Don't be obstacles to evangelization, Pope tells clerics

May 08, 2014

Church officials must be careful not to become obstacles to the process of evangelization, Pope Francis said in his homily on May 8.

Reflecting on the conversation between St. Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, the Pope told the congregation at Domus Sanctae Marthae that there are three essential elements of evangelization: docility to the Spirit, dialogue, and trust in God’s grace.

Without docility, the Pope said, the would-be evangelist ends up “announcing himself.” Without dialogue, he continued, evangelization is simply impossible. And without trust in grace, an institution of the Church can become “a factory to create obstacles so people can’t obtain grace.”

 

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Further information:

• Pope Francis: The Church should bestow the grace of God not bureaucratic obstacles (Vatican Radio)