As always, just before the general audience, the Pope traveled throughout St. Peter's Square in the Pope-mobile. The children that came to greet him were all noticeably bundled up, protected from the cold wind outside.
Each pilgrim tried their best to get the Pope's attention. This group achieved their purpose when they played their horn.
In his catechesis, the Pope explained that in the Bible God puts into practice his mercy by giving comfort to people.
POPE FRANCIS
'Sometimes we can also live in a type of exile, such as loneliness, suffering, death, which makes us think that we are abandoned by God. We can ask: Where is God? The Prophet Jeremiah gives us an answer: God is close to us, he is faithful and does great works of salvation for those who have faith in Him.â?
When reflecting on the exile of the Israelite's, the Pope put aside the written speech and spoke of the situation of forced migrants and refugees.
POPE FRANCIS
'When they try to go somewhere else, people close their doors. And they stay there, at the border, because many doors and many hearts have been closed. Today, migrants are suffering, left in the street, without food, without entering. They do not feel welcomed. I like to hear that nations or rulers have opened their hearts and opened their doors.â?
The Pope also greeted the some young people from Krakow, who are already preparing for the World Youth Day next July. He has asked them to also prepare themselves spiritually to receive hundreds of thousands of participants, just like Christ would.
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