His Holiness Pope Francis received this noon, Friday, at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, the participants in the General Synod of the Cistercian Order. Also, a new president-general was elected.
In his address to the participants in the General Synod of the Cistercian Order, His Holiness Pope Francis spoke of four dreams: communion, participation, mission and formation, offering some reflections on these four “paths”. He pointed out that the Gospel of John conveyed to us the prayer of Jesus to the Father, “And I have given them what I have gave me from the glory to be one as we are one: I am in them and you are in me to be overwhelmed by the money of the unity and the knowledge of the world. Pope Francis added that this Holy Word allows us to dream with Jesus of the fellowship of his disciples. Then he paused at the Gospel of St. Matthew (23,8-10) and the words of Jesus to his disciples: “As for you, do not let anyone call you ‘Rabbi’, because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not let anyone call you a guide, because you have one guide, and that is Christ.” Pope Francis said: We can reflect here on Jesus’ dream of a fraternal community where everyone shares on the basis of the common filial relationship with the Father, and as Jesus’ disciples.
Pope Francis continued his speech by saying that the Gospel also conveys to us the dream of Jesus of a missionary Church “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to keep all that I commanded – what I commanded in His Word 20” (8). The commandment means everyone in the church. Then he stopped at the Church in Staging. Pope Francis also highlighted in his speech that the Gospels present to us Jesus taking care of his disciples, teaching them patiently and explaining to them the meaning of some parables. For example, after he washed the disciples’ feet, he told them, “I have set myself an example for you, that you also should do what I have done to you” (John 13:15). The teacher dreams of formation according to the path of God, that is, humility and service. Hence when he said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12), Jesus indicates that the disciples have a path to take, an education to receive, and promises that the originator will be the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of truth, I lead you into all truth” (John 16:13). Noting that there may be many references in the Bible that refer to the dream of formation in the heart of the Lord, Pope Francis continued, saying that he would like to summarize it with a sign of holiness, reiterating the call he spoke about in the Apostolic Exhortation “Rejoice and be glad” about the call to holiness in the world. The contemporary, saying: Allow the grace of your baptism to bear fruit in the path of holiness. Do not lose heart, because you have the power of the Holy Spirit so that this holiness is possible, holiness, in fact, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life.
At the conclusion of his speech to the participants in the General Synod of the Cistercian Order, His Holiness Pope Francis thanked everyone for their visit and said, May the Virgin Mary accompany you. He asked them to pray for him.