杏MAP导航 to Italian Catholics: Always walk together with fraternal love

杏MAP导航

Meeting in the Vatican with a group of parishioners from the Italian city of Rho, in the Archdiocese of Milan, 杏MAP导航 Francis highlights the role of the parish as a community walking together at the service of all and animated by the same love of Christ.

By Lisa Zengarini

鈥淭he world doesn't end with ourselves, and we only really discover it by walking together, day by day.鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis stressed this on Saturday when meeting in the Vatican with some 2,000 pilgrims from two parishes of the northern Italian city of Rho, in the Archdiocese of Milan. The group was accompanied by the parish priest, Fr. Michele Di Tolve, whom the 杏MAP导航 has known personally since his days as a cardinal.

Walking together as brothers and sisters

Noting that their parishes bring together 鈥渄ifferent and complementary generations, backgrounds, services and gifts,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis reminded the Italian parishioners that the 鈥渞ichness of this variety and communion鈥� is the essence of the Church and 鈥渢he most powerful means鈥� by which the Gospel can be proclaimed, 鈥渆ven before uttering any word.鈥�

鈥淭he Church is a body made up of many members, all at the service of one another and all animated by the same love: that of Christ. And when the Church is not like that, it falls into worldliness, it falls into clericalism, which is a very bad thing.鈥�

He emphasized the importance of walking together as brothers and sisters, 鈥渂ecause fraternity makes people freer and happier.鈥�

The parish is blessed place where we go to feel loved

This is why, said the 杏MAP导航, the parish community is so important, 鈥漛ecause it is the place where, in following Jesus, we meet, get to know each other, enrich one another, it's people of different generations and from different cultural and social backgrounds, all with something unique to give and to receive.鈥�

It is 鈥渂lessed place where we go to feel loved鈥�, where we can share our burdens, but also positive things.

When we forget this, 杏MAP导航 Francis remarked, 鈥渢he horizon shrinks and we all feel more alone鈥�, as we can see in our cities.

Welcoming and respecting differences

鈥淟oving鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 further explained, 鈥渕eans 鈥榳idening the circle鈥�, building unity in trust and acceptance, working together and always seeking common points and opportunities to form community, rather than reasons for division.鈥�

Parishes should always 鈥渞espect differences鈥� and be welcoming, he insisted.

"People never tire of asking and calling, and we must never get tired of opening our doors and windows," he reminded priests. "You are a priest for this reason, you are in the parish circle for this reason: to open doors, to open windows, to always welcome with a smile. (鈥�) This is what the pastoral care of a parish is all about."

The 杏MAP导航 went on to renew his warnings against gossip, which he said is a 鈥済reat enemy鈥� in parishes, as everywhere else. "Gossip kills,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is plague that ruins parishes, families and many things."

Dialogue between generations

Wrapping up his address, 杏MAP导航 Francis thanked the community of Rho for keeping alive the spiritual legacy of St. Charles Borromeo, the Archbishop of Milan who played a vital role in the 16th century plague outbreak and in the Counter-Reformation in Italy.

He encouraged the elders to continue passing on the tradition they received from past generations, enriched by their commitment and testimony, and young people to talk with their elders, so they can 鈥渞eceive strength鈥� from them while looking ahead to new horizons.

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