Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican Media
Brussels (Agenzia Fides) - "The synodal process must involve returning to the Gospel. It is not about prioritizing “fashionable” reforms, but asking, how can we bring the Gospel to a society that is no longer listening or has distanced itself from the faith? Let us all ask ourselves this question". On the penultimate day of his Apostolic Journey to the heart of Europe, Pope Francis met with the bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians and pastoral workers of Belgium in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Koekelberg, offering numerous suggestions to the local Catholic community and to the entire Western Church in view of what he himself describes as the "crisis of faith" that the West is experiencing.
The crisis of faith, said the Pope, have impelled us "to return to what is essential, namely the Gospel. The good news that Jesus brought to the world must once again be proclaimed to all and allowed to shine forth in all its beauty". The crisis, he continued, "is a time given in order to shock us, to make us question and to change. It is a valuable opportunity, referred to in biblical language as kairòs, a special occasion. Indeed, when we experience desolation, we must always ask ourselves what message the Lord wishes to convey to us".
This "crisis of faith" demonstrates that "we have moved from a Christianity located within a welcoming social framework to a “minority” Christianity, or better, a Christianity of witness". This, Pope Francis continued, "requires the courage to undertake an ecclesial conversion for enabling those pastoral transformations that concern our habitual ways of doing things, and the language in which we express our faith, so that they are truly directed to evangelization ".
In this perspective, "priests also need this courage in order to be priests who are not just preserving or managing a past legacy, but pastors who are in love with Christ and who are attentive to responding to the often implicit demands of the Gospel as they walk with God’s holy people. In doing so, pastors walk sometimes ahead of their people, sometimes in their midst and sometimes behind them". Hence the reflections on the synodal process, which will enter a next phase in a few days with the celebration of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly in the Vatican.
Finally, the Pope recommended to the Church of Belgium to be merciful: "This can sometimes seem “unjust”, when we are faced with the experience of evil. This is because we simply apply an earthly justice that says, “Whoever does wrong must pay”. Yet God’s justice is greater". The Pope also addressed the concept of justice with regard to the cases of abuse (in the Apostolic Nunciature, Pope Francis met 17 victims of abuse by Belgian clergy, ed.) and thanked the Catholic community "for the great work" that has been done "to transform anger and pain into help, closeness and compassion. Abuse generates atrocious suffering and wounds, undermining even the path of faith. And there is a need for a great deal of mercy to keep us from hardening our hearts before the suffering of victims, so that we can help them feel our closeness and offer all the help we can. We must learn from them, as you said, to be a Church at the service of all without belittling anyone", said Pope Francis.
In greeting those present, Francis recalled a work of art by Magritte, an illustrious Belgian painter entitled "The Act of Faith". It depicts a closed door viewed from the inside of a room, a door that has been broken through, thus showing us the open sky: "The image invites us to go beyond, to direct our gaze forward and upward and never to close in on ourselves, never. It is an image I leave with you as a symbol of a Church that never closes its doors – please, never close the doors! – a Church that offers everyone an opening to the infinite, and that knows how to look beyond".
"Walk together, all of you, with the Holy Spirit, practice mercy; be this type of Church. Without the Spirit, nothing Christian can take place", the Pope concluded, who at the end of the meeting went to the royal crypt, beneath the church of Our Lady of Laeken, where many members of Belgium’s royal family are buried.
Accompanied by the King and Queen, the Pope paused in silent prayer before the tomb of King Baudouin, whom he praised for his courage for choosing to temporarily "abdicate the throne so as not to sign a murderous law".
In 1992 the sovereign abdicated for 36 hours to avoid signing the law on the legalization of abortion. Finally, the Pope urged the Belgians to look to him at this time when criminal laws are making their way, hoping that his cause for beatification will proceed. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 28/9/2024)
