Angelus: the Cross restores hope
Vatican City, 14 September 2014 (VIS) – At midday today, after celebrating
the marriage of twenty couples from the diocese of Rome, the Pope appeared at
the window of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful present in St.
Peter's Square.
Pope Francis commented that today, 14 September, the Church celebrates the
festivity of the Exaltation of the Cross. “Any non-Christian might ask, why
'exalt' the Cross? We can answer that we do not exalt just any cross, or all
crosses: we exalt Jesus Cross, as it was upon the Cross that he revealed the
extent of God's love for humanity”, he explained. “The Father gave his Son to save
us, and this involved the death of Jesus, and he died on the Cross. Why? Why
was the Cross necessary? Because of the gravity of the evil that had enslaved
us. The Cross of Jesus expresses both of these things: all the negative force
of evil, and all the gentle omnipotence of God's mercy. The Cross appeared to
decree Jesus' demise, but in reality it marked His victory. … And it is
precisely for this reason that God 'exalted' Jesus, conferring upon Him a
universal kingship”.
“When we turn our gaze to the Cross, where Jesus was nailed”, he continued,
“we contemplate the sign of God's infinite love for each one of us, and the
root of our salvation. From this Cross there springs the mercy of the Father
who embraces the entire world. Through the Cross, the evil one is vanquished
and death defeated, we are given life, and hope is restored to us. … The Cross
of Jesus is our only true hope! This is why the Chruch exalts the glorious
Cross of Jesus, sign of God's immense love, sign of our salvation, and path to the
Resurrection. And this is our hope”.
“When we contemplate and celebrate the Holy Cross”, he concluded, “we think
with emotion of our many brothers and sisters who are persecuted and killed for
their fidelity to Christ. This happens especially where religious freedom is
not guaranteed or fully realised. It also occurs, however, in countries and in
environments where in principle freedom and human rights are protected, but
where in practice believers and Christians in particular often encounter
limitations or discrimination. Therefore, today we remember them and pray
especially for them”.
©
VIS, Vatican Information Service
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