Pope Francis encourages us to trust in the Gospel in moments of greatest distress

This Sunday, before praying the Angelus, Pope Francis reflected on the day’s reading to encourage the faithful to always trust “in the Gospel, which contains a promise of salvation and eternity, and to stop living under the anguish of death.” . Because while everything passes, Christ remains.”

The Holy Father led the recitation of the Marian prayer after celebrating the Mass for the World Day of the Poor 2024, which he held in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Already from the balcony of the Apostolic Palace, the Pontiff pointed out that “in the Gospel of today’s liturgy, Jesus describes a great tribulation: ‘The sun will be darkened, the moon will no longer give its light.'”

“In the face of this suffering,” he indicated, “many might think about the end of the world, but the Lord takes advantage of the occasion to offer us a different interpretation, saying: ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.’”

In that sense, he explained that “when we go through a crisis or experience some failure, just as when we see around us the pain caused by wars, violence, natural disasters, we have the feeling that everything is coming to an end, and we feel that even the most beautiful things happen.”

“However, crises and failures, although painful, are important, because they teach us to give everything its fair weight, to not tie our hearts to the realities of this world, because they will pass: they are destined to pass,” he added. .

“At the same time,” he recalled, “Jesus speaks of what remains. “Everything passes, but his words will not pass away: the words of Jesus remain forever.”

Pope Francis assured that in Christ “we will one day find again the things and people that have happened and that have accompanied us in our earthly existence.”

Because “in the light of this promise of resurrection, every reality takes on a new meaning: everything dies and we too will die one day, but we will not lose anything that we have built and loved, because death will be the beginning of a new life.” .

“Even in tribulations, in crises, in failures, the Gospel invites us to look at life and history without being afraid of losing what ends, but with joy for what remains. Let us not forget that God prepares for us a future of life and joy.”

In that sense, he encouraged us to ask ourselves: “Are we attached to the things of earth, which pass away, which pass quickly, or to the words of the Lord, which remain and guide us towards eternity?”

“Let us pray to the Blessed Virgin, who has completely entrusted herself to the Word of God, so that she may intercede for us.”

Once the Angelus prayer was over, the Holy Father returned to address the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square to express his joy at the beatification of three martyrs.

“Yesterday in Scútari, two martyrs were beatified: Louis Palić, priest of the Order of the Minor Brothers, and Gjon Gazulli, diocesan priest, victims of religious persecution in the 20th century. And today another martyr, the priest Max Josef Metzger, founder of the Secular Institute of Christ the King, who was opposed by Nazism for his religious commitment to peace, has been beatified in Freiburg im Breisgau.”

“May the example of these martyrs comfort so many Christians discriminated against for their faith in our time. “Applause for the new blessed!” he said.

Likewise, Pope Francis recalled that today is the World Day of the Poor and also said that he joins the Day of Prayer for victims and survivors of abuse that will take place tomorrow in Italy.

“Every abuse is a betrayal of trust, it is a betrayal of life! Prayer is essential to ‘rebuild trust,’” he said.

Finally, he urged us to continue praying for peace “in the tormented Ukraine, in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, in Myanmar, in Sudan. War makes people inhuman and induces them to tolerate unacceptable crimes. May the rulers listen to the cry of the people who ask for peace.”