Pope Francis is encouraging members of an Italian charitable organization to continue their activities to show Christ to others.
Speaking to the group ‘Opera di Nazaret’ (Work of Nazareth) in his residence Casa Santa Marta on Wednesday evening, the Pope urged them to continue their “charitable and missionary activities with joy.”
They were accompanied by the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran.
“Thank you for the good you have done, by the grace of God,” the Holy Father said.
The group was founded in 1964 in Reggio Emilia, Italy. It is dedicated to a variety of apostolic, charitable, and missionary activities, carried out by volunteers around the world.
The organization’s main objective is that, through social initiatives and charity, everyone can see the face of Christ in the everyday of their lives.
The Pope reminded those gathered that, “Jesus is the way open in front of each man,” not only to meet God, but to “enter into a relationship and fellowship with Him, and thus truly find himself.”
“We are fully ourselves when we become fully our Father’s children,” he said, adding, “and this is thanks to Jesus.”
“When we discover Jesus as the way,” Francis said, we have true joy, which “goes on forever,” “is rooted in us,” and “that no one can take away.”
Concluding, the Pope entrusted those present to the protection of the Lord and the Virgin Mary.
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On the NET:
Official Site: http://www.operadinazaret.org/
