Pope Francis poses with a member of Caritas Internationalis during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sept 27, 2017. (Photo by Vincenzo Pinto/AFP)
The same hope that moves people to seek a better life for themselves and their loved ones also moves the hearts of men and women to welcome migrants and refugees with open arms, Pope Francis said.
"Those who come to our land and we who go toward their heart to understand them, to understand their culture and language" embark on a shared journey that "without hope cannot be done," the pope said Sept. 27 at his weekly general audience.
"Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to share the journey! Do not be afraid to share hope," he said.
During the audience, Pope Francis launched the "Share the Journey" campaign, an initiative sponsored by Caritas Internationalis, the global network of Catholic charitable agencies.
The campaign encourages Catholics to understand, get to know and welcome refugees and migrants.
Continuing his series of audience talks on Christian hope, the pope reflected on the enemies of hope who, like the Greek myth of Pandora's box, "unleash so many misfortunes throughout the world's history."
However, he said, few people remember that at the end of the story, the final item unleashed from the box is hope, which is what "sustains life, protects it, cares for it and makes it grow."
Pope Francis urged Christians to keep hope alive and fight against desperation through Jesus "who can open wide the doors" and "look beyond the horizon.
"If Jesus conquered the world, he is able to conquer within us all that stands in the way of goodness," the pope said. "If God is with us, no one can rob us of the virtue we absolutely need to live. No one will rob us of hope."
Full Story: Share hope with those seeking better lives, pope says
Source: Catholic News Service