“the mystery of the Church”

From St. Peter’s Square the invitation to pray the rosary “every day.” Entrusted to the “caring mother” Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar and Sudan, and the populations suffering “the madness of war.” The commentary on the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles: the unity of the Church “is not achieved at the table, but in life.”

Vatican City () – After a heartfelt invitation to “pray the rosary every day, trustingly abandoning oneself in the hands of Mary”, Pope Francis, this morning, from the parvis of Saint Peter at the end of the general audience of On Wednesdays, he reminded the populations that “suffer the madness of war.” “In particular, the tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, Sudan,” he told a packed square. Remembering that the current month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary – “a precious occasion to enhance this traditional Marian prayer” – he also entrusted to the Mother of Jesus “the sufferings and desire for peace” of the entire world.

Continuing with the cycle of catechesis on the Holy Spirit, Francis focused today on the theme “All were filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles. Commenting on the passage of Acts 11:15-27, proclaimed in different languages ​​at the beginning of the audience, the Holy Father underlined how Saint Luke, the author, highlights that “the Holy Spirit is the one who ensures the universality and unity of the Church.” After receiving the Holy Spirit, the Apostles leave the Upper Room to announce Jesus to the crowd. The Spirit acts in two ways in favor of the unity of the Church. «On the one hand, it pushes the Church outwards, so that it can welcome more and more people and peoples; on the other, it brings it together within itself to consolidate the unity achieved.

«Universal and one. This is the mystery of the Church,” said the Pontiff. To explain to the faithful the movement of universality – “its origin expresses the universality of the Church”, he had said on Sunday at the end of the Angelus, announcing the creation of 21 new cardinals– spoke of chapter 10 of Acts, which narrates the conversion of Cornelius, an episode in which the barrier “between Jews and pagans” fell. “To this ethnic expansion is added geographical expansion,” he added, recalling the dream narrated again in the Acts and fulfilled by Saint Paul, which took him to Macedonia and then to the gates of Europe, a new continent.

Stopping at the unity of the Church, the Bishop of Rome pointed out that it is highlighted in chapter 15, where “the development of the so-called Council of Jerusalem” is recounted. «The problem is how to ensure that the universality achieved does not compromise the unity of the Church. The Holy Spirit does not always bring about unity abruptly,” he said. On the contrary, he works “with discreet work, respectful of times and human differences, including people and institutions, prayer and confrontation. In a way, we would say today, synodal.

«The Holy Spirit does not bring about the unity of the Church from outside; It is not limited to ordering us to be united. He himself is the link of unity. It is He who makes the unity of the Church,” he added. The speech concluded with some suggestions. «The unity of the Church is unity between people and is not realized at the table, but in life. It is realized in life,” Francisco recalled. An action that is full of difficulties, even within marriage and family. “The reason for this difficult unity between us is that each one wants, yes, unity to be created, but around their own point of view,” he said. Thus, “the unity of life, the unity of Pentecost, according to the Spirit, is achieved when we strive to put God at the center, not ourselves.” The unity of Christians is also built in this way.