From the window of the Apostolic Palace, he greeted a local Emergency group and recalled the Italian Constitution. “Let war be banned, and problems addressed through law and negotiations.” He prayed for countries at war: “Let the weapons fall silent and give space for dialogue.” He recalled the Valencia tragedy: “What can I do? Think about this question.”
Vatican City () – This morning, after praying the Marian prayer of the Angelus from the window of the Apostolic Palace, the Pope greeted the faithful gathered in sunny St. Peter’s Square, especially the Italians from many cities. The greeting to the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of the Holy Spirit, who are celebrating 25 years of their secular fraternity, and to various local groups, was followed by the southern Rome group of the Emergency organization, founded by the Italian doctor Gino Strada in 1994. The group Roman was in the square with the banner of the “R1pud1a” campaign, whose objective is to create a community that works to repudiate war, a principle that is affirmed in Art. 11 of the Italian Constitution.
“May this principle be applied throughout the world,” said Bergoglio after reading a passage from the Constitution: “Italy repudiates war as a means of resolving international disputes and as an attack on the freedom of other peoples.” Which was immediately followed by an invitation: “Remember this article and go ahead!” A stimulus aimed at the NGO that was born in Milan, committed to defending peace and providing free, quality care to victims of war and poverty. Over the years he has worked in 20 countries, building hospitals, surgical centers, rehabilitation centers, pediatric centers, first aid posts, health centers and other intervention facilities. “War must be prohibited and issues must be addressed through law and negotiations,” the Holy Father added. Let the weapons fall silent, let space be given to dialogue. Let us pray for the tormented Ukraine, for Palestine, Israel, Myanmar and South Sudan.”
He then referred to the flood tragedy in Valencia, Spain, in recent days, which left at least 214 people dead and more than 1,000 missing. The death toll continues to grow with reconnaissance and rescue operations in the underground parking lot of the Bonaire shopping center completely submerged under water, with capacity for 5,700 cars. “We continue to pray for Valencia and other towns in Spain that are suffering so much these days. What do I do for the people of Valencia? Do I pray? Do I offer something? Think about this question,” said the bishop of Rome at the Angelus.
Before the prayer, Pope Francis commented on the Gospel of the day (Mk 12,28b-34), which narrates the episode in which a scribe approached Jesus in the temple and asked him: “What is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus responds by holding together “two fundamental words of the Mosaic law”: “You shall love the Lord your God” and “You shall love your neighbor” (vv. 30-31). The scribe’s question indicates the search for a “principle that is the basis of everything else.” “This question is also essential for us, for our life and for the journey of our faith. Indeed, sometimes we too feel lost in many things,” said Bergoglio. A confusion that leads one to wonder what are the most important things of all: “Where can I find the center of my life, of my faith? Jesus gives us the answer,” he added.
That is why it is necessary to “return to the heart of life and faith,” because precisely the heart “is the source and root of all other forces, of all other convictions,” said Francis, taking up the words of the last encyclical letter “Dilexit nos”, which was published on October 24, 2024. “Jesus tells us that the source of everything is love, that we must never separate God from man.” He added that there are many paths to go in this direction, but the important thing is not to do it “only for ourselves and without love”, nor “with a distracted heart or with a closed heart”, but “with love.” Because when the Lord comes “he will ask first about love.” To conclude, Francis said: “It is important, then, to engrave in our hearts the most important commandment: love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself, and to do our examination of conscience every day and ask ourselves: does the love of “Is God and my neighbor the center of my life?”
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