During the General Audience, the pope recalled in the book of the Acts of the Apostles the arrival of Paul to Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia. This is how evangelism entered Europe.
Pope Francis remembered the first baptism of a woman named Lydia, that “opened her house to the Apostles.”
Thanks to this woman, the domestic churches flourished among the first Christians, Pope Francis said.
Later, Paul and Silas were imprisoned. However, this is how their jailer was converted.
“Let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts, like that of Lydia, to welcome his word and to serve others, and, like Paul and Silas, to be strengthened in the faith that alone can break the chains that enslave us and those around us,” concluded Pope Francis.
SUMMARY OF CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH
Dear brothers and sisters:
In our catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles, we now look at multiple events from Paul's second mission. He set out for Macedonia, guided by the Holy Spirit. Here, in Philippi, he preached to a group a women gathered for the Sabbath. One of the women, Lydia, opens her heart to Jesus and is baptized with her household.
This opens her home to Christ and followers, which is an example of Christian hospitality born out of faith. After healing a slave girl, Paul and Silas are thrown into jail. They pray to the Lord and are freed in a sudden earthquake.
Their jailer asks them to be saved, so he receives baptism with his family. This is an example of how the Holy Spirit and power of the Gospel works.
May the Holy Spirit open our hearts, like Lydia's, and let us welcome his word to serve others like Paul and Silas, and strengthen our faith that breaks the chains that enslave us and others.
I greet the English speakers here today. Especially those from England, Ireland, Denmark, Australia, Korea, Indonesia, Israel, the Philippines, Canada and the United States of America. May God bless you all!
