September 11, 2013 - Pope Francis held his weekly general audience on Wednesday,
the second since resuming the public meeting after a summer vacation of 2 months.
The general audience is an occasion for pilgrims and tourists visiting Rome to be
able see and hear the Pope, and also receive his blessing. The general audience
of Sept. 11 was held in the open in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square. It began with aides
reading a passage from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians in several
languages. Listen:
Pope
Francis then delivered his main discourse in Italian - summaries of which were read
out by aides in various languages, including in English. Listen:
Dear
Brothers and Sisters: today I wish to continue our catechesis on the Church by reflecting
on an image used by the early Fathers and the Second Vatican Council: the Church as
our Mother. By reflecting on the human experience of maternity, we understand that
the Church is like our own Mothers. First, like our Mothers, the Church gives us
the gift of life. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we are reborn as children of
God and receive his life. While faith is a personal act, we also recognize that faith
comes to us through others – our families and communities who teach us how to believe.
Second, like our Mothers, the Church nourishes us, helps us to grow, teaches us the
path to follow, and accompanies us in life, especially in our illnesses and sufferings,
through the Sacraments and the Word of God. Third, it is also our mission to go forth
and share in the maternity of the Church by bringing others to a life of faith. And
so we ask ourselves, do we love the Church as our Mother, who helps us to grow as
Christians? And how do we go beyond ourselves in order to bring Christ to others?
As faithful children, let us bring the light of Christ to the ends of the world.
Pope Francis greeted the various language groups mostly in Italian but also
in Spanish, his native language. Listen:
...
I offer an affectionate greeting to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors
present at today’s Audience, including those from England, Scotland, Wales, Denmark,
Norway, Sweden, Germany, Malta, Kenya and the United States. May your stay in the
Eternal City increase your love for Christ and his Church, our Mother. God bless
you all! (Blessing)