The Holy Father prayed the Angelus on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Thus, he recalled Christ's baptism in the Jordan River, an act that demonstrates Jesus' humility.
POPE FRANCIS
“He who had not sinned, put himself in the queue with the penitents, mixing among them, to be baptized in the waters of the river.”
Pope Francis explained this baptism also serves as more proof of the promise God keeps with humanity.
POPE FRANCIS
“As at Bethlehem, along the banks of the Jordan God keeps His promise to take charge of the human being's fate, and Jesus is the tangible and definitive sign of it.”
Before 20,000 faithful gathered in the square, the pope said the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord invites Christians to recall their own baptism and gave the pilgrims some homework – to find out the date they were baptized.
POPE FRANCIS
“We must always have that date in our memory, because it's a date of celebration, it's the date of our initial sanctification; it's the date in which the Father gave us the Holy Spirit who pushes us to walk; it's the date of the great forgiveness.”
Before leaving, Pope Francis hoped all Christians were able to understand the great gift of baptism and live it with coherence.
