EWTN News Nightly presents the recent words of the Holy Father to 50,000 lay people in St. Peter's Square, reflecting on their hands-on approach to spreading the Gospel. For more from Rome and the Vatican with EWTN Vatican bureau chief Andreas Thonhauser, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Pope Francis met in St. Peter's Square with 50,000 members of Azione Cattolica, "Catholic Action," who came from all over Italy. Founded in 1868, this widespread lay association, rooted in the Gospel's teachings, provides a pathway for human and spiritual development to individuals of all ages.
Their presence moved the Pope, saying, "Just now, passing through your midst, I met eyes filled with joy and hope. Thank you for this intense and beautiful embrace."
"With Open Arms" was the title of the gathering held at the Vatican, emphasizing the importance of walking together, appreciating diversity, and engaging with today's men and women.
In his address, the Holy Father reflected on the value of embracing one another and the power of this gesture to bring people together.
"When an embrace turns into a fist," the Holy Father warned, "it becomes very dangerous. Often, wars originate from missed or rejected embraces, followed by prejudices, misunderstandings, and suspicions until the other is seen as an enemy. Unfortunately, all of this is happening right before our eyes in too many parts of the world!"
Pope Francis also spoke about the embrace of Christ and the saving embrace of faith. The Holy Father continued that Jesus showed us that embrace by dying on the Cross and giving His life for us.
"Brothers and sisters, let us allow ourselves to be embraced by Him," he said, "like children, let us allow ourselves to be embraced by Him like children. Each of us has something childlike in our hearts that needs an embrace. Let us allow ourselves to be embraced by the Lord. Thus, in the embrace of the Lord, we learn to embrace others."
The Pope urged everyone to make charity the guiding principle capable of "influencing every endeavor and service, to remain faithful to the association's vocation and history," and to implement tangible signs of change across all aspects of social life.
Adapted by Jacob Stein
Sign up here: HTTPS://MAILCHI.MP/EWTN/VATICAN
Andreas Thonhauser is EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the WU Executive Academy in Vienna and a Master’s degree in German Philology/Anglistics and Americanistics from the University of Vienna. Prior to joining EWTN, Thonhauser worked as the Director of External Affairs for a global human rights organization, and for several media outlets in Vienna, Austria.
