杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

Catholics in Bulgaria make up about one per cent of the population, in an overwhelmingly Orthodox nation. Around ten thousand faithful gathered in the predominantly Catholic town of Rakovski, in southern Bulgaria, on Monday afternoon to see and hear 杏MAP导航 Francis speak to them about a theme very close to his heart: seeing with the eyes of faith.

God gets involved

鈥淕od鈥檚 people learn to see鈥�and be guided by the power of the resurrection鈥�, began the 杏MAP导航. While recognizing there will always be pain and injustice, they do not 鈥渟hrink back in fear鈥�, but courageously 鈥渢ake the first step in finding creative ways of directly testifying that Love is not dead鈥�. The People of God get involved, said the 杏MAP导航, because, in Jesus, 鈥淕od Himself gets involved鈥�.

God not worried about details

杏MAP导航 Francis shared his experience of visiting a refugee camp earlier in the morning. He spoke of how every person there is recognized as a child of God, regardless of ethnicity or religious confession, and how there is 鈥渘o need to ask for a curriculum vitae鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 said he met many Christians 鈥渨ho have learned to see with God鈥檚 own eyes鈥�, a God who is not worried about details.  

God is not a pessimist

杏MAP导航 Francis continued with a quote by 杏MAP导航 Saint John XXIII: 鈥淚 never met a pessimist who managed to do something good鈥�. The Lord is the first not to be pessimistic. Seeing with the eyes of faith means not spending your life 鈥減inning labels鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. Rather, we should try to create conditions 鈥渋n which every person can feel loved鈥�.

Living for others

杏MAP导航 Francis then commented on the three testimonies that preceded the afternoon encounter. After a family told him how their parish was a second home where they found strength and support, the 杏MAP导航 confirmed that every parish should be 鈥渁 home in the midst of homes鈥�. After a priest described how it is people who help him become a good minister of God, the 杏MAP导航 said 鈥渁 priest without his people loses his identity鈥�.

A home with open doors

Responding to the testimony of a woman religious, 杏MAP导航 Francis spoke of the 鈥淐hurch that is a Mother鈥�. She does not offer 鈥渞eady-made answers鈥�, he said, but 鈥渕akes her children鈥檚 problems her own鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 described the Church as 鈥渁 family among families鈥�open to faith, hope and love for the Lord. A home with open doors鈥�.

Facing challenges

杏MAP导航 Francis invited Bulgaria鈥檚 Catholic community to be 鈥渂old and creative鈥�, and to find ways to touch the hearts of young people, especially, supporting and accompanying them through 鈥渘ew and imaginative efforts in our pastoral outreach鈥�.

鈥淟et us not be afraid to meet new challenges鈥�, concluded the 杏MAP导航. Just make sure that everyone has 鈥渁 community of faith to support them鈥�, and 鈥渁lways listen with one ear to the Gospel and the other to the heart of your people鈥�.