During his catechesis at the General Audience, Pope Francis reflected on how today's hectic life breeds superficiality, gossip and a complete incapability to think and pray.
POPE FRANCIS
'But many times, each one of us look inside, we are working on something, and when we finish, we immediately look for our phone to do something else... We are always like this, and this does not help. This makes us slip into superficiality.'
As a counterexample, the Pope gave the figure of St. Joseph. Pope Francis highlighted how the saint's silence and good deeds are contrary to people who say much but do little.
POPE FRANCIS
'Silence. Fruitful words when we speak, and we remember that song, “Words, words, words,” and nothing of substance. Silence, speaking enough, biting one's tongue a bit, which can be good at times instead of saying foolish things.'
For the Pope, silence is not simply not speaking, but rather, a calm attitude which can help build a strong personality that does not succumb to superficiality.
JRB
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