May inclusive dialogue prevail in Myanmar

After praying the Angelus with the faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday, 24 November, Solemnity of Christ the King, Pope Francis encouraged the faithful to listen to the voice of the King who speaks the truth. The following is a translation of the Holy Father’s words.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Happy Sunday!

Today the Gospel of the liturgy (Jn 18:33-37) shows us Jesus before Pontius Pilate. He had been handed over to the Roman procurator to be condemned to death. However, a brief dialogue begins between the two, between Jesus and Pilate. Through Pilate’s questions and the Lord’s answers, two words in particular are transformed, acquiring new meaning. Two words: the word “king” and the word “world”.

At first Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (v. 33). As an official of the empire, he wanted to know if the man in front of him was potentially threatening. For him, a king was the authority that rules over all his subjects. This could have been a threat to him, could it not? Jesus claims to be king, yes, but in quite another way! Jesus is a king insofar as he is a witness: he is the one who speaks the truth (cf. v. 37). The kingly power of Jesus, the Word incarnate, lies in his true word, in his effective word, that transforms the world.

World: this is the second word. In Pontius Pilate’s “world”, the strong triumph over the weak, the rich over the poor, the violent over the meek. In other words, it is a world which we unfortunately know well. Jesus is King, but his kingdom is not of [Pilate’s] world, and not of this world either (cf. v. 36). Indeed, Jesus’ world is the new world, the eternal world, which God prepares for all by giving his life for our salvation. It is the kingdom of heaven, which Christ brings to earth by pouring out grace and truth (cf. Jn 1:17). The world, of which Jesus is King, redeems creation ruined by evil, precisely with the power of divine love. Jesus saves creation, because Jesus liberates, Jesus forgives, Jesus brings peace and justice. “But is this true, Father?” — “Yes”. How is your soul? Is there something weighing it down? Some old sin? Jesus always forgives. Jesus does not tire of forgiving. This is Jesus’ kingdom. If there is something ugly within you, ask for forgiveness. And he always forgives.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus speaks to Pilate from up close, but the latter remains distant from him because he lives in a different world. Pilate does not open himself to the truth, even though it is right in front of him. He will let Jesus be crucified. He will order “the King of the Jews” (Jn 19:19) to be written on the cross, but without understanding the meaning of this word, “King of the Jews”, of these words. Yet Christ came into the world, into this world. The one who is of the truth listens to his voice (cf. Jn 18:37). It is the voice of the King of the universe, who saves us.

Brothers and sisters, listening to the Lord infuses our heart and our life with light. Let us try to ask ourselves — everyone ask themselves in their own heart: can I say that Jesus is my “king”? Or do I have other “kings” in my heart? In what sense? Is his Word my guide, my certainty? Do I see in him the merciful face of God who always forgives, who always forgives, who is waiting for us to give us his forgiveness?

Let us pray together to Mary, the handmaid of the Lord, as we await the Kingdom of God with hope.

After praying the Angelus the Holy Father continued:

Today these two young Koreans have received the World Youth Day Cross, which they will take to Korea to prepare for the [World Youth] Day, in Seoul. A round of applause for the Koreans! And also a round of applause for the Portuguese youth who have handed over the Cross.

Cayetano Clausellas Ballvé, a priest, and the faithful layman Antonio Tort Reixachs, were beatified in Barcelona yesterday. They were killed, in hatred of the faith, in Spain, in 1936. Let us give thanks to God for the great gift of these exemplary witnesses to Christ and the Gospel. Let us applaud the new Blesseds!

Today the 39th World Youth Day is being celebrated in the particular Churches, with the theme: “Those who hope in the Lord will run and not be weary” (cf. Is 40:31). Even young people get tired at times, if they do not hope in the Lord! I greet the delegations from Portugal and South Korea, who “passed on the torch” on the journey towards the wyd in Seoul in 2027. A round of applause for the two delegations.

As I have already announced, next 27 April, during the Jubilee of Adolescents, I will proclaim Blessed Carlo Acutis a Saint. Furthermore, having been informed by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints that the process of study of the Cause of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is about to be successfully concluded, I plan to canonize him on 3 August, during the Jubilee of Young People, after having received the Cardinals’ opinion. A round of applause for the soon-to-be-new saints.

Tomorrow Myanmar celebrates its National Feast Day, in remembrance of the first student protest that set the country on its way to independence, and in the hope of a peaceful and democratic season it is still struggling to achieve today. I express my closeness to the entire population of Myanmar, particularly to those who are suffering due to the ongoing fighting, especially the most vulnerable: children, the elderly, the sick and refugees, including the Rohingya. To all parties involved, I make a heartfelt appeal: may all weapons fall silent and may a sincere, inclusive dialogue, capable of ensuring lasting peace, be initiated.

And I warmly greet all of you, people of Rome and pilgrims. In particular, I greet the groups of faithful from Malta, Israel, Slovenia and Spain, as well as those from the Dioceses of Mostar-Duvno and Trebinje-Mrkan and from the area around the Abbey of Fossanova.

And let us continue to pray for martyred Ukraine, which is suffering so much. Let us pray for Palestine, for Israel, for Lebanon, for Sudan. Let us ask for peace.

And I wish everyone a happy Sunday. Please don’t forget to pray for me.

Enjoy your lunch. Arrivederci!