His Holiness Pope Francis received, on Monday morning, at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, members of the St. Peter’s Association, which was founded more than one hundred and fifty years ago, specifically in 1869. It takes care of the poor in Rome and its motto revolves around three words: prayer, work, and sacrifice. In his speech on the occasion, the Holy Father stressed the importance of tenderness and prayer.
His Holiness Pope Francis began his speech by welcoming everyone here, near the tomb of St. Peter whose name this association bears, as the Holy Father said, pointing out that for them this is like a return to the source from which their love comes, and the faith that moves them and pushes them forward. And then he raised his thanks to God for all the good that St. Peter’s Society does, and said that God is the one who gives us the strength to do so, and praised the work of the Society and its efforts, energy, time, creativity and perseverance. He indicated that he was always affected by seeing the number of their activities, not because of the numbers themselves, but because of the presence of faces and stories behind them, and often wounds. And shedding light on the activities they carry out, Pope Francis added that he sees in them the image of the Good Samaritan, and therefore stopped at the parable of the Good Samaritan, as stated in the Gospel of St. Luke, who approaches the wounded man on the edge of the road, moved by compassion. He did not know him, but he approached him because his heart was kind, capable of tenderness.
In his speech to the Saint Peter’s Assembly, the Holy Father stressed the importance of tenderness and highlighted three attitudes: closeness, mercy and tenderness, and said that God is near, merciful and tender. The first thing I recommend to you is tenderness, added Pope Francis, pointing out that tenderness is needed today more than ever. He then pointed out that in societies that are often polluted by a culture of indifference and exclusion, we are called as believers to walk once morest the tide through the culture of tenderness, that is, taking care of the other as God took care of us. In the Gospels we see how Jesus approaches the least, the marginalized and the least. And while stressing at the same time the importance of prayer as well, His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his speech to the St. Peter’s Association, expressing to everyone once more his gratitude and encouragement, and said that he accompanies them in prayer, and asked them to pray for him.
