Pope Francis began his General Audience by presenting a white rose before relics of St. Therese of Lisieux. He prayed before them for a few minutes then explained why they were there.
POPE FRANCIS
Here before us are the relics of St. Therese of Lisieux, universal patroness of the missions. It is beautiful that this happens while we are reflecting on the passion for evangelization, on the apostolic zeal. Today, then, let us be helped by the witness of St. Therese. She was born 150 years ago, and on this anniversary I plan to dedicate an Apostolic Letter to her.
The Pope said that, although St. Therese is the patroness of the missions, she never went on mission herself. Rather, she supported them with prayer and defined herself as “a small grain of sand.” She died at the age of only 24 from tuberculosis, but Pope Francis insisted that, although “her body was sick, she had a vibrant heart.”
POPE FRANCIS
A missionary is the one who lives as an instrument of God's love. And who does everything so that, through testimony, prayer and intercession, Jesus may come through. Let us always remember that apostolic zeal never works through force. Never.
Before closing his catechesis, Pope Francis greeted the pilgrims from all around the world who gathered in St. Peter's Square.
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