Francis’ words on International Women’s Day at the end of the general audience in Saint Peter’s Square. In the catechesis he referred to the ecclesial dimension of evangelization, taking up the decree ad gentes of the Second Vatican Council. “Whoever thinks he owns the ad is not a missionary.”
Vatican City () – “On International Women’s Day, I think of all women: I thank you for your commitment to building a more humane society, through your ability to capture reality with a creative eye and a tender heart”. Pope Francis said this today, addressing the faithful at the end of the Wednesday general audience that was held in Saint Peter’s Square.
In his weekly catechesis, continuing the cycle of reflections on apostolic zeal in evangelization, Francis dwelled on the theme of the ecclesial dimension of the mission, recalling the relevance of the decree ad gentes, the document that the Second Vatican Council dedicated to this topic. “Evangelizing is always an ecclesial service, never solitary, never isolated or individualistic,” he commented. “Evangelization is always done in ecclesiathat is, in community and without proselytizing, because that is not evangelizing”.
“The temptation to proceed ‘alone’ – he added – is always on the lookout, especially when the road becomes impassable and we feel the weight of commitment. Equally dangerous is the temptation to follow easier pseudo-ecclesial paths, to adopt the mundane logic of numbers and surveys, to trust in the strength of our ideas, programs, structures, of the ‘relationships that count'”.
Quoting some passages from the conciliar decree ad gentesthe Pope recalled the vocation of all baptized to the mission: “Apostolic zeal is not an enthusiasm – he explained -, it is something else, it is a grace of God, which we must safeguard. We must understand its meaning, because in the People of God pilgrim and evangelizer there are no active and passive subjects. There are not those who preach, those who announce the Gospel in one way or another, and those who remain silent”.
In evangelization, the Pope also invited not to become sclerotized or fossilized, freeing himself “from a restlessness that is not from God.” The believer’s missionary zeal – he added – is also expressed as a creative search for new ways of announcing and witnessing, of new ways of meeting the wounded humanity that Christ took care of. In short, new ways of serving the Gospel and serving humanity. Evangelism is a service. If a person calls himself an evangelizer and does not have that attitude, that servant’s heart, and believes he is a teacher, he is not an evangelizer, no… he is a poor man”.
Rediscovering ourselves with the love of God that has been given to us “does not confine us in spaces of static personal tranquility. On the contrary, it also leads us to live more and more fully what we have received, sharing it with others, with a sense of responsibility and traveling together the often tortuous and difficult paths of history, waiting vigilantly and laboriously for their fulfillment. Let us ask the Lord for this grace – the Pope concluded – to take this Christian vocation into our hands and give thanks to the Lord for what he has given us has given, this treasure. And try to communicate it to others”.
Finally, the Pope renewed his habitual invitation not to forget the martyred Ukrainian people: “Let us always keep them present in our hearts and in our prayers.”
