Faith begins in our encounter with Christ: Pope

Vatican City, 18 April 2013: Faith is a gift that begins with encountering Jesus, the real person and not a "god-spray", said Pope Francis in his homily of the Mass celebrated on Thursday morning at Casa Santa Marta. The celebration was attended by the staff of the Inspectorate of Public Security at the Vatican.

Faith is not an impalpable presence, like an essence of mist that spreads around without really knowing what it is. God is a concrete ‘Person’, and therefore faith in Him comes from a living encounter, which we experience as tangible. Reflecting on the Gospel of John, where Jesus tells the crowd that "he who believes has eternal life", the Pontiff said it is an opportunity for an examination of conscience. He said that we believe in God who is Father, who is the Son, who is the Holy Spirit. We believe in people, and when we talk to God we talk to People: or speak with the Father, with the Son or with the Holy Spirit. And this is the faith. "

"He who has faith has eternal life. But faith is a gift, the Father gives it. We ask the Lord to help us grow in this faith, this faith that makes us strong, it makes us joyful, this faith that always begins with the encounter with Jesus and continue in the life with small daily encounters with Jesus", Pope Francis added.

At the end of the Mass, Pope Francis thanked specially the Inspectorate of Public Security at the Vatican for the services they render, which he said is "a service for the common good, for the common peace".
Source: VR Italian