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Luxembourg (Agenzia Fides) - Service, mission, joy. These three words are the focus of the second and final speech delivered by Pope Francis in Luxembourg, the first stop on this Apostolic Journey to the heart of Europe, the 46th foreign trip for the Argentine Pope.
In the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture dating back to the 17th century, the Bishop of Rome, echoing the words of the young people present, recalled that "the Church of Jesus Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve", because "the spirit of the Gospel is a spirit of welcoming, of openness to everyone; it does not admit any kind of exclusion".
On the subject of mission, Pope Francis repeated the words of Cardinal Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich, who, when welcoming the Pope in the Cathedral, had spoken of the "evolution of the Church in Luxembourg in a secularized society". "I like this expression," said the Pope, "The Church, within a secularized society needs to evolve, mature and grow". "It cannot close itself off in sadness, resignation or resentment. On the contrary, it must accept the challenge while remaining faithful to the its perennial values, going beyond an approach of simple pastoral care to one of missionary proclamation," he stressed.
In this context, the Pope said: "What drives us to be missionaries is not the need to meet quotas or to proselytise, but rather our desire to make known to as many brothers and sisters as possible the joy of encountering Christ". And he quoted Pope Benedict XVI: “Remember what Pope Benedict said: ‘The Church does not grow by proselytism but by attraction’.
“Thus, as we overcome difficulties, the living power of the Holy Spirit is at work within us! Love moves us to proclaim the Gospel, which opens us to others. Accepting the challenge of this proclamation allows us to grow as a community,” Pope Francis continued.
Referring to Saint Gregory the Great, the Pope moved on to the theme of joy: “This is what our faith is like: full of joy, it is a “dance”, because we know that we are children of a God who is our friend, who wants us to be happy and united, who rejoices above all in our salvation.”
And finally, the Pope recalled a “beautiful tradition” in Luxembourg, namely the procession “which takes place in Echternach at Pentecost. This procession commemorates the tireless missionary efforts of Saint Willibrord, who evangelized these lands. The entire city pours out onto the streets and dances through the city squares, accompanied by the many pilgrims and visitors who join you. Moreover, the procession becomes a great unified dance."
"The mission the Lord entrusts to us is beautiful. Let us console and serve, following Mary’s example and with her help," concluded the Pope. Before arriving at the airport to fly to Belgium, he inaugurated the Marian Jubilee on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the veneration of Mary in Luxembourg under the title “Consoler of the Afflicted.” Francis then paid homage to the statue of Our Lady with the golden rose. And in the meantime, the time has come to say goodbye: the plane to Brussels awaits him. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 26/9/2024)
