He announced it at the Angelus with the faithful in St. Peter’s Square: “The purpose of the decision is to promote the understanding of synodality as a constitutive dimension of the Church and help everyone to live it.” When he commented on today’s Gospel, the pontiff invited to rediscover the prayers as a prayer that accompanies the daily moments of life. On October 18, a million children will pray the Rosary for peace with Aid to the Church that suffers.
Vatican City () – The next XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops – to conclude the itinerary on synodality convened by Pope Francis in the Churches around the world – will take place in two moments separated by a year apart : the first from October 4 to 29, 2023, the second in October 2024. This was announced by the pontiff himself at the end of the Angelus, who prayed as usual with the faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Square.
“The fruits of the synodal process that has begun – Francis explained – are many, but for them to reach full maturity it is necessary not to be in a hurry. Therefore, in order to have a longer time for discernment, I have arranged for this Synodal Assembly to be held in two sessions. I trust that this decision favors the understanding of synodality as a constitutive dimension of the Church, and helps everyone to live it on a path of brothers and sisters who bear witness to the joy of the Gospel”.
Before the Angelus, the Pope commented on the Gospel passage proposed by today’s liturgy, focusing on Jesus’ question: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18,8). “It is a serious question – he commented -. Let us imagine that the Lord arrives on earth today: he would unfortunately see many wars, poverty and inequalities, and at the same time great achievements of technology, modern means and people who always go fast, without ever stopping; But would he find someone who would give him time and affection, who would put him first? And above all let us ask ourselves: what would he find in me, if the Lord came today, what would he find in me, in my life, in my heart?
He stated that we often “neglect what is most important and let our love for God grow cold, little by little”, and explained that prayer is “the remedy to warm up a lukewarm faith”. “Prayer is the medicine of faith, the restorative of the soul. But it needs to be a constant prayer. If we have to follow a cure to be better, it is important to comply with it well, take the medicines in the correct way and at the right time, with constancy and regularity. In everything in life there is a need for this. Let’s think of a plant that we have at home: we have to constantly nourish it every day, we can’t soak it and then leave it without water for weeks!” Our faith – the Pope explained – also needs the daily water of prayer, it needs time dedicated to God, so that He can enter our time, our history; of constant moments in which we open our hearts, so that He can pour love, peace, glory, strength, hope into us every day; that is, nurture our faith.”
And faced with the objection of those who say they do not have time for prayer, the pontiff invited to rediscover the practice of ejaculatory prayers. “The name is a bit old-fashioned,” he explained, “but the substance is good. What is it about? Of very short prayers, easy to memorize, that we can repeat often during the day, during various activities, to be “in tune” with the Lord.” “How many times – he added – we send ‘messages’ to the people we love Let’s also do it with the Lord, so that the heart is always connected with Him. of life addressed to us”.
At the end of the Angelus, Pope Francis invited the faithful to accompany the initiative “A million children who pray the rosary can change the world”, which the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Suffering has proposed for October 18. “We join them – the Pope said – and entrust to the intercession of Our Lady the martyred Ukrainian people and all the peoples who suffer from war and all forms of violence and misery”. Lastly, he referred to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which is celebrated tomorrow, recalling that “everyone can help build a society where no one feels excluded for being destitute.”
