Pope Francis welcomes Catechumens in Saint Peter’s Basilica
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday evening presided over a gathering of Catechumens
in Saint Peter’s Basilica, in one of the final events of the Year of Faith. At
the beginning of the gathering, the Holy Father welcomed some 35 men and women by
presiding over the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. This was followed
by a celebration of the Liturgy of the Word. In his catechesis, which followed
the reading of the Gospel of John 1:35-42, the Pope emphasized “how important it is
to keep this desire [for God] alive, this yearning to encounter the Lord and experience
him, his love, his mercy!”“The faith,” he continued, “gives us the certainty of Jesus’
constant presence in every situation, also the most painful or difficult to understand.
We are called to journey, to enter always more deeply into the mystery of God’s love,
who is above us and enables us to live with serenity and hope.”
In an interview
with Vatican, Fr Geno Sylva, an official of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion
of the New Evangelization, explained the significance of this gathering. As the
Year of Faith comes to a close, he said, “what continues is the commitment of every
Christian to respond daily to the Lord Jesus who calls us to be his disciples, sent
out into the world to announce the Gospel, and to bear witness to the joy of a life
lived in faith.” The Year of Faith officially ends on Sunday with Mass, the presentation
of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, followed by the veneration of the relics of
St Peter the Apostle, which are being shown for the first time in history. Presenting
the relics of St. Peter, Fr Sylva said, is a “powerfully symbolic way to end the Year
of Faith.” “The whole purpose of the Year of Faith was to reawaken the faith of
the first Christians in the hearts of present-day and contemporary Christians.” “This
final, culminating sign,” he continued, “will confirm once again that the door for
the encounter with Christ is always open and awaits to be crossed with that very same
passion and enthusiasm, and the very same conviction of the very first believers.” Listen
to Ann Schneible’s full interview with Fr Geno Silva: