Pope says true faith is expressed in love

(September 14, 2009) Faith in God must be expressed in concrete actions, lest it prove insufficient for our salvation, says Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope made the point on Sunday during his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer which he recited with pilgrims gathered at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, just outside Rome. Commenting on the readings of Sunday’s Mass, the Pope asked, “"Who is Jesus of Nazareth for you?" and "Does your faith translate into works or not?" St. Peter declares his belief that Jesus is the "Christ, that is, the Messiah, the consecrated one of God, sent to save his people." Peter and the other disciples, then, unlike the majority of the people, believe that Jesus is not only a great teacher, or a prophet, but much more. They believe that God is present in him and works in him. Yet, Pope Benedict pointed out, after Peter's expression of faith, he is reproached as Jesus tries to "make him understand that it is not enough to believe that he is God, but that, moved by charity, he must follow him along the same road, that of the cross." The Pope explained that Jesus came to show us the "way that leads to life," the way that is love, "which is the expression of true faith." The Pontiff continued: "If a person loves his neighbour with a pure and generous heart, it means that he truly knows God. "If instead a person says that he has faith, but does not love his brothers, he is not a true believer. God does not live in him," the Holy Father added.