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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - With the help of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, we must learn to fight the temptation of hypocrisy in ourselves and “to do good, simply and without ostentation”. This is what Pope Francis said when, this morning, standing in St. Peter's Square, he comments with these words on today's Gospel passage, in which we read the denunciation that Jesus makes in the temple of Jerusalem against the hypocritical attitude of some scribes (cf. Mk 12:38-44).
The scribes, the Pontiff explains, “were held in high esteem and people revered them” but beyond appearances, “their behaviour often did not correspond to what they taught. They were not consistent”. In other words, “instead of using the role they were invested with to serve others, they made it an instrument of arrogance and manipulation.” Of such people, the Bishop of Rome stressed, “Jesus warned to stay away from these people, to “beware” of them, not to imitate them. On the contrary, with his word and his example, as we know, he taught very different things about authority…He invites those invested with it to look at others from their position of power, not to humiliate them, but to lift them up, giving them hope and assistance.”
After the Angelus, the Pope's thoughts turn to “the population of the Island of Flores in Indonesia, struck by a volcanic eruption; I pray for the victims, their relatives and the displaced. And I reiterate my remembrance for the inhabitants of Valencia and other parts of Spain, who are facing the consequences of the flood.”
The Pope then turns his attention to Africa: “The news from Mozambique is worrying. I invite everyone to engage in dialogue, tolerance and the tireless search for just solutions. Let us pray for the entire Mozambican population, that the present situation does not cause them to lose faith in the path of democracy, justice and peace.”
Finally, the appeal for peace: “let us continue, please, to pray for tormented Ukraine, where even hospitals and other civilian buildings have been struck; and let us pray for Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, and Sudan. Let us pray for peace in all the world.” Then, the usual greeting: “I wish everyone a good Sunday. Please, do not forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch, and arrivederci!” (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 10/11/2024)
