A passion for the gospel and a judgment-free gaze can help build a new kind of brotherhood. This is the advice of Pope Francis to the Hungarian bishops. The Pope also stated that a new preaching oriented towards hope is needed. In a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment, “the church can only become the protagonist of approaching people”.
(Vatican News Network) Pope Francis arrived in Budapest, Hungary, on the morning of September 12 to preside over the closing mass of the 52nd International Eucharist Congress. After the pope arrived, he first met the president and prime minister of the country in the Rome Hall of the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts, and then met the bishops of the country in the Renaissance Hall of the same museum. The pope mentioned the past history of martyrdom in this country, and pointed out that not only should we guard the past, we should also look forward to the future, live out charity, and witness the gospel.
The Pope first said: “Many brothers and sisters, many bishops and priests have survived the celebrations held on the altar: they were crushed like grains of wheat, so that everyone could be filled with the love of God; they were like grapes. They were squeezed in that way to make the blood of Christ become the vitality of new life; although they were crushed to pieces, the dedication of love became the seeds of the rebirth of the gospel, planted in the history of this people.”
The Pope pointed out that it is necessary to “guard the past” and also “look to the future”. Protect the roots and history of religion, but “find a new way for preaching the gospel.” We should keep in mind the teachings of Benedict XVI. He said, “The Christian heritage is not a collection of things or words, like a box full of dead things. In fact, the Apostolic heritage is a river of new life. , It flows out from the source, Christ, until we are here, bringing us into the history of God’s interaction with mankind.”
The Pope went on to say: “The church comes from the source of Droch, and was sent to make the gospel like a river of living water, infinitely wider and more hospitable than your vast Danube, flowing into the dry land of the world and people’s hearts, purifying and satisfying them. Therefore, the bishop’s pastoral ministry does not have to repeat the news of the past, but becomes the eternally new prophetic voice of the gospel in the lives of God’s holy people and in today’s history.”
To fulfill this mission, the Pope made three suggestions to the bishops: to be a preacher of the gospel, to be a witness of brotherhood, and to be a creator of hope.
The first is to be a preacher of the gospel. The Pope said that when the society in which we live does not seem to be enthusiastic about the Christian views we put forward, we may close ourselves in the circle of “maintaining institutions and structures”, but we should always see “at the center of church life” It is an encounter with Christ”. Christ is the source of living water that quenches the thirst of the soul. The presence of the church in society is only to “awaken people’s desire for God and bring them the living water of the gospel”.
“Therefore, my request to your bishop is first: no structural bureaucratic management: let others do it; don’t seek privileges and superior environment: you are servants, servants, not princes. But what do I ask you to do? Passion for the gospel, love its original appearance. Be loyal to and love the gospel, become a witness and preacher of the good news, and a spreader of joy, approach the priests and priests with the heart of a father, and use the art of listening.”
The pope further clarified his views on the image of the bishop, reminding each shepherd of the four closeness that each pastor should have: first, close to God, so set aside time for prayer; second, close to each other between bishops, with the brotherhood of bishops ; The third is approaching the priest, “the closest person to the bishop is the priest.” The fourth is to approach “the faithful and holy people of God.” The Pope urged the bishops not to forget their flocks, “There is no need to be afraid to mobilize the lay people: they will become channels through which the rivers of faith will re-irrigate Hungary.”
Speaking of being a witness of brotherhood, the Pope pointed out that Hungary is a land of common living. Different nationalities, ethnic groups, minorities, religious beliefs and immigrants convert this land into a multicultural environment. The new reality can be scary at first, worrying about losing the sense of security that has been gained, but it is an opportunity to open your heart.
The Pope said that in the face of these differences, we have two attitudes: closing ourselves in a rigid state of mind that maintains our identity, or opening our hearts, meeting others, and jointly fostering a dream of a brotherly and loving society. . The church is called to build a “new bridge for dialogue”. Only in this way can the river of the gospel reach the crowd, and “a more friendly and stable society can also sprout in Hungary.”
The third piece of advice the Pope made to the bishops is: to be the creator of hope. The Pope said that this means that the church in Hungary must be the distributor of God’s mercy to all. Putting the gospel at the center and witnessing brotherhood, so that “we can look forward to the future with hope”, even in today’s “small or large storm”. The Pope warned that “disappointment and disappointment will never come from God”.
The Hungarian church has recently been able to reflect on why it was a paradoxical process from the era of centralization to the era of regaining freedom: the moral life was corrupted, criminal activities increased, organ trafficking, and many children were even killed. The Pope said that social problems include “family difficulties, poverty, and trauma to the younger generation. In this environment, democracy still needs to be consolidated. The church can only be the protagonist of approaching people, the implementer of caring and comforting others. Never let the light of hope be taken away.”
God is always with us. Here, the Pope mentions the famous words left by the respectable Cardinal József Mindszenty, who is beloved by the Hungarian people: “God is young, and the future is His. It is He who evokes all new things. , Youth, everyone and every nation’s tomorrow. So we must not indulge in disappointment.”
The Pope finally urged the bishops not to speak of words that lead to estrangement and judgment, but to help God’s people look to the future with hope and help people become free and responsible protagonists of life, viewing life as a grace to be accepted, not Troubles that need to be resolved.
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Photogallery
Pope meets with Hungarian bishops in the Renaissance Hall of the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts