Pope Francis in Malta: "There are the champions of God who trample on the brothers"

In Piazzale dei Granai, in Floriana (Malta), over 20 thousand people flocked to the mass celebrated by Pope Francis, on his second day of visit to the country. The program also includes a meeting with about 200 migrants who are guests of the “Giovanni XXIII Peace Lab” center.

In his homily, the pontiff - who will return to Rome in the evening - warned those who speak of God but denies him in fact: "The worm of hypocrisy and the habit of pointing the finger can creep into our religiosity". "There is always the danger of misunderstanding Jesus, of having his name on his lips but of denying him in fact. And this can also be done by raising banners with the cross". Some, he continued, "erect themselves as champions of God but do not realize they are trampling on their brothers. In reality, those who believe they are defending the faith by pointing the finger at others will also have a religious vision, but do not espouse the spirit of the Gospel. ".

"The Lord desires that we his disciples, we as the Church, forgiven by him, become tireless witnesses of reconciliation: of a God for whom the word 'irrecoverable' does not exist; of a God who always forgives", were the words of Francis. If we imitate "we will not be inclined to concentrate on denouncing sins, but to set out with love in search of sinners. We will not count those present, but we will go in search of the absent. We will not go back to pointing the finger, but we will begin to listen . We will not discard the despised, but we will look first to those who are considered last ”.

(Unioneonline / ss)