Pope Francis arrived at the Cathedral of St. Dionysius in Athens to meet with members of the small Catholic community in Greece.
The Pope reflected on the figure of St. Paul, focusing on two of the apostle's attitudes that he said continue to help live out the faith today. They are trust and acceptance.
POPE FRANCIS
ORIG. ITALIAN
'That is the attitude of a true apostle: to go forward with confidence, preferring the uncertainty of unexpected situations rather than the complacency that comes from the force of habit.'
“Trust” and “acceptance” are the two things the Pope asked of Catholics in Greece, who make up one percent of the country's 11 million inhabitants and who are split into three different traditions: Latin, Byzantine and Armenian. The Pope said that being a minority does not mean being insignificant.
During the meeting, religious, catechists and lay men and women shared their testimonies with the Pope.
One of the speakers was Rokos, who told his story as a father in a family of both Catholic and Orthodox traditions. He recounted how his children have drifted away from the faith.
Pope Francis responded that the critical attitude of some young people is also good because it helps the Church to reflect.
Remembering the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI about caring also about agnostics and atheists, Pope Francis invited Catholics to widen that welcoming attitude to include the Orthodox community, which makes up 86 percent of the Greek population.
POPE FRANCIS
ORIG. ITALIAN
'The challenge is to develop a passion for the whole, a passion for the whole, which can lead us—Catholics, Orthodox, brothers and sisters of other creeds, even Agnostic brothers and sisters, everyone—to listen to one another, to dream and work together, to cultivate the “mystique” of fraternity.'
Participants sang in Spanish as Pope Francis processed out of the cathedral.
This event concluded the first day of the Pope's apostolic visit to Greece.
BGA
TR: CT
