Despite it raining in St. Peter's Square, the pope did not want to use his umbrella. He calmly began his catechesis for the General Audience with this joke.
POPE FRANCIS
“Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! The day is not very nice, but good morning anyway.”
In his catechesis, Pope Francis explained the “Our Father” prayer request: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
POPE FRANCIS
“What is the most dangerous attitude of Christian life? Do you know what it is? Pride. Pride is the most dangerous attitude of the Christian life. It is the attitude of those who stand before God thinking that they owe Him nothing. The proud believe they have everything in order.” “They are the people who feel perfect, the people who criticize others, the proud people. None of us is perfect. No one.”
The pope stressed that there are sins that are seen and sins that are enshrined in the heart, without one realizing it because they are silent. One example is pride.
POPE FRANCIS
“In the past there was a convent of nuns, during the 1600s-1700s. It was famous at the time for Jansenism, who considered themselves perfect. It was said that these nuns were as pure as angels, but as arrogant as demons. What an ugly thing!”
Pope Francis warned that pride divides people, because it makes them despise others and believe that they are practically like God.
POPE FRANCIS
“We are all indebted. In this life we have received so much: life, a father and a mother, friendship and the wonders of creation. All of us have to go through difficult periods, but we must always remember that life is a grace. It is the miracle that God brought out of nothing.” “If you love, it is because someone smiled when you were a child, teaching you to respond with a smile.”
Pope Francis concluded that this love goes back to God. This is because He is the first to love everyone and invites all to contemplate Him on the Cross. When the Audience ended, the pope greeted Cardinal George Alencherry. He was made cardinal by Benedict XVI and is president of the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church, which is very present in India.
