Pope to religious: "we must cast nets"
This afternoon, 2 August, Pope Francis met with priests, bishops, deacons, consecrated men and women, seminarians and pastoral workers at the Jerónimos Monastery for the celebration of Vespers, the evening prayer.
"I am very happy to be with you and to experience World Youth Day together with so many young people, and also to share your ecclesial journey and hopes," the Holy Father said at the beginning of his homily.
As Pope Francis emphasised to all present, "what interests Christ is to bring the closeness of God precisely to places and situations where people live, struggle and hope", and he also highlighted the indifference to God and the growing distance from the practice of faith.
It is very sad when a person who has consecrated his life to God becomes an official, a mere administrator of things. We must cast our nets again. In the moment of discouragement, let's let Jesus back into the boat, he comes to look for us in our loneliness and crises, to help us start again.
Finally, Francis said that Jesus shows us the way and calls us to rebuild ourselves. "We dream of the Portuguese Church as a 'safe harbour' for those who face the voyages, shipwrecks and storms of life!"
With wishes of inclusion, the Holy Father said that the Church is for everyone: righteous and sinners, good and bad. "Get up every day to start again or to continue what you have started."
