On the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, the Holy Father Francis said before the recitation of the Marian prayer for the Regina Caelithat "Jesus in heaven 'works', so to speak, as our advocate before the Father", and that "he is always alive to intercede on our behalf", "he has not left us alone, as the Gospel says today: 'I am with you always, even to the end of the age'".
In addition, after the Regina Caeli, the Pope asked that "please, let us not become accustomed to conflicts and violence. let us not become accustomed to wars. And let us continue to be close to the martyred Ukrainian people".
The Holy See Press Office has confirmed that Pope Francis has entrusted Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Bishops' Conference, with the task of "directing a missionAccording to the Secretariat of State, to help ease tensions in the Ukrainian conflict, in the hope, which the Holy Father never renounces, that in this way ways of peace can be initiated". "The timetable for this mission and its modalities are currently being studied," the note adds.
Before referring to Ukraine, the Pontiff had alluded to Sudan. "It is sad," but a month after the outbreak of violence in this African country, "the situation continues to be grave. In encouraging the partial agreements reached so far, I renew my heartfelt appeal for the laying down of arms, and I ask the international community to spare no effort to make dialogue prevail and alleviate the suffering of the population," he said.
"Speaking from the heart."
"Today we celebrate the World Communications Day. whose motto is 'Speaking from the heart'.", the Pope also added. "It is the heart that moves us to speak with open and welcoming communication. I greet the journalists and communications workers who are present here, I thank them for their work and I hope that they will always be at the service of the truth and the common good. A round of applause to all journalists", Francis asked.
The Pope also referred to the beginning of "Laudato Si' Week. I thank the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development for its work, and the many organizations present, and I invite everyone to collaborate for the care of the common home. There is much need to unite skills and creativity!"
The Pope sent a message of "closeness of heart" to the region of Emilia Romagna, which has suffered "the recent calamity of the floods, and informed that "now in the Square will be distributed booklets on Laudato si', prepared by the Dicastery, in collaboration with the Environmental Institute of Stockholm".
Pope Francis greeted all the Romans and pilgrims from Italy and from different countries. "I particularly thank the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth from Indonesia, the faithful from Malta, from Mali, from Argentina, from the Caribbean island of Curacao, and the Musical Band of Puerto Rico. We would like to listen to them later!" he said. The Pope also greeted the Confirmation boys of Genoa, whom he saw yesterday with the red cap in Santa Marta, various Italian parish groups, and associations committed to the defense of human life, various youth choirs and the boys of the Immaculate Conception. And don't forget to pray for me," he reiterated, as he always does.
"With Ascension, something new and beautiful."
"Today in Italy and in many other countries the Ascension of the Lord is being celebrated," the Pope began his address. "It is a feast we know well, but it may raise some questions, at least two. The first: why celebrate Jesus' departure from earth - his farewell would seem like a sad moment, not something to be joyful about! And a second question: what is Jesus doing in heaven now, why is it important for him to be there? Why do we celebrate and what is Jesus doing now in heaven: these are the two questions that help us understand what we celebrate."
To the first question, the Holy Father answered: "Why do we celebrate? Because with the Ascension something new and beautiful happened: Jesus took our humanity to heaven, that is, to God. That humanity, which he had taken on earth, has not remained here, it has gone up to God and will be there forever. From the day of the Ascension God himself, we could say, has 'changed': since then he is no longer only spirit, but for all that he loves us he carries in himself our very flesh, our humanity! The place that awaits us is indicated, our destiny is there. Today we celebrate "the conquest of heaven": Jesus returns to the Father, but with our humanity. And so heaven is already a little bit ours. Jesus has opened the door and his body is there".
Intercede to God for the people we know
In relation to "the second question: what is Jesus doing in heaven?", this was, in synthesis, his meditation: "He is for us before the Father, he continually shows him our humanity, the wounds he has suffered for us; he 'works', so to speak, as our advocate before the Father (cf. 1 Jn. 2:1). That is why he has not left us alone. In fact, before ascending, he told us, as the Gospel says today: 'I am with you always, to the close of the age' (Mt 28:20)".
Jesus "is always with us, he is 'always alive to intercede' (Heb. 7:25) on our behalf. In a word, therefore, he intercedes; he is in the best 'place', before his Father and ours, to intercede for us. And therefore, he waits for us to present to him situations, problems, people, but also miseries and sins, to obtain forgiveness and mercy, and to send upon us his love and that of the Father, the Holy Spirit.
"Intercession is fundamental"; the Holy Father stressed. "That is why Jesus in today's Gospel also asks us to work, to be industrious, to "baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (cf. Mt 28:19). So let us ask ourselves: do I intercede, do I 'immerse' in God the people I meet, those who entrust me with their problems, those who are going through difficult times? Do I become an intercessor for them before Jesus, who awaits my prayer to give his Spirit to those I present to him? Do I bring to the Lord my labors, but also those of the Church and the world? May the Queen of Heaven help us to intercede with the power of prayer.
