The Pope received in audience the volunteers and homeless people from the Begegnung im Zentrum group in Vienna and recalled that help is also “a simple smile, a gesture of friendship, a fraternal look, a sincere listening, a free service.”
Tiziana Campisi – Vatican City
We are brothers and sisters, we are children of one Father, this unites us all.” This is the first thing that Francis underlined to the homeless volunteers of the Begegnung im Zentrum group, who arrived from Vienna to meet him and received an audience in the Hall of the Popes of the Apostolic Palace. A group of people of various nationalities and different religious denominations who come together to help each other and share “what each one can offer.” A reality that the Pope rejoices in, highlighting how much one is enriched in community.
It is not true that some give and others only receive: we are all givers and receivers – all -, we need each other and we are called to enrich each other. And let us remember that this does not only happen with material gifts, but also with “a simple smile, a gesture of friendship, a fraternal look, a sincere listening, a free service.
Become a gift for others
In his brief greeting, Francis exhorted us to “love one another as He has loved us” and to thank God “for the gift of his love, which also comes to us through the good people around us.”
The Lord loves us beyond all limits and difficulties. Each one of us is unique in His eyes and He never forgets us.
And before saying goodbye, the Pope addressed another invitation to everyone, that of always seeking, “as brothers and sisters,” to make one’s own life “a gift for others.”
Belgium
