Pope Francis

Today Jesus says to each one: “Take courage; do not give in to life’s burdens; do not close yourself off in the face of fears and sins. Come to me!” He awaits us; he always awaits us. Not to magically resolve problems, but to strengthen us amid our problems. Jesus does not lift the burdens from our life, but the anguish from our heart; he does not take away our cross, but carries it with us. And with him every burden becomes light, because he is the comfort we seek.

Love is the greatest power for the transformation of reality because it pulls down the walls of selfishness and fills the ditches that keep us apart. This is the love that comes from a changed heart, from a heart of stone that has been turned into a heart of flesh, a human heart. And this is what grace does, the grace of Jesus Christ which we have all received.

— from the book Believe in Love: Inspiring Words from Pope Francis

Where does Jesus send us? There are no borders, no limits: he sends us to everyone. The Gospel is for everyone, not just for some. It is not only for those who seem closer to us, more receptive, and more welcoming. It is for everyone. Do not be afraid to go and to bring Christ into every area of life, to the fringes of society, even to those who seem farthest away or most indifferent. The Lord seeks all, he wants everyone to feel the warmth of his mercy and his love.

Our elders are men and women, fathers and mothers, who came before us on our own road, in our own house, in our daily battle for a worthy life. They are men and women from whom we have received so much. The elder is not an alien. We are that elder: in the near or far future, but inevitably, even if we don’t think it. And if we don’t learn how to treat the elder better, that is how we will be treated.

The future is in your hands, if you have wings and roots. Have the courage to put on wings, to dream of good things, to dream of a better world, to protest wars. On the other hand, respect the wisdom that you have received from those who are older than you: your parents, your grandparents, the elderly of your country. The future is in your hands. Take the opportunity to make it better.

Humanity is in such need of the Gospel, the source of joy, hope and peace. The mission to evangelize takes priority, for missionary activity is still today the Church’s greatest challenge….

May the Virgin Mary, star of evangelization, obtain for us always a passion for the kingdom of God, so that the joy of the Gospel may reach the ends of the earth, and no periphery be deprived of its light.