May Saint Lawrence awaken ‘the desire to bear witness to the Gospel’

In the general audience, the pontiff renewed the invitation to be builders of “unity and peace” in the family, in the Church and in society. Continuing with his catechesis on old age, Francis recalled that this time is “a promise” and a time to approach “with more maturity” the encounter with God. Wanting eternal youth is “delusional.”

Vatican City () – “May the liturgical feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr of the Church of Rome, awaken in each of us the desire to bear witness to the Gospel, always available to the poor and those who are in difficulty.” These were the words of Pope Francis at today’s general audience, in the Paul VI Hall.

On the day that the Church commemorates Saint Lawrence, the third-century martyr who, according to tradition, died burned alive on a grill, the Holy Father exhorted everyone to be builders of unity and peace in the family, in the Church and in society. “It is not easy to be builders of peace, but we have to be, because it is a beautiful job,” Francis added. The pope dedicated “a thought to the people of Ukraine who continue to suffer from this cruel war. I would also like to pray for the migrants who arrive continuously.”

Always attentive to current affairs, the pontiff also expressed his closeness to the victims of the tragedy caused by the explosions and fires at the oil base in Matanzas (Cuba). “We ask our Mother, Queen of Heaven, to watch over the victims of this tragedy and their families,” he said, greeting the Spanish-speaking pilgrims.

In today’s catechesis, the Pope continued to reflect on old age. The central theme of his meditation was: “I am going to prepare a place for you. Old age, time projected towards fulfillment.” Starting from Jesus’ farewell address to his disciples, Francis highlighted his “words of consolation and promise”: “Let not his heart be troubled” (14:1); “When I have gone and prepared a place for you, I will come back and take you with me, so that where I am, you may also be” (14,3); “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do and will do greater works” (14,12).

“Old age is the propitious time for the moving and joyful testimony of this expectation,” the Pope said. They are the works of faith, which already transcends the power of youthful energies and impulses, and which makes “even more transparent the promise of life’s true destiny: a place at table with God, in God’s world.” The Pontiff said it would be interesting to see ways in the local Churches to revive “this special ministry of waiting for the Lord, encouraging the individual charisms and community qualities of the elderly.”

Old age, according to the holy father, should be lived with sweetness and respect for real life, knowing that this is possible thanks to the death, resurrection and ascension to heaven of Jesus. “Our life is not destined to close in on itself, in an imaginary earthly perfection: it is destined to go beyond, through the passage of death”, remembering that the point of arrival is not here, but is “next to the Lord, where He dwells forever.” Man on earth is only in a “novitiate process”, in which, as an “apprentice of life”, he learns to appreciate the gift of God. “The presumption of stopping time – wanting eternal youth, unlimited well-being, absolute power – is not only impossible, but delusional,” the Pope continued. “Our existence on earth is the time of initiation to life, which only finds its fulfillment in God. Old age brings the hope of this fulfillment closer and is credible when it invites us to rejoice over the passage of time.”

Therefore, “old age that rediscovers the depth of the gaze of faith” is the goal to which one must aspire, always striving to attain the eternal joy that Jesus promises. “Dear brothers and sisters, old age, lived in expectation of the Lord, can become the consummate “apology” of faith, which gives reason for our hope for all,” Francis concluded.

Greeting the French-speaking pilgrims at the end of the audience, the pontiff also referred to the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which will be celebrated in a few days: “May She, who has entered the glory of heaven, support our courage in this time of pilgrimage that we still have to live here on earth, and help the elderly to give a joyful testimony of their faith and their hope”.