Pope Francis asks not to lock oneself in the mobile phone: Dialogue is important for the family

Pope Francis reminded the Catholic faithful that “dialogue is an important element for a family,” and called to “never remain closed in on oneself or, worse still, with one’s head in the mobile phone.”

It is the message that the Holy Father gave to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican before the Angelus prayer on Sunday, December 29, the day on which the Catholic Church celebrates the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Sunday’s Gospel—Lc 2,41-52— “tells when Jesus, aged 12, at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem, was lost by Mary and Joseph, who found him in the Temple arguing with the doctors,” the Pope said. “The evangelist Luke reveals the state of mind of Mary, who asks Jesus: ‘Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I, distraught, were looking for you.’”

“Jesus answers: ‘Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must take care of my Father’s affairs?’” indicated the Pontiff.

The Sagrada Familia: “A family that dialogues, that listens, that speaks”

For the Pope, this “is the almost habitual experience of a family that alternates quiet moments with dramatic ones. It seems like the story of a modern-day family crisis, of a difficult teenager and two parents who cannot understand him.”

“Let’s stop and look at this family. Do you know why the Holy Family of Nazareth is a model? Because it is a family that dialogues, that listens, that speaks. Dialogue is an important element for a family! A family that does not communicate cannot be a happy family,” he said.

Pope Francis highlighted that “it is beautiful when a mother does not begin with a reproach, but with a question. “Mary does not accuse or judge, but rather tries to understand how to welcome this very different Son through listening.”

“Despite this effort, the Gospel says that Mary and Joseph ‘did not understand what he was telling them,’ which shows that in the family it is more important to listen than to understand,” the Pope said, highlighting that “to listen is to give importance to the another, to recognize his right to exist and think for himself. “The children need this.”

Food, “a privileged moment for dialogue”

The Holy Father then highlighted that “a privileged moment for dialogue and listening in the family is the time of meal. It’s good to be together at the table and talk. This can solve many problems and, above all, it unites generations: children talking to their parents, grandchildren talking to their grandparents.”

Thus, the Pope asked family members to “never remain closed in on themselves or, worse still, with their heads in the mobile phone. This doesn’t work, not this, never. Talk, listen to each other, this is the dialogue that does good and that makes people grow!”

“The family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is holy. However, we have seen that not even Jesus’ parents always understood this. We can reflect on this, and let us not be surprised if sometimes it happens to us in the family that we do not understand each other.”

“When it happens to us, let’s ask ourselves: have we heard each other? Do we face problems by listening to each other or do we lock ourselves in silence (…) in resentment, pride? Shall we take a little time to talk? “What we can learn today from the Holy Family is mutual listening,” he noted.

“Let us entrust ourselves to the Virgin Mary and ask her for the gift of listening for our families,” the Pope concluded.