Pope Francis says "I urge you all to recite the Rosary every day....we entrust the suffering and the desire for peace...." FULL TEXT

POPE FRANCIS at the GENERAL AUDIENCE
in the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square on Wednesday, 9 October 2024
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The following text includes parts that were not read out loud, but should be considered as such.
Cycle of Catechesis. The Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides the people of God towards Jesus our hope. 8.«They were all filled with the Holy Spirit» The Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In our itinerary of catechesis on the Holy Spirit and the Church, today we will refer to the Book of the Acts of the Apostles.

The account of the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost begins with a description of some preparatory signs – the rush of wind and the tongues of fire – but finds its conclusion in the affirmation that “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). Saint Luke – who wrote the Acts of the Apostles – emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is He who ensures the universality and unity of the Church. The immediate effect of being “filled with the Holy Spirit” is that the Apostles “began to speak in other tongues”, and came out of the Upper Room to proclaim Jesus Christ to the crowd (cf. Acts 2:4 et seq.).

In so doing, Luke wished to highlight the universal mission of the Church, as a sign of a new unity between all peoples. We see the Spirit work for unity in two ways. On the one hand, He drives the Church outwards, so that she can welcome an ever-greater number of people and peoples; on the other hand, she gathers them within to consolidate the unity achieved. He teaches her to expand in universality, and consolidate in unity. Universal and one: this is the mystery of the Church.

We see the first of the two movements – universality – in process in Chapter 10 of the Acts, in the episode of the conversion of Cornelius. On the day of Pentecost, the Apostles had proclaimed Christ to all the Jews and observers of the Mosaic law, whatever people they belonged to. It takes another “Pentecost”, very similar to the first, in the house of the centurion Cornelius, to induce the Apostles to expand their horizon and break down the last barrier, the one between Jews and pagans (cf. Acts 10-11).

This ethnical expansion is accompanied by a geographical one. Paul – we read again in the Acts of the Apostles (cf. 16:6-10) – wanted to proclaim the Gospel in a new region of Asia Minor; but it is written that they had been “forbidden by the Holy Spirit”; he attempted to enter Bithyn’ia, “but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them”. We immediately discover the reason for these surprising prohibitions of the Spirit: the following night the Apostle received in a dream the order to pass into Macedonia. The Gospel thus left its native Asia and entered into Europe.

The second movement of the Holy Spirit – that which creates unity – is seen in action in Chapter 15 of the Acts, in the proceedings of the so-called Council of Jerusalem. The problem is how to ensure that the universality achieved does not compromise the unity of the Church. The Holy Spirit does not always create unity suddenly, with miraculous and decisive actions, as at Pentecost. He also does so – and in the majority of cases – with discreet work, respecting human time and differences, passing through people and institutions, prayer and confrontation. In, we would say today, a synodal manner. Indeed, this is what happens at the Council of Jerusalem, regarding the matter of the obligations of the Mosaic Law to be imposed on those who converted from paganism. The solution was announced to the entire Church, with the well-known words: “For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” (Acts 15:28).

Saint Augustine explains the unity achieved by the Holy Spirit with an image, which has become classic: “How the soul is of the body of man is the holy Spirit of the body of Christ, which is the Church” [1]. The image helps us to understand something important. The Holy Spirit does not create the unity of the Church from the outside; He does not limit Himself to commanding us to be united. He Himself is the “bond of unity”. It is He who creates the unity of the Church.

As always, we will conclude with a thought that helps us to pass from the Church as a whole to each one of us. The unity of the Church is the unity between people and is not achieved on the drawing board, but in life. It is implemented in life. We all want unity, we all desire it from the depths of our heart; and yet it is so difficult to attain that, even within marriage and the family, union and concord are among the most difficult things to achieve and even harder to maintain.

The reason why unity amog us is difficult is that, yes, everyone wants unity, but based on one’s own point of view, without considering that the other person in front of him thinks exactly the same thing about his “own” point of view. In this way, unity becomes even more elusive. The unity life, the unity of Pentecost, according to the Spirit, is achieved when one makes the effort to put God, not oneself, at the centre. Christian unity is built in this way too: not waiting for others to reach us where we are, but moving together towards Christ.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us be instruments of unity and peace.
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[1] Sermons, 267, 4.

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Special greetings

I extend a cordial welcome to the Italian-speaking pilgrims. In particular, I greet the Salesian Missionaries and the priests from Romania. I greet the Opera di San Michele Arcangelo of Petralia, the Scuola Benedetta Cambiagio of Rome and the delegation of the Municipality of Cervia.

Finally, my thoughts go to the young people, the sick, the elderly and newlyweds. May the month of October, dedicated to the Holy Rosary, be a precious opportunity to enhance this traditional Marian prayer. I urge you all to recite the Rosary every day, abandoning yourselves trustingly into the hands of Mary. To her, a caring mother, we entrust the suffering and the desire for peace of the populations who suffer the madness of war, in particular the tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, Sudan.

My blessing to everyone!

I extend a warm welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors, especially those coming from England, Scotland, Denmark, Greece, India, Indonesia and the United States. I greet the new seminarians of the Pontifical Beda College and I assure them of my prayers as they begin their studies for the priesthood. Upon all of you, and upon your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!

[I cordially greet the French-speaking pilgrims, in particular those coming from Haiti, Mauritius and France. Brothers and sisters, as a synodal Church on the journey towards Christ, we ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to be instruments of unity and peace. God bless you!] I extend a warm welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors, especially those coming from England, Scotland, Denmark, Greece, India, Indonesia and the United States. I greet the new seminarians of the Pontifical Beda College and I assure them of my prayers as they begin their studies for the priesthood. Upon all of you, and upon your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!

 Liebe Brüder und Schwestern, ich lade euch ein, jetzt im Oktober den Rosenkranz zu beten, euch von Maria zu ihrem Sohn Jesus führen zu lassen und gemeinsam für den Frieden in der Welt und die Einheit der Kirche zu beten. Holy Mary, Our Lady of Rosenkranz, come to us!

[Dear brothers and sisters, in this month of October I invite you to recite the Rosary, letting yourself be led by Mary to her son Jesus, and to pray together for peace in the world and for the unity of the Church. Holy Virgin, Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us!]

Cordially greetings to Spanish-speaking pilgrims. In this month dedicated to the missions — including Uruguayan, Argentine, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Mexican bands, to all health —, let us turn to the Holy Spirit that helps us to renew our bautismal compromise, and that Christ is the cornerstone of our lives, to offer a cheerful testimony of the unity and peace that we have. May Jesus bless him and the Holy Virgin guard him. Much thanks.

Queridos fiéis de língua portuguesa, seat bem-vindos. Saúdo, in a special way, the pilgrims living in Brazil and Alfândega da Fé (Portugal). I formulate votes so that every one of you is an art of unity where you meet, but above all you are not from the family. And, in the event of difficult encounters, you will understand that you can always count as the apoio of the Holy Spirit: We are never wrong.

[Dear Portuguese-speaking faithful, welcome. In a special way, I greet the pilgrims from Brazil and Alfândega da Fé (Portugal). I hope that each of you will be a craftsman of unity wherever you are, but above all within the family. And if you find it difficult, remember that you can always count on the support of the Holy Spirit: He never fails us.]

أُحَيِّي المُؤمِنينَ النَّاطِقينَ باللغَةِ العربِيَّة. لِنَطلُبْ إلى الرُّوحِ القُدُس أنْ يُساعِدَنا لنكونَ أدواتِ وَحدة ٍ وسلامٍ مِن أجلِ خيرِ الكنيسة. May the Lord bless you all and protect you from all evil!

[I greet the Arabic-speaking faithful. We ask the Holy Spirit to help us be instruments of unity and peace for the good of the Church. May the Lord bless you all and protect you always from every evil. bad!]

We are going to be the worst Polish people. Bóg codziennie towarzyszy wam w zmaganiach o jedność i pokój w sercach, w rodzinach, w narodzie. Szanując ludzką wolność i indywidualność, zsyła swego Ducha, by pokonać sztuczne bariery i poszerzyć serca, otwierając je na innych. Przyjmijcie Ducha Świętego do swoich serc. Niech Matka Boża Różańcowa wspiera was, i niech Bóg wam błogosławi.

[I cordially greet the Polish pilgrims. God accompanies you every day in your commitment to unity and peace in hearts, families and the nation. Respecting human freedom and individuality, he sends his Spirit to overcome artificial barriers and broaden hearts, opening them to others. . Welcome the Holy Spirit into your hearts. May the Virgin of the Rosary sustain you and God bless you.]

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