At his weekly General Audience from the library at the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis made a special appeal for the month of May, acknowledging the messages he received from laborers around the world.
POPE FRANCIS
It is true that the current crisis affects everyone, but people’s dignity must always be respected. That's why I add my voice to the appeal of these workers and of all exploited workers. May the crisis give us the opportunity to put the dignity of the person and of work at the center.
He began a new series of catechesis on prayer, reflecting on the story of the blind man Bartimaeus, who stubbornly continued shouting in order to get Jesus' attention.
POPE FRANCIS
Bartimaeus is a tenacious man. Around him, there were people saying that imploring was useless, that it was a shout without an answer, that it was a cacophony that served only to disturb others. They told him to stop yelling, but he didn't remain silent, and in the end, he got what he wanted.
The pope called Christians to imitate Bartimaeus' stubborn prayer. He explained that prayer is the foundation of faith.
POPE FRANCIS
Faith is a protest against a shameful condition whose motive we don't understand. 'Non-faith' is to limit ourselves by accepting a situation to which we've become accustomed. Faith is the hope of being saved. 'Non-faith' is to get used to the evil that oppresses us.
To underscore the importance of prayer, Pope Francis reminded the faithful to ask for the intercession of Our Lady, especially during the month of May, which is consecrated to her.
CT