- 03 November, 2024
Vatican, October 29, 2024: At the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on October 27, Pope Francis urged Catholics to become a "Church on the move," inspired by the Gospel of Bartimaeus. Speaking from Saint Peter's Basilica, the Pope reflected on the Church's need to recognize its own "blindness" and follow Christ actively in service to humanity. The three-year synodal journey, which began with regional meetings and concluded with the month-long assembly at the Vatican, was a key theme as Pope Francis expressed gratitude for the communal efforts to renew the Church’s mission.
During the Mass, the Pope emphasized the significance of the relic of Saint Peter's Chair and the Bernini Baldachin, symbols of unity, mercy and the Holy Spirit. He underscored the need for a dynamic Church, not confined to its own margins, but one that steps out to bring hope and pastoral care to those facing hardship.
Reflecting on Bartimaeus, who sought healing from his blindness, Pope Francis explained how this Gospel story illustrates the inner "blindness" that can hinder believers and the Church itself from fully engaging with life’s challenges. He cautioned that a "sedentary Church" risks stagnation, unable to hear the cries of the suffering or respond to pressing global issues. Instead, the Pope urged the faithful to follow Bartimaeus' example: to cry out to the Lord, regain spiritual vision, and respond to those in need with the "joy of salvation."
In closing, Pope Francis called on the Church to be a community "on her feet," bringing the light of the Gospel to others. He expressed hope that the synodal journey would inspire Catholics to embrace humanity's struggles, entrusting their own limitations to Christ, and moving forward with "the joy of the Gospel through the streets of the world."
Courtesy: Vatican News
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