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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Gospel of Christ is announced to the poor first, and the Nativity scene itself is the sign of this predilection. Pope Francis recalled this in the speech prepared for the meeting with a delegation of young people of the Fraternité missionnaire des Cités, on Thursday, January 4. The Bishop of Rome spoke with his young guests in the Apostolic Palace. In the text prepared for the meeting, given to the delegation, he indicated their pilgrimage to Rome, to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, as a precious opportunity to revive "the generous and missionary zeal of the early Church". Then he invited to contemplate the Nativity scene. "We see a simple and poor place" we read in Pope Francis' speech, "a periphery, a banlieue of that time. The shepherds who came to the crib are marginalized people with a bad reputation. And yet the Gospel of salvation is announced to them first. They are poor but they have a ready heart. This is your experience too", continues the text of the Successor of Peter, referring to the specific mission carried out by the Fraternité in urban contexts. "You do not have to go very far" underlines the Pontiff's text "in your service to the heart of cities, to discover the existential peripheries of our societies, which more often than not are close at hand, in your area, at the street corner, on the same floor of the building. It is up to you to bring the message that was given to the shepherds: “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people” (Lk 2:10). Therefore, do not be afraid of leaving behind your securities to be able to share your daily life with your brothers and sisters. Among them too, many have a ready heart and are unknowingly awaiting the good news".
In the final part of his speech, Pope Francis invites the young people of the Fraternité "to live fraternity generously in the midst of your neighbourhoods, an openness of hearts, hands, and ears, for a sincere welcome. Fraternity", he adds, "is the leaven of peace that all peripheries need: it enables each person to feel accepted as they are, wherever they are. I urge you, in every encounter you make, to discover in your brothers and sisters the presence of the Lord Jesus, and to show the presence of a compassionate God, a God who wants to express Himself and to act through your deeds, your words, your simple presence; a patient God who moves in step with every person, with their wounds, their rebellions, their anger. I also know" continues the text of the pontifical speech "how violence, indifference and hatred can sometimes blight neighbourhoods: today you have the courageous and necessary mission of bringing God’s closeness, compassion and tenderness to people who are often deprived of dignity and love". (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 4/1/2024)
