity to meet Him”. “I am afraid that when the Lord passes by, I will not recognize Him”, the Pope said, paraphrasing St Augustine off the cuff: “I am afraid that He passes by in front of me, in one of the least of these persons in need, and I do not realise that it is Jesus. I am afraid that the Lord passes by and I do not recognise Him”.
