Vatican: Pope Francis affirms that true power lies in caring for the weakest

Pope Francis affirmed that “true power lies in caring for the weakest,” during his reflection prior to praying the Angelus this Sunday, September 22, in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

This was indicated by the Holy Father when meditating on today’s Gospel (Mk 9:30-37), in which Jesus announces that he will be handed over and die, but then will be resurrected, and in which the disciples discuss who was the greatest among they.

After pointing out that when asked by the Lord about what the disciples were talking about, “they remained silent out of shame,” Pope Francis highlighted the “contrast with the words of the Lord. While Jesus entrusted them with the meaning of his own life, they spoke of power. And so now shame closes their mouths, as before pride had closed their hearts.”

Jesus, the Pope continued, tells them that to be first it is necessary to be last and servant of all: “Do you want to be great? “Become small, put yourself at the service of everyone.”

“With a word as simple as it is decisive, Jesus renews our way of living. He teaches us that true power is not in the dominion of the strongest, but in the care of the weakest. True power lies in taking care of the weakest. This makes you great”.

Francis then said that Jesus calls a child and tells his disciples that whoever welcomes a child welcomes Him.

“We, all of us, are alive because we have been welcomed, but power makes us forget this truth: You are alive because you have been welcomed. Then we become dominators, not servants, and the first to suffer are precisely the last: the small, the weak, the poor,” Pope Francis continued.

“Brothers and sisters, how many people, how many, suffer and die because of power struggles! They are lives that the world rejects, as it rejected Jesus, those that do not go in there and die.”

Faced with this reality, the Holy Father encouraged us to ask ourselves: “Do I know how to recognize the face of Jesus in the little ones? Do I care for my neighbor, serving with generosity? And do I thank those who take care of me? Let us pray together to Mary, to be like her free from vainglory and prepared to serve.”

Full text of the Angelus of Pope Francis for Sunday, September 22, 2024

Dear brothers and sisters, good Sunday!

Today the Gospel of the liturgy (Mk 9:30-37) tells us about Jesus, who announces what will happen at the end of his life: «The Son of Man – says Jesus – is going to be delivered into the hands of men and they will kill; and after he died, three days later he will rise again” (v. 31).

But the disciples, while they follow the Master, have something else on their heads and lips. When Jesus asks them what they were talking about, they don’t answer. Let us pay attention to this silence: the disciples are silent because they were arguing about who was the greatest (cf. v. 34). They were silent out of shame.

What a contrast with the words of the Lord! While Jesus entrusted them with the meaning of his own life, they spoke of power. And so now shame closes their mouths, as before pride had closed his heart.

And yet, Jesus openly responds to their whispered speeches along the way: “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all” (cf. v. 35). Do you want to be great? Become small, put yourself at the service of everyone.

With a word as simple as it is decisive, Jesus renews our way of living. He teaches us that true power is not in the dominion of the strongest, but in the care of the weakest. True power lies in taking care of the weakest. This makes you great.

This is why the Master at that moment calls a child, places him among the disciples and embraces him saying: “Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me” (v. 37). The child has no power: the child has need. When we care for man, we recognize that man always needs life.

We, all of us, are alive because we have been welcomed, but power makes us forget this truth: You are alive because you have been welcomed. Then we become dominators, not servants, and the first to suffer are precisely the last: the small, the weak, the poor.

Brothers and sisters, how many people, how many, suffer and die because of power struggles! They are lives that the world rejects, as it rejected Jesus, those that do not enter there and die.

When He was delivered into the hands of men, He did not find a hug, but a cross. However, the Gospel remains a living word full of hope: He who was rejected rose again, it is the Lord! So, this beautiful Sunday we can ask ourselves: Do I know how to recognize the face of Jesus in the little ones? Do I care for my neighbor, serving with generosity? And do I thank those who take care of me? Let us pray together to Mary, to be like her free from vainglory and prepared to serve.

After the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters!

I have learned with pain that Juan Antonio López, delegate of the Word of God, coordinator of the social pastoral care of the diocese of Trujillo and founding member of the pastoral care of integral ecology in Honduras, has been murdered in Honduras.

I join in the mourning of that Church and the condemnation of all forms of violence. I am close to those who see their own elementary rights trampled and to those who strive for the common good in response to the cry of the poor and the earth.

I greet you, faithful of Rome and pilgrims from Italy and from so many countries. In particular, I greet the Ecuadorians residing in Rome who celebrate the Virgin of the Swan! I greet the “Teresa Enríquez de Torrijos” choir from Toledo, the group of families and children from Slovakia and the Mexican faithful.

I greet the participants of the march to raise awareness about the conditions of prisoners. We must work to ensure that prisoners are in conditions of dignity. Everyone can make mistakes. Being detained serves to resume an honest life later.

I greet the delegation that has come on the occasion of the Day of Ataxia Patients, and the “La Palma” Association of Castagnola di Massa.

Brothers and sisters, we continue to pray for peace. Unfortunately, tension is very high on the war fronts. The voices of the people asking for peace are heard. Let us not forget the martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, and so many countries that are at war. We pray for peace.

I wish everyone a good Sunday. And please don’t forget to pray for me. Good lunch and goodbye!