Pope Francis reflected on the day’s reading on Sunday, 17 November, 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 Marian prayer after celebrating the Mass for the World Day of the Poor 2024, which took place in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Pontiff noted 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 said, “many might think of the end of the world, but the Lord takes advantage of the opportunity to offer us a different interpretation, saying: ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.’”
In this sense, he explained that “when we go through a crisis or experience some failure, as well as when we see around us the pain caused by wars, violence, natural disasters, we have the feeling that everything comes to an end, and we feel that even the most beautiful things pass away.”
“However, crises and failures, although painful, are important, because they teach us to give each thing its due weight, not to 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 said that in Christ “we will one day rediscover the things and people who have passed away and who have accompanied us in our earthly existence.”
Because “in the light of this promise of resurrection, all reality takes on a new meaning: everything dies and we too will die one day, but we will not lose anything of what 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 fear of losing what is ending, but with joy for what remains. Let us not forget that God is preparing for us a future of life and joy.”
In this sense, he encouraged us to ask ourselves: “Are we attached to the things of the earth, which pass, 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 entrusted herself entirely to the Word of God, so that she may intercede for us.”
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square to express his joy at the beatification of three martyrs.
“Yesterday, two martyrs were beatified in Skutari: Louis Palić, a priest of the Order of Friars Minor, and Gjon Gazulli, a diocesan priest, victims of religious persecution in the 20th century. And today, another martyr was beatified in Freiburg im Breisgau: Father Max Josef Metzger, founder of the Secular Institute of Christ the King, who was opposed by Nazism for his religious commitment to peace.”
“May the example of these martyrs comfort the many Christians discriminated against for their faith in our time. A round of applause for the new blesseds!” he said.
Pope Francis also recalled that today is the World Day of the Poor and said that he is joining in 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 indispensable to ‘rebuild trust’,” he said.
Finally, the Pope urged everyone to continue praying for peace “in tormented Ukraine, in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, and Sudan. War makes people inhuman and leads people to tolerate unacceptable crimes. May the rulers listen to the cry of the peoples who ask for peace.”