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Pope at Mass for Rome’s Congolese community: ‘Peace begins with each of us’

Pope Francis prays at Mass

At Mass on Sunday with the Congolese community in Rome, on the day he had been scheduled to preside over Mass at Ndolo Airport in Kinshasa, Pope Francis asked for prayers for peace for the wounded nation and reminded Christians that they are called to “Live in peace, kindle peace,” so that peace may dwell in their homes, Church, and country.

Congolese faithful in St. Peter’s Basilica

Mission

The Pope found inspiration in the Gospel according to Luke that assures us that the nearness of God who is Jesus, the source of our joy, fills us with awe, surprises us and changes our lives. He noted that this is what drove the disciples to go far away, on a mission, to announce God’s closeness and proclaim the Word of the Lord.

“If we ask ourselves what our task is in the world, what we are to do as the Church in history, the answer of the Gospel is clear: mission.”

As Christians, the Pope said, we cannot be content to live in mediocrity, for we are missionaries of Jesus, and we are sent into the world “with three missionary surprises that Jesus has in store for the disciples and for each of us.”

First surprise: equipment

The equipment we are required to take is practically nothing, the Pope said: “no baggage, no security, no help.”

“We often think that our Church initiatives do not function properly because we lack facilities, money and means: this is not true. The refutation comes from Jesus himself.”

Urging the faithful not to trust in riches or fear poverty, be it material or human, Pope Francis said, “The more we are free and simple, small and humble, the more the Holy Spirit guides the mission and makes us protagonists of its wonders.”

The only fundamental “equipment”, he continued, is fraternity, “because there is no mission without fellowship. There is no proclamation that works without caring for others.”

Second surprise: the message

The second surprise of mission is “the message”, the Pope said, acknowledging that it is logical to think that in order to prepare for the proclamation, “the disciples should learn what to say, study the contents thoroughly, and prepare convincing and well-articulated speeches.”

Instead, he explained, Jesus offers them only two little phrases: “Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace be to this house!”; the second, “The kingdom of God is at hand.”

Peace for the Democratic Republic of Congo

In any place, Pope Francis reiterated, the Christian is a bearer of peace, this is his or her hallmark.

Those who spread chatter and suspicion, create divisions, hinder fellowship, put their belonging before everything, are not acting in the name of Jesus, he said: “Those who foment resentment, incite hatred, or bypass others do not work for Jesus; they do not bring His peace.”

“Today, dear brothers and sisters, let us pray for peace and reconciliation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, so wounded and exploited.”

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