Vatican City, 17 September 2014 (VIS) –
The meaning of the terms “Catholic” and “apostolic” when we
speak about the Church was the theme of Pope Francis' catechesis at
this morning's Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square,
attended by 50,000 faithful.
When we profess the Creed, we state
that we believe in a Catholic and apostolic Church. “Catholic means
universal”, said the Holy Father, “and a clear sign of this
Catholicity is that she speaks all languages. This is none other than
the effect of the Pentecost: indeed, it was the Holy Spirit that
enabled the Apostles and the entire Church to communicate to all, to
the very ends of the earth, the Good News of salvation and of God's
love. Thus, the Church was born Catholic – that is, 'symphonic'
since the beginning, and she cannot be otherwise, destined as she is
for evangelisation and for encountering everyone”: The Pope,
remarking that everyone is able to read the Word of God in his or her
own language, again encouraged those present always to carry a copy
of the Gospel and to read one or two passages each day.
“If the Church is born Catholic, it
means that she was born to go forth, missionary”, continued Pope
Francis. “If the Apostles had stayed in the Cenacle without going
out to preach the Gospel, the Church would have remained there, in
that city, in that country, in that room. It is what we express when
we describe her as 'apostolic'. But they went forth. An apostle
spreads the good news of Jesus' resurrection. This term reminds us
that the Church, on the foundations of the Apostles and in continuity
with them, is sent to proclaim the Gospel to all humanity, with the
signs of the tenderness and strength of God. The Apostles went forth,
they travelled the world, they founded new churches, they consecrated
new bishops and in this way, we continue their work”.
“And this too derives from the
Pentecost. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is able to overcome any
resistance, to defeat the temptation to remain wrapped up in
ourselves, an elect few, and to consider ourselves as the only ones
destined to receive God's blessing. Imagine if a group of Christians
were to consider itself in this way; they would die out. First in
soul and then in body, as they would not be able to generate new
life. They would not be apostolic. The Holy Spirit leads us towards
our brothers, even to those who are far away in every sense, so that
they can share with us the gift of love, peace and joy that the Risen
Lord has left us”.
“What does it mean, for our
communities and for each of us, to be part of a Church that is
Catholic and apostolic? First of all, it means taking to heart the
salvation of all humanity, not to be indifferent or removed from the
fate of so many of our brothers, but rather to be open and in
solidarity with them. It also means having a sense of the fullness,
the completeness, the harmony of Christian life, always rejecting
partial and unilateral positions that close us up in ourselves”.
Being part of the apostolic Church
means “being aware that our faith is anchored in the proclamation
and the witness of Jesus' Apostles, and therefore always being aware
that were are sent out, in communion with the successors of the
Apostles, with our hearts full of joy, to proclaim Christ and His
love for all humanity”.
Pope Francis recalled the “heroic
life” of all the missionaries who leave their homelands to take the
Gospel to others, encouraging those present to give thanks to God for
the missionaries the Church has had and will continue to need.
“Let us ask the Lord to renew in us
the gift of His Spirit, so that every Christian community and
baptised person may be an expression of the Catholic and apostolic
Holy Mother Church”.