The following comes from La Stampa:
On Mother’s Day, Pope Francis paid tribute to all mothers, “those who are still with us, and those who have gone to heaven”. “Today many countries celebrate Mother’s Day. Let us remember with gratitude and affection every mother, those who are now in the square, our mothers, those who are still with us, and those who have gone to heaven. Let us entrust them to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Let us say the Hail Mary!” Francis said, praying with the numerous faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
The Pope also gave a special mention to communications professionals. “Today is the 50th anniversary of the World Communications Day. Vatican II was behind it. In fact, the Council Fathers, reflecting on the Church in the contemporary world, understood the crucial importance of communications, which ‘can build bridges between individuals and within families, social groups and peoples. This is possible both in the material world and the digital world’ (Message 2016). I offer cordial greetings to everyone working the field of communications, and I hope that our way of communicating in the Church will always have a clear Gospel style, [conducted in] a manner that unites truth and mercy,” he concluded.
Before reciting the Regina Coeli, Bergoglio reflected on Jesus’ Ascension into heaven. “Jesus left our earthly space to enter into the fullness of God’s glory, carrying our humanity with him, our humanity therefore enters heaven for the first time.” “Since that day, it was possible for the Apostles and for every disciple of Christ to live in Jerusalem and in all the cities of the world, even the most troubled by injustice and violence, because the same sky lies over every city and every resident can look up with hope.” Herein lies hope. “In Jesus, God is a real man: with his human body, he is in heaven. This is our hope,” Francis stressed, “and our anchor. We are firm in this hope, if we look up at the sky”.
“This God,” the Pope says, explaining the Feast of the Ascension, “who revealed himself so close to take the face of a man, Jesus of Nazareth, lives” in this heaven. He remains forever the God-with-us. Let us remember this, Emmanuel, God with us – who does not abandon us! We can look up to see our future before us. The Ascension of Jesus, the Crucified and Risen One, holds the promise of our participation in the fullness of life with God.”
“This,” Francis noted, “is the witness – made not only with words but also with everyday life – the witness that should leave our churches every Sunday to go into homes, offices, schools, meeting places, hospitals, prisons, seniors’ centres, crowded immigrant gatherings, city suburbs during the week [. . .] We bear this witness, every week. Christ is with us. Jesus ascended to heaven, he is with us. Christ is alive.”
“The Holy Spirit is the real architect of the manifold witness that the Church and every baptised person bears to the world. Therefore, we can never neglect gathering in prayer to praise God and invoke the gift of the Spirit,” the Pope explained, “as we are doing now, in communion with faithful gathered at the Sanctuary of Pompei for the traditional prayer”.
Francis concluded with his usual wish and request: “I wish everybody a good Sunday and please, don’t forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch! Goodbye!”
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