"What does it mean for the Church, for us, today, to be disciples of
Jesus the Lamb of God?" Francis asked at today’s Angelus in St. Peter’s
Square.
"It means replacing malice with innocence, force with love,
pride with humility, prestige with service,” he replied. “We Christians
have to do a good job,” Francis added.
“Being disciples of the
Lamb means not living as if we were a 'besieged citadel ‘, but as a city
set on a mountain, open, welcoming and supportive. It means not assume
an attitude of closure, but bringing the Gospel to all , bearing witness
with our lives that following Jesus makes us freer and more joyful,”
Francis explained.
“The word “lamb” comes up a number of times in
the New Testament and always in reference to Jesus.” "This image of the
lamb - he added - might surprise; an animal not known for its strength
and robustness takes upon its shoulders an oppressive burden. The
enormous mass of evil is removed and taken away by a weak and fragile
creature that is a symbol of obedience, docility and helpless love,
which arrives at a self- sacrifice. The lamb is not a dominator, but
docile; it is not aggressive, but peaceful; it does not bear its claws
or teeth in the face of attack but puts up with it and is submissive.”
After
the Angelus, the Pope addressed migrants and refugees: “Today is the
International Migrants Day, which this year has the theme " Migrants and
refugees: Towards a better world", which the pontiff developed into a
Message a few months ago.
“I extend a special greeting - he added
- to the representatives of various ethnic communities gathered here,
in particular the Catholic community in Rome. Dear friends, you are
close to the heart of the Church, because the Church is a people on a
journey towards the Kingdom of God that Jesus Christ has brought into
our midst. Do not lose hope for a better future!” the Pope told
migrants.
“I hope you live in peace in countries that welcome
you, keeping the values ??of your culture of origin. At this time - he
concluded - we think of so many migrants, those without documents,
without work, we think of their suffering. And we think of those who are
committed to defending them from those who Blessed Scalabrini called
'the merchants of human flesh.'" "I want to thank - added - the
Congregation of St. Charles he founded, the Scalabrini men and women
religious who become migrants themselves among migrants."