Pope urges Church not to give in to pessimism

March 15, 2013 - Newly elected Pope Francis on Friday urged the Catholic Church never to give in to pessimism, bitterness and discouragement in the face of today’s challenges and difficulties, but to continue trusting in Christ who guides the Church through His Holy Spirit. "Let us never give in to the pessimism, to that bitterness, that the devil places before us every day. Let us not give into pessimism and discouragement," he told the world’s cardinals, both voters and non-voters, who had gathered in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall to felicitate him. “We have a firm trust that the Holy Spirit, with his powerful breath, will grant the Church the courage to persevere and even find new methods of evangelization, to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth,” said the Pope who was elected Wednesday night. He explained that the Spirit who creates all the differences appears to be an apostle of Babel. But from another angle, it is He who brings about unity among all these differences, not in equality but in harmony. Pope Francis himself pledged his commitment, together with members of the Church, to serve the Gospel and help the Church become in and with Christ the fruitful vine of the Lord. Expressing esteem for old age, to which he as well as half of the cardinals belong, he said it is a period of tranquility and prayer, and urged the prelates to offer young people the wisdom of their life.