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 prays for pilgrims en route to Krakow for WYD

Pope prays for pilgrims en route to Krakow for WYD

Last updated on: July 24, 2016 at 4:09 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope prays for pilgrims en route to Krakow for WYD 2016-07-24T16:09:00+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, Jul 24, 2016 / 10:09 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has asked for prayers as he, and all the pilgrims attending this year's World Youth Day, prepare to make their way to Krakow, Poland for the international event.

The Pope, who leaves Wednesday, said Sunday that he is traveling to Krakow in order “to encounter these boys and girls,” as well as “to celebrate with them and for them the Jubilee of Mercy, through the intercession of St. John Paul II.”

“I ask you to accompany us with prayer,” the pontiff said to the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square during his weekly Angelus address.

Francis also expressed his gratitude towards all those working to welcome the pilgrims coming to Poland for the international event, along with the many bishops, priests, religious, and laity.

He then turned his thoughts to the many people who cannot attend WYD in person, but who will follow the event through means of communication. “We will all be united in prayer.”

The 31st World Youth Day is being hosted in Krakow, Poland – the birthplace of its founder, St. John Paul II – from July 25-31. Pope Francis himself will take part in the international gathering starting July 28.

Before leading the crowds in the Angelus prayer, the Pope delivered a reflection on the day's Gospel reading, in which Jesus teaches his followers how to pray to the Father.

The word “father” is the “secret” of Jesus' prayer,” the pontiff said. “It is the key which he himself gives is in order that even we can enter into that relationship of confidential dialogue with the Father.”

The “Our Father” allows God to “manifest his holiness in us,” and advance “his reign,” making it possible for him to exercise his “loving lordship in our lives,” he explained.

The prayer taught by Jesus addresses three basic human needs – “bread, forgiveness, and help in temptations” – none of which we can live without, the pontiff said.

Beginning with the “bread,” Francis explained how it is “the bread of pilgrims,” adding that “it is neither horded up nor wasted.”

Forgiveness, meanwhile, is above all else “that which we receive from God,” he said. It is the “awareness of being sinners, forgiven by infinite divine mercy,” which allows us to make “concrete gestures of fraternal reconciliation.”

Without this awareness of being a forgiven sinner, a person “can never make a gesture of forgiveness or reconciliation,” the Pope said. Such an act “begins from the heart,” and the feeling of being a forgiven sinner.

Finally, the expression “lead us not into temptation,” he said, “expresses the awareness of our condition, always exposed to the dangers of evil and corruption.”

“We all know what a temptation is,” the pontiff remarked, off-the-cuff.

Francis went on to reference the two parables also given in the Gospel reading. The first parable is about one friend asking another for a loaf of bread; even though he may refuse at first, he will eventually respond if his friend is persistent. The second points to the analogy between a father, who knows what is good to give his children, and God the father.

Both of these parables “want to teach us to have complete faith in God, who is Father,” the Pope said. “He knows our needs better than we do, but wants us to present them with audacity and insistence, since this is our way of participating in his work of salvation.”

Finally, the pontiff stressed the importance of the Holy Spirit in living well,” and in doing “the will of God.” He encouraged the crowds to pray over the coming week: “Father, give me the Holy Spirit.”

For her part, Mary proves with her very existence that “everything is enlivened by the Holy Spirit,” Francis said. She helps us “pray to the Father, united to Jesus, to live not in a worldly way, but according to the Gospel, guided by the Holy Spirit.”

Vatican

Previous Post

July 24, 2016

Pope responds to violence in Munich and Kabul with call for more prayer

Next Post

July 24, 2016 Youngest US track Olympian relies on God when times get tough

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 is the main theme of the Ten Commandments?

Select your answer to see how you score.

How to live in Jewish society How to live and treat others How to be successful How to earn your way to Heaven