Francis again asks Russia and Ukraine to exchange prisoners and offers the mediation of the Holy See – Flama Agency

The Ascension of the Lord, celebrated on Sunday, May 12, formed the backbone of Pope Regina Coeli’s prayer from the balcony of the Apostolic Palace, which Francis offered to the thousands of faithful who heard him in St. Peter’s Square. Moving away from us, but above all as… A means that precedes us towards the goal“, which he embodied by climbing to the top.

In this ascent to the summit, the Pope recalled that “the step of the individual is a step for all, and no one must be lost or left behind because we are one body,” steps that briefly consist of “to carry out works of love: Give life, bring hopeStay away from all evil and triviality, respond to evil with good, and be close to those who are suffering.”

At this point, the Pope asked the questions that everyone should ask themselves to ascertain whether they are on this path or not.Boarding“Is God’s desire alive within me, in His infinite love, in His life, which is eternal life? I am flat and fixated on fleeting things, In money, in success, in pleasures? Does my desire for heaven isolate me, close me in, or lead me to love my brothers with great spirit and selflessness, to feel them as companions on the path to heaven?

During the greeting, the Pope once again referred to a topic that greatly worries him, which is the topic of war. And so he renewed his call “for one Prisoner exchange between Russia and UkraineHe once again demonstrated the “readiness of the Holy See” to participate in this matter. He also stressed that “we continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and Myanmar.”

Also referring to this Sunday’s celebration of the World Day of Social Communications, the Pope asked “to restore the path to full human communication”, remembering also the celebration of Mother’s Day, and asking, in addition to prayers, for “recognition of ‘all mothers’ and a round of applause – which echoed throughout the world.” Saint-Pere Square – “For all the mothers.”

The Pope’s words in the “Regina Coeli” prayer.

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today in Italy and other countries the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated. The Gospel of the Mass affirms that Jesus, after entrusting the apostles with the task of continuing his work, “assumed into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God.” (Mark 16, 19).

Jesus’ return to the Father is not presented to us as a distance from us, but above all as a way that leads us towards the goal. Like when you climb to the top of a mountain: you walk tiredly, and finally, at some point on the way, the horizon opens up and you see the panoramic view. Then the whole body finds the strength again to face the final ascent. The whole body – arms, legs and all muscles – is stretched to reach the top.

And we, the Church, are precisely this body that Jesus, who ascended to heaven, drags with him like a “rope”. He is the one who reveals and conveys to us, through his word and the grace of the secrets, the beauty of the country to which we are heading. Thus we too, His members, joyfully ascend to Him, our Head, knowing that the step of one is a step for all, and that no one should perish or leave anyone behind, because we are one body alone. (Colossians 1:18; 1Corinthians 12:12-27).

Step by step, step by step, Jesus shows us the way. What are these steps that need to be taken? Today’s Gospel says: “Proclaim the Gospel, baptize, cast out demons, confront serpents, heal the sick” (Mark 16:16-18); In short, performing acts of love: giving life, bringing hope, staying away from all evil and meanness, responding to evil with good, and being close to those who suffer. The more we do this, the more we allow ourselves to be transformed by his spirit, the more we follow his example, the more we feel, as on the mountain, the air around us becomes light and clean, and the horizon wide and broad. The goal is near, words and gestures become good, and the mind and heart expand and breathe.

Then we can ask ourselves: Is God’s desire alive within me, in His infinite love, in His life, which is eternal life? Or am I flat and focused on passing things on, to money, to success, to pleasures? Does my desire for heaven isolate me, close me down, or lead me to love my brothers with great spirit and selflessness, to feel them as companions on the path to heaven?

May Mary, who achieved the goal, help us to walk together in joy toward the glory of heaven.

Article by José Lorenzo published in collaboration with ‘Digital debt‘.