Pope Francis proposes having “Christified” eyes

Pope Francis proposed that the faithful have “Christified” eyes and see God in the world and in their brother, with a “compassionate, welcoming and merciful gaze” that transmits the joy of the heart after the encounter with Christ.

This invitation was made by the Holy Father in his message addressed to the participants in the sixth American Missionary Congress, inaugurated yesterday, November 20, by Cardinal Baltazar Porras.

Pope Francis specified that this year of prayer, in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee, is a favorable time for the development of this congress, while recalling the foundation of the mission: “to recognize ourselves as children, touched by the mercy of God.”

“We cannot give what we do not have, we cannot express what we have not experienced, what our eyes have not seen nor our hands have touched. The foundation of the mission is the experience of God, the encounter in love with Jesus, He reveals to us the ‘Good News’, he shows us the Father,” he noted.

In this sense, he recalled that “Jesus was a missionary, a prophet powerful in deeds and words before God and all the people” who bore witness “to the greatest love.”

This is the message – the Pontiff added – “that missionaries have continued to translate in every era, in every place, in every language.”

Next, he stressed that the vocation of the baptized is “to see God, to see him in the world, in his brother, to have ‘Christified’ eyes and with them a compassionate, welcoming, merciful gaze.”

“A look that transmits the joy that overflows our hearts. The joy of the disciples after the encounter with the Risen Lord, which cannot be contained and prompts them to set out on their journey.”

Later, he stated that the Holy Spirit “works this wonder in us and puts in us the words that address God and men.”

“Through its life-giving force we can transmit the message in any language, yes, because the Church speaks them all, but, above all, because it always speaks with the same language. “It is the language of love, understandable to all men, since it is part of their very essence, that of being the image of God,” he added.

Likewise, when fatigue arrives and the “strength to walk” is lacking, he advised not to abandon prayer, “incessantly asking the Father to pour out his Love, his life-giving Spirit, so that he may renew the face of this earth hurt by our injustices and suffering.” that we have caused.”

“The Blessed Virgin Mary, Daughter of God the Father, Mother of God the Son and Wife of the Holy Spirit, presents herself as that ark of the Covenant, that first Tabernacle that, receiving Jesus, sets out on its way, in service,” he concluded. .