Pope Francis waves as he leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican June 29. (CNS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters)
OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“The journey of faith is never a walk in the park, it is never easy for anyone, not for Peter nor for Paul, not for any Christian.” (Pope Francis on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29, 2022)
This summer’s severe drought and sweltering record temperatures across Italy and other parts of Europe have definitely not been a walk in the park for many; but that didn’t stop Pope Francis from delivering a compelling Angelus message on June 29 marking the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, the patron saints of Rome. These early Christian martyrs knew firsthand what it meant to be persecuted for their beliefs and how difficult the journey of faith can be for many Christians.
Speaking to 15,000 people from a window overlooking a sweltering St. Peter’s Square, the 85-year-old pontiff appeared resolute in his message, despite an injury to his right knee that has required him to use a wheelchair for the past two months. Now able to walk short distances with the support of a cane, the pope told the audience that although the faith journey can be sometimes “demanding and arduous,” he asks us to reflect on Peter’s words to Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Such a profession of faith sounds convincing; yet Peter’s faith seemed to deteriorate quickly when Jesus revealed to his disciples that he would suffer and die on the cross and be raised in three days. Peter’s response was: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” Pope Francis asked the crowd: “Does not the same thing happen to us? We repeat the Creed, we say it with faith, but when faced with the harsh trials of life, everything seems to falter. We are inclined to protest to the Lord, telling him that it is not right, that there must be other, more direct, less strenuous ways.”
Our Holy Father insists that it is during these moments of doubt when we should offer our uncertainties to the Lord and seek the lessons in the hardships we face. Just as Sts. Peter and Paul matured in their faith, we must also act accordingly by pondering the following questions: “In the light of this experience of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, each of us can ask ourselves: When I profess my faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, do I do so with the awareness that I must always be learning, or do I assume that I ‘already have it all figured out’? And again, in difficulties and trials do I become discouraged, do I complain, or do I learn to make them an opportunity to grow in trust in the Lord?”
After praying the Angelus, Pope Francis shared a message of solidarity for all in Ukraine, saying: “I carry in my heart every day the dear and tormented Ukraine, which continues to be plagued by barbaric attacks.” Referring to the Russian missile strike that hit a shopping mall in Kremenchuk on June 27, killing 20 people and injuring dozens more, the pope prayed for peace “that this foolish war may soon see an end,” and asked the Lord to “open those paths of dialogue that men are unwilling or unable to find. And let us not neglect to come to the aid of the Ukrainian people, who are suffering so much.”
During this scorching hot summer noontime gathering, Pope Francis also called for responsible stewardship of the environment as temperatures in Rome hit 104 degrees, its highest on record. “All this should make us reflect on the protection of creation, which is our responsibility. It is not a fad, it is a responsibility: the future of the earth is in our hands and with our decisions.”
At the end of his Angelus message, Pope Francis announced the first issue of L’Osservatore di strada, the new monthly magazine of the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano. This new monthly magazine is free of charge and comes from marginalized poor people who are involved directly in its writing and editing, and allowing themselves to be interviewed.
The Holy Father asked us not to forget those who suffer on the margins and to appreciate the gift of Catholic faith as a way to help put personal challenging moments in a global perspective. Catholic faith underscores God’s constant caring presence on the peripheries, calling all to work together in building a kingdom of justice and peace.
For more on how to walk this difficult yet promising journey together here in Hawaii, please visit the Office for Social Ministry website, officeforsocialministry.org.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
