At the General Audience, Pope Francis reflected on St. Paul's tireless missionary work in preaching the Gospel in Rome, despite being a prisoner.
He reminded Christians that God's word “can never be chained.” He urged them to ask for the grace to make their communities places of fraternity and encounter with the Lord.
SUMMARY OF CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Today we conclude our catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles with Paul’s arrival in Rome, in chains, to appeal his case to Caesar. As we have seen, Saint Luke’s account of the spread of the Gospel largely coincides with Paul’s missionary journeys. In Rome, Paul is welcomed by the Christian community and permitted to remain under house arrest.
Luke ends the Book of Acts not with Paul’s martyrdom but by describing his tireless proclamation of the Gospel, showing the power of God’s word which can never be chained. Paul’s missionary journeys, culminating in this City, reveal the power of God’s grace to open hearts to the Gospel and its saving message.
Having in these past months followed the spread of the Good News throughout the world, let us ask the Holy Spirit to renew in each one of us the call to be courageous and joyful missionary disciples of Christ. In this way, we – in the footsteps of Paul – will fill our world with the Gospel and make our communities places of fraternity where all can encounter the risen Lord.
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially the groups from Finland and the United States of America. Upon you and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless you!
Claudia Torres
