(Vatican Radio) Every year on the 7th of August thousands of pilgrims flock to the shrine of St Cajetan in Liniers a neighbourhood in the Argentinian city of Buenos Aires to pay homage to this much celebrated Saint.The Italian Saint, who is also honoured worldwide, left a life of privilege, to work with the poor and is known as the Patron of the unemployed and job seekers.
Last year Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires was celebrating this feast day in Argentina with the many others who are devoted to this man of God. But this year the now Pope Francis sent a video message saying that although he cannot be with everyone in person, he is with them in his heart.
The Pope in the his message spoke of the importance of encountering those who are in need, just like Jesus and the St Cajetan did. He said being a Christian means not offering help from afar, but going out and meeting with those who have anxieties and problems.
The Holy Father underlined the need to build a culture of encounter because he said, there is always someone worse off than us.
“The theme speaks about the people who are most in need; those who are in greatest need of our help. Those who need us to look at them with affection, who need us to identify with their pain and anxieties, their problems. But the most important thing is not to look at them from afar or help them from afar. No, no. We need to meet them. That is the Christian way!”
“Your heart, when you meet with those in greatest need, becomes bigger, and bigger, and bigger! Because these encounters multiply the capacity to love. Go on!”
Concluding his message Pope Francis stressed that going out and encountering the most needy multiplies our capacity to love.SHARED FROM RADIO VATICANA
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