Pope in Jordan: Holy Spirit begets harmony

(Vatican Radio) “The mission of the Holy Spirit… is to beget harmony – he is himself harmony – and to create peace in different situations and between different people.”

These words were delivered by Pope Francis as he celebrated his first Mass during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land on Saturday at the International Stadium in Amman, Jordan.

Listen to Ann Schneible’s report: 

Patriarch Fouad Twal, Patriarch of Jerusalem, greeted the Holy Father during Mass, addressing him in both Arabic and Italian.

"In your person," the patriarch said, “we see the figure of John the Baptist, patron of Jordan… You prepare the way of the Saviour through the conversion of hearts, raising your voice against every injustice and every violence.”

Also attending the Mass were 1,400 Jordanian children who were receiving their first Holy Communion that day.

In his homily during Mass, Pope Francis recalled the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus following his Baptism at the river Jordan, located close to where the Mass was taking place.

The Pope focused on three key themes, pertaining to how the Holy Spirit prepares, anoints, and sends.

He recalled how at the Baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit prepared “him for his mission of salvation, the mission of one who is a servant, humble and meek, ready to share and give himself completely.”

The Holy Father spoke about how the Holy Spirit was present at the beginning of salvation history at the Incarnation, and later acted through the prophets Simeon and Anna who “gave prophetic expression to the joy of encountering the Redeemer.”

“The mission of the Holy Spirit,” Pope Francis continued, “is to beget harmony – he is himself harmony – and to create peace in different situations and between different people.”

The Holy Spirit also anoints, the Pope said. “Through the anointing of the Spirit, our human nature is sealed with the holiness of Jesus Christ and we are enabled to love our brothers and sisters with the same love which God has for us."

Lastly, the Pope said, “the Holy Spirit sends. Jesus is the one who is sent forth, filled with the Spirit of the Father. Anointed by the same Spirit, we also are sent as messengers and witnesses of peace.”