Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Pope Francis: follow Jesus’ Way of the Cross

Pope Francis: follow Jesus’ Way of the Cross

Last updated on: September 8, 2013 at 3:55 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope Francis: follow Jesus’ Way of the Cross 2013-09-08T15:55:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Sep 8, 2013 / 09:55 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis spoke to crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square for Sunday’s Angelus, encouraging them to follow Christ on the way of the cross.

“Following Jesus does not mean participating in a triumphal procession!” he said on Sept. 8. “It means sharing his merciful love, entering into his great work of mercy for each person and for all mankind. And this forgiveness passes through the cross.”

The Pope reflected on the gospel, in which Jesus “insists on the conditions to be his disciple: to not place anything before love of him, to take up one’s own cross, and to follow him.”

Although there are many who want to follow Jesus, especially when there are miracles, “Jesus does not want to deceive anyone,” explained Pope Francis.

Jesus “knows well what awaits him in Jerusalem, what the way is that the Father asks him to walk,” the Pope continued. “It is the way of the cross, of sacrifice of himself for the forgiveness of our sins.”

Yet “Jesus does not want to complete this work alone,” he added.

Christ “wants to include us also in the mission that the Father has given him.”

After the Resurrection, Jesus gives his mission to the disciples, who “renounce all the goods” of their lives because they have found in Christ “the greatest good, in which every other good receives its full value and significance.”

In “the logic of the Gospel, the logic of love and service” the Christian both “detaches himself from everything and recovers everything,” said Pope Francis.

Like the disciples, Christians who give up family, relationships, work, and cultural and economic goods, all for the sake of Christ, rediscover them anew in Jesus.

The Angelus followed Saturday evening’s massive prayer vigil for peace throughout the world, especially in war-torn Syria and the Middle East. An estimated 100,000 people prayed with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square and thousands of similar events took place around the world.

Pope Francis thanked those who had participated in the vigil.

He emphasized the need to pray for the countries of Lebanon “that it may find its hoped-for stability” and Iraq “so that the sectarian violence may lead to reconciliation.”

The Pope also asked for prayers for “the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians” and for Egypt, “so that all Egyptians, Muslims and Christians, may commit themselves to build up together a society dedicated to the good of the whole population.”

He reiterated his strong opposition to war, noting that there is a much more profound personal war that each person must fight.

This war entails “a strong and courageous decision to renounce evil and its seductions and to choose the good, ready to pay the price” for such a choice.

Such sacrifice is a true “taking up of the Cross.”

“And what good is it to wage war, so much war, if you don’t have the capacity to wage this (more) profound war against evil?” the Pope lamented.

“The search for peace is long and demands patience and perseverance!” He exclaimed. “Let us keep praying for this!”

Vatican

Previous Post

September 8, 2013

Continue in conversion, Philadelphia archbishop encourages

Next Post

September 8, 2013 College network seeks to change campus debate on sex

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the primary form of transportation in Biblical times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Chariot Camel Donkey Horse