During his General Audience, Pope Francis spoke about apostolic zeal, emphasizing the role of saints and religious men and women, particularly those living a monastic life.
POPE FRANCIS
The religious are the beating heart of the proclamation. Interestingly enough, they are beating heart: their prayer is oxygen for all the members of the Body of Christ; it is the invisible force that sustains the mission.
They are the real strength, the real force that carries God's people forward.
Pope Francis used the example of the Armenian monk St. Gregory of Narek, who he declared a Doctor of the Church in 2015. The Pope highlighted how St. Gregory's life in the monastery was instrumental in his mission of bringing mercy to the world.
POPE FRANCIS
His most striking aspect is precisely the universal solidarity that he embodies.
At the end of the audience, the Pope gave a special greeting to a group of young people who recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
POPE FRANCIS
I encourage each of you to be joyful witnesses of Christ among your peers. Understand? Joyful witness of Christ among your peers.
Pope Francis also encouraged those present in St. Peter's Square to remember Ukraine in their prayers.
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