The Pope spent fifteen minutes greeting pilgrims before his General Audience.
He blessed a zucchetto cap...
Put on an Indian robe...
And even accepted gifts from a group of children.
In his catechesis, the Pope acknowledged that he also struggles when he prays for something and nothing seems to change.
POPE FRANCIS
“This happens to all of us. We pray and pray, so that a friend, a father, a mother, may recover from illness, but then they leave us. Did God not listen to us? It happens to all of us.”
The Pope explains that prayer does not magically solve our problems, and suggests always starting prayer by asking God to resolve issues as He sees fit.
And of course, he says not to lose hope. The Pope recalls that Jesus rose on the third day, but that before the Resurrection the disciples thought all was lost.
POPE FRANCIS
“We develop this humble patience by waiting for the Lord's grace, by waiting for the last day. Often the penultimate day is very tough, because human suffering is not pleasant. But the Lord is still with us, and He resolves everything.”
At the end of the audience, the Pope stopped to greet many people.
Among them was this survivor of a concentration camp.
Her name is Lidia Maksymowicz, and at almost three years old she was sent on a death train to Auschwitz.
She showed the Pope her prisoner number tattooed on her arm, which he kissed as a sign of respect.
JMB
TR: Justin McLellan
VM
