杏MAP导航

By Lydia O'Kane

鈥淚 would like to say very simply: the joy of the Gospel springs from the encounter with Jesus.鈥�  Those were the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 words on Saturday in the newly restored Hall of Benedictions in the Vatican.

Speaking to participants taking part in this International Meeting organized by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, he said, "We need a free and simple Church, which does not think of looking good, of convenience and of entrances, but outward looking ".

The need to proclaim the Gospel arises spontaneously

鈥淚t is when we encounter the Lord that we are flooded with that love of which he alone is capable鈥�. At that point, 杏MAP导航 Francis went on to say, 鈥渢he need to proclaim the Gospel arises spontaneously and becomes irrepressible.鈥�

鈥淭his is how evangelization began, on Easter morning鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 explained, 鈥渨ith a woman, Mary Magdalene who, after meeting the risen Jesus, the Living One, evangelized the Apostles.鈥�

鈥淭he experience of so many people today is not far from that of Mary of Magdala. Nostalgia for God, for an infinite and true love, is rooted in the heart of every man鈥�, he said.

The 杏MAP导航 stressed that, 鈥渢o live you need the God of love.鈥�  If that love was constantly in our hearts, he added, we would not breathe indifference or be wrapped up in a culture of consumerism.

Those who evangelize, stressed the Pontiff, 鈥渃an never forget that they are always on the road, searching with others.鈥�

Follow new paths

During his address, 杏MAP导航 Francis said we must not 鈥渉old back our fear of making mistakes and our fear of following new paths.鈥�

鈥淥ur poverties are not obstacles鈥�, he commented, 鈥渂ut precious instruments, because God's grace loves to manifest itself in weakness鈥�.

Concluding his speech, the 杏MAP导航 said that the first Christians, who everyone was against and who were persecuted for their faith should be our guide.

We should, 鈥渘ot be saddened by things that are not going well, by labours, by misunderstandings: they are small things in the face of "the sublimity of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord", 杏MAP导航 Francis advised.

鈥淟et us not allow ourselves to be infected by the defeatism according to which everything goes wrong鈥�, but instead, 鈥渓et us invoke its author every day, the Holy Spirit, who makes life a love story with God.鈥�