(ANSA) – ROME, MAY 9 – Pope Leo XIV lamented the fact that having faith in God is seen as “absurd” in many situations during the homily of his first Mass as pontiff before cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on Friday.
“Even today there are many situations in which the Christian faith is considered an absurd thing, for weak, unintelligent people,” the American-Peruvian pope said.
“Situations in which other securities, such as technology, money, success, power, pleasure, are preferred.
“These are environments in which it is not easy to witness and proclaim the Gospel and where believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or, at best, put up with and pitied”.
He also criticised the way many people, including some Christians, perceive Jesus as a sort of super hero.
“Even today there is no lack of situations in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to the level merely of a kind of charismatic leader or superman, not only among non-believers, but also among many of the baptised, who, in this way, end up living in a de facto atheism”.
Leo called for ministers of the Church to “disappear so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that He may be known and glorified, to spend oneself to the utmost so that no one may lack the opportunity to know and love Him”.
For the homily Leo chose the Gospel of Matthew, in which Jesus says. “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.
(ANSA).
Read article…
“Even today there are many situations in which the Christian faith is considered an absurd thing, for weak, unintelligent people,” the American-Peruvian pope said.
“Situations in which other securities, such as technology, money, success, power, pleasure, are preferred.
“These are environments in which it is not easy to witness and proclaim the Gospel and where believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or, at best, put up with and pitied”.
He also criticised the way many people, including some Christians, perceive Jesus as a sort of super hero.
“Even today there is no lack of situations in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to the level merely of a kind of charismatic leader or superman, not only among non-believers, but also among many of the baptised, who, in this way, end up living in a de facto atheism”.
Leo called for ministers of the Church to “disappear so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that He may be known and glorified, to spend oneself to the utmost so that no one may lack the opportunity to know and love Him”.
For the homily Leo chose the Gospel of Matthew, in which Jesus says. “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.
(ANSA).
Read article…
