After his hospital stay at the Gemelli Polyclinic and his gradual recovery, Pope Francis has set his sights on Oceania today, and before the period of rest July, has resumed in the General Audience the cycle of catechesis on the passion for evangelization with the Australian nun St. Mary MacKillop (1842-1909)
"Today we are going to Oceania, a continent made up of many islands, large and small. Faith in Christ, which so many European emigrants brought to those lands, soon took root and bore abundant fruit," he began his catechesis.
The Holy Father explained that the Australian saint Mary MacKillop focused on the realization of numerous charitable works, "such as the foundation of schools and homes for those most in need, particularly in the more rural areas of Australia".
And he gave as an example "their witness of life," which was based "on faith and trust in God's Providence," and on the fact of "patiently bearing the cross, which is an integral part of the mission," the Pope said, stressing that "the saints have had opposition even within the Church."
On one occasion, on the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, the Pope recalled, "Mary said to one of her sisters: 'My daughter, for many years I have learned to love the Cross'".
Mary MacKillop was born near Melbourne to parents who emigrated to Australia from Scotland. "As a child, she felt called by God to serve him and witness to him not only with words, but above all with a life transformed by the presence of God (Evangelii Gaudium, 259)," Francis noted.
"Like Mary Magdalene, who was the first to encounter the risen Jesus and was sent by Him to bring the proclamation to the disciples, Mary was convinced that she too was sent to spread the Good News and draw others to encounter the living God."
Uniting families, schools, society
The Pontiff pointed out that "the apostolate carried out by Maria MacKilllop, based primarily on accompanying people in their human and spiritual growth, is still very much up to date, since we see the need for an educational pact that unites families, schools and the whole of society. We know that this is not easy, even our saint had to face various problems and difficulties.
"Brothers and sisters, the missionary discipleship of St. Mary MacKillop," the Pope stressed, "her creative response to the needs of the Church of her time, her commitment to the integral formation of young people inspire all of us today, called to be leaven of the Gospel in our rapidly changing societies."
"Let us ask the Lord, through the intercession of St. Mary MacKillop and all the saints who dedicated themselves to education, to sustain the daily work of parents and teachers, catechists and formators, for the good of youth and in view of a future of peace and fraternity. May Jesus bless you and the Holy Virgin watch over you", the Holy Father proclaimed.
In his welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims, the Pope made special mention of those from England, Australia, Palestine, the Philippines, Canada and the United States of America. "To all of you and your families I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, God bless you!"
St. Peter and St. Paul, intercessors for Ukraine
In his catechesis in various languages, the Pope recalled the feast of the June 29 in the Church. "Tomorrow we will celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. May the example and protection of these two Apostles sustain each one of us in following Christ," he said.
"To his intercession we commend the dear people of UkraineI hope that it will soon find peace again. There is so much suffering in Ukraine. Let us not forget this. To all my blessing".
Tomorrow, Thursday, the Pope will preside at Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, with the blessing of the pallium for the new metropolitan archbishops, including several from Latin America, such as the new archbishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina), Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva.
The Mass will be attended by new Spanish archbishops. Some of them were able to greet the Holy Father this morning, after the catechesis in St. Peter's Square. They are Archbishop Enrique Benavent of Valencia; Archbishop José María Gil Tamayo of Granada; Archbishop Francisco Jose Prieto of Santiago de Compostela; Archbishop Emilio Rocha OFM of Tangiers; and Archbishop José Cobo, Archbishop-elect of Madrid.
In his catechesis, the Pope stressed, as we have seen above, the importance of the poorest and neediest in the Church. "There is no holiness without, in one way or another, this attention to the poor, to the needy, to those who are on the margins of society," he said.
