Pope Francis at Mass says "Christ is present, Christ is the source of our joy. He is with us in tribulation...Let us not forget it!" on Gaudete Sunday in Corsica

Pope Francis presided over Gaudete Sunday Holy Mass in Corsica, France, as the final public event of his one-day 47th Apostolic Journey abroad. In his homily, the Pope spoke of a joyful expectation of Christ's coming, urging the faithful to prepare with humility, hope, and acts of charity despite the challenges of the world. This was the final public event of his one-day journey to Corsica, Pope Francis presided over Holy Mass in Ajaccio's Place d'Austerlitz.
HOLY MASS FULL TEXT HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER
“Place d’Austerlitz” (“U Casone”) - Ajaccio
Sunday, 15 December 2024
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The people ask John the Baptist: “What must we do?” (Lk 3:10). What must we do? It is a question to listen to carefully, because it expresses the desire to renew life, to change it for the better. John is announcing the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah: those who listen to the Baptist's preaching want to prepare for this encounter, for the encounter with the Messiah, for the encounter with Jesus.
The Gospel according to Luke testifies that it is precisely those who are farthest away who express this desire for conversion: not those who socially seemed to be closest, not the Pharisees and the doctors of the law, but those who are far away, the tax collectors, who were considered sinners, and the soldiers ask: "Teacher, what must we do?" (Lk 3:12).

Mass Starts at the 43:30 Mark on the Video Below:

This is a good question, which perhaps today, before going to bed, each of us can say as a prayer: "Lord, what must I do to prepare my heart for Christmas?" Those who consider themselves righteous do not renew themselves. Those who were considered public sinners want to move from dishonest and violent conduct to a new life. And those who are far away become close when Christ comes close to us. In fact, John responds to the tax collectors and soldiers in this way: practice justice; be upright and honest (see Luke 3:13-14). Involving especially the last and the excluded, the Lord's announcement reawakens consciences, because He comes to save, not to condemn the lost (see Luke 15:4-32). And the best we can do to be saved and sought by Jesus is to tell the truth about ourselves: "Lord, I am a sinner." We all are, here, all of us. "Lord, I am a sinner." And so we approach Jesus with the truth, not with the make-up of an untrue justice. Because he comes to save sinners.
And for this reason, today too, we make our own the question that the crowds asked John the Baptist. During this time of Advent, let us find the courage to ask, without fear: "what must I do?", "what must we do?". Let us ask with sincerity, to prepare a humble heart, a trusting heart for the Lord who comes.
The Scriptures we have heard give us two ways of waiting for the Messiah: suspicious waiting and joyful waiting. We can wait for salvation with these two attitudes: suspicious waiting and joyful waiting. Let us reflect on these spiritual attitudes.
The first way of waiting, the suspicious one, is full of distrust and anxiety. Those who have their mind occupied with self-centered thoughts lose the joy of the soul: instead of watching with hope, they doubt the future. Completely taken up with worldly projects, they do not await the work of Providence. They do not know how to wait with the hope that the Holy Spirit gives us. And then comes the salutary word of Saint Paul, which shakes us from this torpor: "Do not be anxious about anything" (Phil 4:6). When anguish takes hold of us, it always ruins us. Pain is one thing, physical pain, moral pain for some calamity in the family...; anguish is another thing. Christians must not live with anguish. Do not be anguished, disappointed, sad. How widespread these spiritual evils are today, especially where consumerism is rampant! I saw in these days in Rome, in the streets, so many people who go shopping, shopping, with the anxiety of consumerism, which then vanishes and leaves nothing. A society like this that lives on consumerism, grows old dissatisfied, because it does not know how to give: those who live for themselves will never be happy. Those who live like this [closed hand] and do not do like this [open hand] are not happy. Those who have hands like this [closed hand], for me, and do not have hands to give, to help, to share, will never be happy. And this is an evil that all of us can have, all Christians, even us, priests, bishops, cardinals, everyone, even the Pope.
The Apostle, however, offers us an effective medicine when he writes: "In every circumstance, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Phil 4:6). Faith in God gives hope! In these very days, at the Congress that took place here in Ajaccio, the importance of cultivating faith was highlighted, appreciating the role of popular piety. Let us think of the prayer of the Rosary: ​​if rediscovered and practiced well, it teaches us to keep our heart centered on Jesus Christ, with the contemplative gaze of Mary. And let us think of the confraternities, which can educate us to freely serve our neighbor, both spiritually and corporally. These associations of the faithful, so rich in history, actively participate in the liturgy and prayer of the Church, which they embellish with the songs and devotions of the people. And I recommend that members of the confraternities always be available, especially to the most fragile, making faith active in charity. And that brotherhood that has a special devotion should be close to everyone, close to their neighbors to help them.
And from here we come to the second attitude: joyful waiting. The first attitude was suspicious waiting, that waiting that is “for me” with hands that close. The second attitude is joyful waiting. And it is not easy to have joy. Christian joy is not at all carefree, superficial, a carnival joy. No. It is not like that. Instead, it is a joy of the heart, based on a very solid foundation, which the prophet Zephaniah, addressing the people, expresses thus: rejoice, because “the Lord, your God, in your midst is a mighty Savior” (Zeph 3:17). Trust in the Lord who is among us, is among us. Many times we do not remember this: he is among us, when we do a good work, when we educate our children, when we take care of the elderly. Instead, he is not among us when we gossip, always speaking ill of others. There is no Lord there, there is only us. The coming of the Lord brings us salvation: therefore it is a reason for joy. God is “powerful”, says the Scripture: He can redeem our life because he is capable of doing what he says! Our joy is therefore not an illusory consolation, to make us forget the sadness of life. No, it is not an illusory consolation. Our joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ the Savior, who knocks at our heart, freeing it from sadness and boredom. Therefore the coming of the Lord becomes a celebration full of future for all peoples: in the company of Jesus we discover the true joy of living and of giving the signs of hope that the world awaits.
And the first of these signs of hope is peace. He who comes is Emmanuel, God with us, who gives peace to those loved by the Lord (see Luke 2:14). And as we prepare to welcome him, in this time of Advent, may our communities grow in their ability to accompany everyone, especially the young people on their journey towards Baptism and the Sacraments; and in a special way also the elderly, the elderly. The elderly are the wisdom of a people. Let us not forget this! And each of us can think: how do I behave in front of the elderly? Do I go looking for them? Do I waste time with them? Do I listen to them? “Oh no, they are boring, with their stories!” Do I abandon them? How many children abandon their parents in nursing homes. I remember once, in another diocese, I went to a nursing home to visit the people. And there was a lady who had three, four children. I asked: “And how are your children?” – “They are very well! I have many grandchildren” – “And they come to visit her?” – “Yes, they always come”. When I left the nurse said to me: “They come once a year”. But the mother covered up the children’s defects. Many leave the old people alone. They wish them a happy Christmas or Easter on the phone! Take care of the old, who are the wisdom of a people!
And let’s think of the young people on their way to Baptism and the Sacraments. In Corsica, thank God, there are so many! And congratulations! I have never seen so many children as here! It is a grace from God! And I only saw two little dogs. Dear brothers, have children, have children, who will be your joy, your consolation in the future. This is the truth: I have never seen so many children. Only in Timor-Leste were there so many like this, but in other cities not so many like this. This is your joy and your glory. Brothers and sisters, unfortunately we know well that among nations there is no lack of great reasons for pain: poverty, wars, corruption, violence. I tell you something: sometimes Ukrainian children come to the audiences, who were brought here because of the war. Do you know something? These children do not smile! They have forgotten how to smile. Please, let us think of these children in the lands of war, of the pain of so many children.
The Word of God, however, always encourages us. And in the face of the devastation that oppresses peoples, the Church announces a certain hope, which does not disappoint, because the Lord comes to dwell among us. And so our commitment to peace and justice finds in his coming an inexhaustible strength.
Sisters and brothers, in every time and in any tribulation, Christ is present, Christ is the source of our joy. He is with us in tribulation to carry us forward and give us joy. Let us always keep this joy in our hearts, this certainty that Christ is with us, walks with us. Let us not forget it! And so with this joy, with this certainty that Jesus is with us, we will be happy and we will make others happy. This must be our testimony.
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Final thanks at the end of the Mass
I thank Cardinal Bustillo for his words and for this whole day in which I felt at home! Thanks to all those who in different ways prepared this visit, to the ecclesial community and to the civil community. Go forward in harmony, in the distinction that is not separation, always collaborating for the common good. I would also like to greet a Corsican cardinal, who is with us today, Card. Mamberti.
I greet and bless the sick, the lonely elderly, the prisoners. May the Madunnuccia give comfort and hope to those who suffer. Be close to the elderly, the sick, the lonely. Close with your heart, close with your gestures, close with your help.
Brothers and sisters, may the Gospel of Jesus Christ help you to have your heart open to the world: your traditions are a wealth to be protected and cultivated, but not to isolate yourselves, ever. Forward with your traditions, forward, always for meeting and sharing.
Thank you all! Have a good journey towards Holy Christmas! Thank you.

Source: Translation of the Vatican Bulletin with Screenshot