Pope Francis in Ajaccio: The coming of Jesus is a reason for joy because it brings salvation

“The coming of the Lord brings salvation, that is why it is a reason for joy,” said Pope Francis this third Sunday of Advent during the Mass he celebrated in Austerlitz Square in the French city of Ajaccio.

The Holy Father traveled this December 15 to Ajaccio, on the island of Corsica, for the closing of the congress “Popular Religiosity in the Mediterranean” that took place in the morning and in which bishops from France, Italy and Spain participated. . Later he had a meeting with the local clergy and members of consecrated life.

Francis arrived at Austerlitz Square in a popemobile from which he greeted the faithful, who received him with affection. Among them were members of the brotherhoods who attended the meeting on popular religiosity.

In his homily, the Holy Father reflected on the Gospel passage in which John the Baptist announces the coming of the Messiah, indicating that there are two spiritual attitudes with which people usually wait for this event: one distrustful and the other joyful.

He pointed out that in the first the person “is full of suspicion and anxiety”, concerned only with worldly projects without waiting for the work of Providence. The Pope indicated that disappointment and sadness are two spiritual evils that are currently widespread, especially “where consumerism spreads.”

However, he recalled that for these evils Saint Paul “gives us effective medicine when he writes: ‘In any circumstance, resort to prayer and supplication, accompanied by thanksgiving.’ Faith in God gives hope!”

Regarding joyful waiting, Pope Francis explained that Christian joy is not apathetic or superficial, but is “a rejoicing of the heart established on a solid foundation, which the prophet Zephaniah describes, addressing the holy city: rejoice because ‘the Lord ‘Your God, in your midst, is a mighty Savior.’”

“He can redeem our lives because he is able to do what he says! So our joy is not an illusory consolation to cope with the sadness of life (…). Thus, the coming of the Lord becomes a festival full of future for all peoples; In the company of Jesus we discover the true joy of living and transmitting the signs of hope that the world longs for,” said the Pontiff.

The Holy Father stated that although “there is no shortage of serious reasons for pain among nations: misery, wars, corruption, violence,” the Word of God always comforts.

“In all times and in any tribulation, Christ is the source of our joy. To take her wherever we go, let us always have her in our hearts. Then, we will be witnesses of hope that does not disappoint,” he reiterated.

Pope Francis, who improvised in several passages of his homily, renewed his call not to abandon the elderly and thanked the faithful of Corsica for continuing to have children, who are the future, and encouraged them to adequately prepare them to receive the sacraments.

At the end of the Eucharist, the Bishop of Ajaccio, Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, thanked the Pontiff for his visit and pointed out that “coming out of the darkness and doing good” is a current and urgent project for society.

“Our society needs to rediscover the joy of life and hope. “Christian faith – without arrogance and without complexes – can provide a little salt, evangelical salt, to get out of the monotony of life and rediscover the joy of living,” he added.

After leaving Austerlitz Square, Pope Francis is on his way to the Napoleon Bonaparte airport, where he will have a brief meeting with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, before departing back to Rome.