While this door will be opened to everyone to offer grace of forgiveness, the Pope said we also must have the courage to enter.
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Francis himself alluded to the security situation in his remarks to the crowd of about 20,000, saying the church must always keep its doors open.
“We must not surrender to the idea that we must apply this way of thinking to every aspect of our lives”, the Pope added.
“How many people have lost the confidence, do not have the courage to knock on the door of our Christian heart, on the doors of our churches?” he asked.
After Francis finished, carabineiri patrol cars constantly looped along the main boulevard leading to the square, even though the number of pilgrims who attended the audience was low – part of the typical pre-Christmas lull in attendance. “We can’t succumb to the logic of fear”.
“The sheep are not chosen by the watchman, the sheep are not chosen by the parish secretary”, he continued. “We are all sinners”, he said. Let’s profit from this moment that is coming and cross the threshold of this mercy of God that never tires of forgiving, never tires of waiting for us. The Church was encouraged to open her doors, to go forth with the Lord towards His sons and daughters who walk together, at times uncertain, at times lost, in these hard times. We must pass by the door and listen to Jesus’ voice; if we hear His tone of voice, we are safe and sound….
The Pope reminded his audience that the Holy Family of Nazareth knew the sorrow of encountering doors closed to those in need.
It was a theme to which he returned in his English summary, where he said, “As guardians of that door, we in the Church are called to be welcoming to all who seek to enter the fold of the Good Shepherd. May the doors of our Christian homes be signs and symbols of the door of God’s mercy, a door ever open to all who knock and desire to meet Jesus”.
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Pope Francis commended Solidarity for its protection of the rights of persons and society, telling them: “Be faithful to this commitment, so that political or economic interests do not prevail over the values which constitute the essence of human solidarity. Praised be Jesus Christ!”
