Pope Leo XIV lamented the fact that
having faith in God is seen as "absurd" in many situations
during the homily of his first Mass as pontiff before cardinals
in the Sistine Chapel on Friday.
"Even today there are many situations in which the Christian
faith is considered an absurd thing, for weak, unintelligent
people," the American-Peruvian pope said.
"Situations in which other securities, such as technology,
money, success, power, pleasure, are preferred.
"These are environments in which it is not easy to witness and
proclaim the Gospel and where believers are mocked, opposed,
despised, or, at best, put up with and pitied".
He also criticised the way many people, including some
Christians, perceive Jesus as a sort of super hero.
"Even today there is no lack of situations in which Jesus,
although appreciated as a man, is reduced to the level merely of
a kind of charismatic leader or superman, not only among
non-believers, but also among many of the baptised, who, in this
way, end up living in a de facto atheism".
Leo called for ministers of the Church to "disappear so that
Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that He may be known
and glorified, to spend oneself to the utmost so that no one may
lack the opportunity to know and love Him".
For the homily Leo chose the Gospel of Matthew, in which Jesus
says. "I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build
my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it".
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