Pope Francis greets the crowd during a weekly general audience at St. Peter's Square on April 5 at the Vatican. (Photo by Filippo Monteforte/AFP)
Hope cannot remain hidden within but must break free to overcome vengeful, mafia-like mentalities with mercy and humility, Pope Francis said.
Christians must give witness to hope through their lives as Jesus did and make room for him in their hearts to fight evil by doing good to others, even their enemies, the pope said at his weekly general audience on April 5.
"The mafiosi think that evil can be overcome by evil. They take revenge; they do so many things that we all know. But they do not know what humility, mercy and meekness are. And why? Because the mafiosi have no hope," Catholic News Service quoted him as saying.
Continuing his series of talks on Christian hope, the pope reflected on a verse from the First Letter of St. Peter, in which the apostle calls on Christians to "always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope."
The "secret" to understanding this hope, the pope said, is that it is rooted in the paschal mystery of Christ's victory over death.
A person who lacks hope, the pope added, is incapable of giving or receiving the "consolation of forgiveness" and unable to make room for Christ in their hearts.
St. Peter's assertion that "it is better to suffer for doing good" than doing evil, he continued, doesn't mean that it is good to suffer, but that suffering for the sake of good means "that we are in communion with the Lord."
Christians who wish to follow Jesus' example are called to love and do good, even to "those who do not wish us well or even harm us," Pope Francis said.
Full Story: Make room for kindness, not hopeless 'mafia' mentality, pope says
Source: Catholic News Service