What is the communion of saints? The Pope explains"God works through non-programmable events, 'that' by chance this happened to me," says Pope Francis."God's style is discreet, does not impose itself," says Pope FrancisThis Sunday, December 15, Pope Francis made a significant pastoral visit to the city of AjaccioHe was in Corsica, where he had an intense program of activities. After the official reception at the airport early in the morning, the Pope closed the Congress "Popular Religiosity in the Mediterranean".
At noon he prayed the Angelus in the cathedral and met with bishops, priests, religious and seminarians to offer them words of encouragement in their pastoral mission. After lunch, in the early afternoon he celebrated Holy Mass in the Place d'Austerlitz, an open-air Eucharist where thousands of faithful gathered to accompany the Pope.
Words at the Angelus
Addressing the religious and consecrated men and women in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Pope said: "I am here in your beautiful land for just one day, but I wanted at least a brief moment to meet you and greet you. This gives me the opportunity, first of all, to say thank you. Thank you because you are here, with your dedicated life; thank you for your work, for your daily commitment; thank you for being a sign of God's merciful love and witnesses of the Gospel".
The Holy Father stressed the importance of recognizing fragility as a spiritual strength. In a European context full of challenges for the transmission of the faith, he urged not to lose sight of the central role of God: "Let us not forget this: at the center is the Lord. It is not I who am at the center, but God". He also reminded consecrated men and women of the need to remain in constant discernment and spiritual renewal, stressing that "priestly or religious life is not a 'yes' that we have pronounced once and forever".
The Pope offered two key invitations: "take care of yourselves and take care of others". He insisted on the importance of daily prayer, personal reflection and fraternity among religious as pillars for a solid spiritual life and effective ministry. He also stressed the urgency of finding new pastoral ways to bring the Gospel to hearts in need: "Do not be afraid to change, to revise old patterns, to renew the language of faith.
Closing of the congress
During the congress, it was emphasized that popular piety has the capacity to transmit the faith through simple gestures and symbolic languages, rooted in the culture of the people. Its importance was highlighted in contexts where religious practice is in decline: "Popular piety attracts and involves people who are on the threshold of faith, allowing them to discover in it experience, roots and values useful for life".
However, the risks that can arise were also underlined, such as its reduction to external or folkloric aspects, and a call for pastoral discernment was made: "There is a risk that manifestations of popular piety do not lead to an encounter with Christ; or that they become contaminated with aspects and "fatalistic or superstitious beliefs". Another risk is that popular piety may be used or instrumentalized by groups that seek to strengthen their own identity in a polemical way, feeding particularisms, antagonisms and exclusionary postures or attitudes. All this does not respond to the Christian spirit of popular piety and challenges us all, in particular pastors, to be vigilant, discern and promote a continuous attention to popular forms of religious life".
Secularism without secularism
Another focus of the intervention was the relationship between faith and society. It was emphasized that, in the current context, openness between believers and non-believers is fundamental: "Believers are open to live their faith without imposing it, while non-believers carry in their hearts a great thirst for truth and fundamental values". This dialogue, it was said, is essential to build a "constructive citizenship" that promotes the common good.
A "healthy secularity" was also advocated, as proposed by Benedict XVI, where religion and politics collaborate without instrumentalization or prejudice: "A healthy secularity guarantees that politics does not instrumentalize religion, and that religion can be lived freely without political interference".
