By Lisa Zengarini
“Never fear ‘to go out’ to the world” where “men and women live their joys and sorrows” and allow yourselves to be “shaken by the Holy Spirit” who spurs us to announce the joy and hope of the Gospel with creativity.
Pope Francis gave this strong encouragement as he addressed on Friday some fifty coordinators of the Congrès Mission, a missionary initiative spearheaded by several French Catholic movements to revitalize evangelization in France.
The group organizes an annual two- to three-day event bringing together thousands of Christians from across the country to pray, share and reflect on how to best proclaim Gospel in today’s secularized society.
The world desperately needs the Christian message of hope
Addressing the delegation in the Consistory Hall, Pope Francis commended Congrès Mission for their “faithful commitment” to the service of the Gospel, which he said “is a source of light and hope in a world that so desperately needs it.”
Noting that this year’s gathering to be held in the city of Bercy will take place in the context of the current Jubilee of Hope, Pope Francis remarked that “Joy is inseparable from hope and mission.” It is “not limited to fleeting enthusiasm but arises from a personal encounter with Christ and directs us toward our brothers and sisters.”
To be pilgrims therefore means “walking together in the Church, but also having the courage to go out and meet others” to bring hope by “offering the world a living word, rooted in the Gospel, a word that consoles and opens new paths.”
Christ is our hope which we must share with others
Acknowledging that hope is often put to the test in our world marked by conflict, injustices, and “torn apart by individualism”, the Pope emphasized that the Christian certainty that “Christ is our hope” is “a gift to be shared, a light to be passed on.”
He therefore urged the Congrès Mission leaders to respond boldly to the call to mission allowing themselves “to be shaken by the Holy Spirit “
“At times, this might mean stepping out of our usual shemes and even being willing to ‘create some confusion’ but the Holy Spirit pushes us toward creativity”, he said.
Inspire young people the first “pilgrims of hope”
Pope Francis invited Congrès Mission to inspire especially young people, “the first pilgrims of hope”, by helping them grow in faith, dare to make courageous choices, and become themselves missionary disciples of Jesus.
“Instill in them the boldness to dream of a more fraternal world, and accompany them so that they may become artisans of hope in their families, schools, and workplaces,” he urged, also encouraging them to cultivate relations between the elderly and young people.
Communion is a poweful witness to the world
Finally, Pope Francisinvited Congrès Mission to never lose sight of communion which he said, is “a powerful witness to the world, a living demonstration of the love that identifies Christians as followers of Christ.”
Concluding, Pope Francis assured his prayer that that their 11th gathering in November may be a time of joy, conversion, and renewal for the Church in France. – Vatican News
