Pope Francis: Catechists "pillar" for education in faith

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday evening met with participants of the International Conference on Catechesis, organized for the Year of Faith, which is meeting under the theme “Catechist: A Witness of Faith”. Speaking to two thousand catechists, Pope Francis them for their service to the Church, called them a “pillar” for education in the faith. The Holy Father reminded them that he, too, is a catechist, and being a catechist “begins with Christ.”

“The first thing, for a disciple, is to be with the Master: to listen to and learn from Him,” said Pope Francis. "This is always the case, and it is a way that lasts a lifetime!"

Pope Francis said such moments can be difficult to find, especially for those who are married and have children, but emphasized there are a variety of forms of spirituality, and the important thing is to find a suitable way to be with the Lord.

Pope Francis also said catechists must imitate Christ in reaching out to others.

“This is a beautiful experience, and a bit paradoxical,” he said. “Why? Because the person who puts Christ at the centre of his life is off-centre. The more you unite with Jesus and make Him the centre of your life, the more He makes you abandon yourself, decentralize yourself, and open yourself to others.”

He said this was the life in Christ.

“In the heart of the catechist, there always lives this ‘systolic- diastolic’ movement: union with Jesus; encounter with the other,” the Pope said. “If at one of these two movements is no longer beating, then you do not live.” 

Pope Francis also told the catechists to not be afraid to “go with Christ to the peripheries.”

“Jesus does not say: go, make do. No! Jesus said : Go, I am with you!,” emphasized Pope Francis. 

“This is our beauty and our strength: If we go, if we go out to bring his Gospel with love, with true apostolic spirit , with frankness , He walks with us , before us always [preceding] us.”

He said this is crucial to remember.

Pope Francis: A true Christian has to endure humiliations with joy and patience

(Radio Vatican) Pope Francis said on Friday the proof of whether we are true Christians is shown by our ability to endure humiliations with joy and patience. Speaking at his morning mass in the Vatican’s Santa Marta guesthouse, the Pope stressed this need for sacrifice in the Christian’s life of faith. 


In his homily at the mass, the Pope began with the Gospel account from St. Luke where Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was to illustrate his reflections on what is demanded of a Christian who follows the Lord. It was after this question and Peter’s correct answer, the Pope continued, that Jesus revealed to the disciples his Passion, his death and his resurrection and he recalled Peter’s horrified reaction to this news in the gospel account from St. Matthew. He said “Peter was frightened and scandalized just like many Christians” who declare “this will never happen to you, I will follow you up to this point.” 

Pope Francis said “this is the temptation of a spiritual wellbeing.” Like the young rich man in the gospel “who wanted to follow Jesus but only up to a certain point.” He said “the scandal of the Cross continues to block many Christians” who rather than following this path of the Cross complain about the wrongs and insults they’ve had to ensure.

The Pope said “the proof if somebody is a true Christian is his or her ability to endure humiliations with joy and patience.” This, he concluded, is our choice, “whether to be a Christian of wellbeing or a Christian close to Jesus” who walks along the path of the Cross.