Be men of prayer, faith, and witness, Pope tells metropolitan archbishops

June 29, 2015

Pope Francis entrusted the pallium to 46 metropolitan archbishops appointed during the past year and exhorted them to be follow the example of the apostles and be men of prayer, faith, and witness.

“No Christian community can go forward without being supported by persistent prayer,” the Pope preached during Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. “Prayer is the encounter with God, with God who never lets us down; with God who is faithful to his word; with God who does not abandon his children.”

“How many forces in the course of history have tried, and still do, to destroy the Church, from without as well as within, but they themselves are destroyed and the Church remains alive and fruitful,” he continued. “Indeed, kingdoms, peoples, cultures, nations, ideologies, powers have passed, but the Church, founded on Christ, notwithstanding the many storms and our many sins, remains ever faithful to the deposit of faith shown in service; for the Church does not belong to Popes, bishops, priests, nor the lay faithful; the Church in every moment belongs solely to Christ.”

“There is no witness without a coherent lifestyle,” Pope Francis added. “Today there is no great need for masters, but for courageous witnesses, who are convinced and convincing; witnesses who are not ashamed of the Name of Christ and of His Cross; not before the roaring lions, nor before the powers of this world.”

 

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Further information:

• Pope Francis to new archbishops: be true witnesses (Vatican Radio)
• 46 new archbishops to receive pallium (CWN, 6/26)