At Mass in Holguin, Pope speaks on how Jesus 'unlocked Matthew's heart'
September 21, 2015
Pope Francis traveled to the eastern part of Cuba on Monday, September 21, to visit at Holguin, which is the 3rd-largest city in Cuba, but the largest Catholic diocese.
Celebrating Mass in the city’s Plaza de la Revolucion on the feast of St. Matthew, with an estimated 150,000 people in attendance, the Pope spoke about the first encounter between Matthew and Jesus. It was, he said, an “example of glances capable of changing history.” Jesus called Matthew to follow him, and at the same time—through his glance—“unlocked Matthew’s heart.”
Matthew had been a tax collector, despised by Jews. Suddenly he became a disciple. One message of the encounter, the Pope observed, is that “Jesus can anticipate our needs, He can see beyond appearances, beyond sin, beyond failures and unworthiness and beyond our social rank. He came precisely to seek out all those who feel unworthy.”
As he neared the conclusion of his homily, the Holy Father expressed his appreciation for the work of the Church in Cuba. He made special mention of the “’mission houses’ which, given the shortage of churches and priests, provide for many people a place for prayer, for listening to the word of God, for catechesis and community life.”
As he closed, the Pope entrusted Cuba to Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, whose shrine in Santiago he would visit later in the day.
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Further information:
- Pope Francis and the eyes of mercy (Vatican Radio)
- Pope calls for conversion of hearts and minds in Cuba (Vatican Radio)
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