杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Francis on Wednesday held his first General Audience since sweeping measures were imposed throughout Italy to contain the coronavirus epidemic. The Audience was livestreamed from the Library of the Apostolic Palace, to avoid the large gatherings of people that typically fill St Peter鈥檚 Square to hear the Holy Father.

An inner longing for God

In his catechesis, the Holy Father reflected on the fourth beatitude, 鈥淏lessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied鈥�. The words 鈥渉unger and thirst鈥� speak to 鈥渃rucial, daily needs鈥�; while the term 鈥渏ustice鈥� refers to 鈥渁 thirst in the heart of human beings, an inner thirst, an inner hunger, an inner restlessness for God鈥�.

This longing is found even 鈥渋n those who are most corrupt, and furthest from goodness鈥�, even if it is hidden 鈥渦nder the ruins of deception and error鈥�. It is the Holy Spirit, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, that keeps up this longing within us: 鈥淗e is the living water鈥� that shaped the dust from which we were made; the 鈥渃reating breath that has given us life鈥�.

Humanity needs the Good News of Jesus

And it is for this reason that the Church was commissioned to proclaim God鈥檚 Word: because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest justice that can be offered to the heart of humanity, which has a vital need for it鈥�, even if humanity does not always realize it.

鈥淓very person鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渋s called to rediscover what really matters, what they truly need, what allows them to live well鈥�, and, on the contrary, 鈥渨hat is of secondary importance, and what they can safely do without鈥�.

In this beatitude, 鈥淛esus proclaims鈥� that there is a thirst that cannot be disappointed; a thirst that, if indulged, will be satisfied and will always succeed, because it corresponds to the very heart of God鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

Prayer for the sick

Following his catechesis, 杏MAP导航 Francis offered words of closeness and consolation to those afflicted by Covid-19, but also to those suffering from other ailments. He thanked all those who are assisting them, especially Christians 鈥渁nd men and women of goodwill, who are praying - united together, no matter the religious tradition to which they belong".

But, he added, 鈥淚 would not want this suffering, this very serious epidemic, to make us forget the poor Syrian people, who are suffering on the border between Greece and Turkey: a people who have suffered for years鈥� Let us not forget our brothers and sisters, including so many children, who are suffering there.鈥�