Pope says God does not force men to believe in Him

(July 11, 2011) God does not force us to believe in Him, but draws people to Himself with truth and goodness. Pope Benedict XVI said this on Sunday before praying his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ with the faithful in the courtyard of the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, just outside Rome, where he is currently on vacation. Reflecting on Sunday’s Gospel reading on the parable of the sower, Pope Benedict said that Jesus openly spoke about the Kingdom of Heaven to his disciples as they had decide to follow Him; but to others he spoke in parables to awaken in them the decision, the conversion of the heart. The parables of Jesus intend to draw his listeners to him, to call them, "assuring them that if they turn to him, he will heal them." But above all Jesus Himself is the parable of God who does not force us to believe in him, but he draws us to himself with the truth and goodness of his incarnate Son. “Love, in fact, always respects freedom,” the Pope stressed. Pope Benedict recalled Monday’s feast of St. Benedict, the patron of Europe, and offered him as a “master of listening to the Word of God - a deep and persevering listening." He urged all to learn from the great patriarch of Western monasticism to give God the first place that belongs to him, through prayer and work.
After praying the ‘Angelus’, the Holy Father recalled all of Sunday’s observance of Sea Sunday drawing attention on the condition of seafarers and their families and those to care for them. "I have a special thought today for the chaplains who work in the pastoral care of sailors, fishermen and their families," he said in Italian. "I assure my prayers for those sailors who unfortunately find themselves the captives of pirates, “ the Pope said wishing that “they be treated with respect and humanity,” and prayed for their families that they be strong in faith and not lose hope of being reunited soon with their loved ones. After the ‘Angelus the Pope met a group representing families of some 800 seafarers from around the world who have been kidnapped and held by pirates. Piracy reached a record high in 2010 with 445 attacks, mostly along the Somalian coast. Sea Sunday is marked annually on the second Sunday of July to increase awareness about the work of seafarers and of the maritime ministry carried out by the Church since 1920 by the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea through the Stella Maris centres. According to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, that oversees the Apostleship of the Sea, there are almost 1.5 million seafarers from over 100 nations, 2/3 of them from developing countries, who serve the global economy by transporting 90% of world’s goods.
After praying the ‘Angelus’, the Holy Father recalled all of Sunday’s observance of Sea Sunday drawing attention on the condition of seafarers and their families and those to care for them. "I have a special thought today for the chaplains who work in the pastoral care of sailors, fishermen and their families," he said in Italian. "I assure my prayers for those sailors who unfortunately find themselves the captives of pirates, “ the Pope said wishing that “they be treated with respect and humanity,” and prayed for their families that they be strong in faith and not lose hope of being reunited soon with their loved ones. After the ‘Angelus the Pope met a group representing families of some 800 seafarers from around the world who have been kidnapped and held by pirates. Piracy reached a record high in 2010 with 445 attacks, mostly along the Somalian coast. Sea Sunday is marked annually on the second Sunday of July to increase awareness about the work of seafarers and of the maritime ministry carried out by the Church since 1920 by the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea through the Stella Maris centres. According to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, that oversees the Apostleship of the Sea, there are almost 1.5 million seafarers from over 100 nations, 2/3 of them from developing countries, who serve the global economy by transporting 90% of world’s goods.
During Sunday ‘Angelus’ Pope Benedict also encouraged parents to teach their children to value nature. Addressing French-speaking faithful, the Holy Father said, "I would like to recommend that during this time of vacation, you revive your spirits by contemplating the splendours of Creation." He urged parents to teach their children “to see nature, respect and protect it as a magnificent gift that presents to us the grandeur of the Creator!” Alluding to Sunday’s Gospel reading on the parable of the sower, the Pope said that with parables, "Jesus used the language of nature to explain to his disciples the mysteries of the Kingdom." He hoped that the images Jesus uses become familiar to us. "Let us remember that the divine reality is hidden in our daily lives like the seed in the soil. May it bear fruit in us!” the Pope said wishing all a good Sunday.