Pope Francis says "let us do what the Lord told us to do:" to love each other as He has loved us." to Volunteers and Homeless - FULL TEXT


ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
TO A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE FROM VIENNA - In a meeting with a Vienna-based group that assists people living on the streets, Pope Francis challenges charitable volunteers to enrich each other through “a simple smile, gesture of friendship, or a fraternal gaze.”
The location for the Viennese “Begegnung im Zentrum” group's meetings changed temporarily from the Archbishop’s Palace in Austria’s capital city to the Vatican for an audience with Pope Francis. Speaking to the volunteers on Friday, the Pope recognized that the group brings together people “from very different countries and belong to different religious denominations” with their own life experiences. Yet, he said, one thing unites everyone: “we are brothers and sisters, children of the one Father.”
in the Vatican's Hall of the Popes - Friday, 8 November 2024
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Guten Morgen!
Thank you for coming. You usually meet in the archbishop’s residence in Vienna – please convey my greetings to Cardinal Schönborn – today I am glad to welcome you here.

You come from very diverse countries, you belong to different religious denominations, and each one of you has had their own life experiences, sometimes with grave hardships. But one thing unites us all: we are brothers and sisters, we are children of one Father. This unites us all. And I am very happy that this reality is made tangible in your community when you help each other and, in your meetings, share what each person has to offer. Indeed, it is not true that some give and others only receive: we are all givers and receivers – all of us – we need each other, and we are called to enrich each other. And let us remember that this does not happen only through material gifts, but also through “a smile, a small gesture of friendship, a kind look, a ready ear, a good deed” (Spes non confundit, Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee 2025, 18).

So, at that moment, let us do what the Lord told us to do: namely, to love each other as He has loved us. Let us thank God for the gift of His love, which comes to us also through the good people around us. The Lord loves us beyond any limit and difficulty. Each one of us is unique in His eyes, and He never forgets us. Let us always try, as brothers and sisters, to make our life a gift for others. Our life a gift for others.

Thank you again for this meeting, and for everything that you do together. I pray for you, I bless you.

And now, let us all pray together, in silence, a minute.

Gott segne uns alle [God bless us all].

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Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 8 November 2024



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