Moving from gluttony to lust, Pope Francis focused on the difference between using someone and loving them. He emphasized that lust is wrong for two reasons: it devastates the relationship between people and it involves all the senses. The Pope challenged those present to preserve the beauty of God's creation, which he called the prize of the battle against lust.
SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH:
Dear brothers and sisters,
In our catechesis on the virtues and the vices, we now turn to lust, which is opposed to the beauty of that love which the Creator has implanted in our hearts and called us to cultivate in our relations with others, especially by the responsible use of our sexuality. Lust poisons the purity of love by turning it from a chaste, patient and generous acceptance of another person in all the mysterious richness of his or her being, into an egotistic desire for possession and immediate satisfaction. God’s gift of sexuality— which finds sublime expression in conjugal love—is at the service of human fulfillment and authentic freedom, whereas lust enchains us in selfishness and emptiness. May our hearts always treasure the beauty of love, which shares in the mystery of God’s own unconditional love for us, created in his own image.
I extend a warm welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially the groups from Australia and the United States of America. Upon all of you, and upon your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
KG
