杏MAP导航 to CHARIS: May we bring an end to the pandemic of poverty
By Vatican News
In his video message to CHARIS, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted that the Holy Spirit, promised to us by Jesus, 鈥渃omes to renew, to convert, to heal each one of us鈥.
CHARIS was created by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life in 2018 to foster unity and communication between the different Catholic charismatic realities.
No one saves themselves
The Holy Spirit 鈥渃omes to heal our wounds鈥, continued the 杏MAP导航, including the wounds we inflict on each other. 鈥淗e comes to transform us" into courageous "missionary disciples" in order to preach the Gospel of Jesus, he said.
Today we need the Holy Spirit 鈥渕ore than ever鈥, continued the 杏MAP导航. We live in a suffering world, he explained, one that is 鈥渟everely wounded鈥. This suffering is felt especially by the poorest of our society. 鈥淣ow that all our human security has vanished鈥, the world needs Jesus, made present through our witness, said the 杏MAP导航.
The 杏MAP导航 continued by saying that in order to bear witness we 鈥渘eed the power of the Holy Spirit鈥 to open minds and hearts to the lessons we have learned through this pandemic. That lesson, he said, is that we are one people, and alone we cannot save ourselves.
A more Christian, equitable society
杏MAP导航 Francis warned, however, that when we come out of this pandemic we will not be able to pick things up where we left them, as we left them, because 鈥渆verything will be different鈥.
鈥淎ll this suffering will be of no use if we don't build a more just, fair, more Christian society, together鈥 said the 杏MAP导航.
If we do not work to put an end to the pandemic of poverty in the world, in each of our countries, in each of our cities, 鈥渢his time will have been in vain鈥, he said.
None of us can emerge from the great trials facing humanity 鈥 one of which is the current pandemic 鈥 the same as we were before. 鈥淲e come out of them either better or worse鈥, said the 杏MAP导航. He then asked: 鈥淒o you want to come out of it better or worse?鈥.
杏MAP导航 Francis said it is for this reason that we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit today 鈥 鈥渟o that He may change our hearts and help us to come out of this better鈥.
Helped by the Holy Spirit
Being better means experiencing what Jesus meant when He says: "I was hungry and you gave me to eat鈥. This task is entrusted to everyone, even CHARIS, which represents all the charismatics who are invited to be faithful to the call of the Holy Spirit, said the 杏MAP导航.
杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by recalling the prophetic words 杏MAP导航 St. John XXIII used to announce the Second Vatican Council, which the Charismatic Renewal treasures: 鈥淩enew your wonders in our time as though through a new Pentecost".
Finally, the 杏MAP导航 reiterated his wish to receive the power of the Holy Spirit on the vigil of Pentecost. 鈥淢ay we emerge from this moment of pain, sadness and trial that is the pandemic; to come out better than before.鈥
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