At the General Audience, on Wednesday, February 4, Francis sent out an appeal for peace and talked about good fathers who are present but not “controlling”, able to correct but also to forgive
At the end of the General Audience in the Vatican, the Pope appealed for peace in Ukraine, describing the conflict a scandalous “war between Christians.” Today Francis continued his series of catecheses on the family, ahead of next October’s Synod on the Family. He painted a portrait of the ideal father as a family figure who is “present” but not “controlling”, able to correct mistakes but also to forgive.
"Once again – Pope Francis said at the end of today’s General Audience held in the Paul VI Hall – my thoughts go to the beloved Ukrainian people. Unfortunately, the situation is getting worse and the conflict between the parties deepening. Let us pray also for the victims, including many civilians, and their families, and ask the Lord to cease this horrible fratricidal violence as soon as possible. I renew my heartfelt appeal that every effort be made - even internationally - for the resumption of dialogue, the only way to restore peace and harmony in that tormented land. When I hear the words victory or defeat I feel a great sorrow and great sadness. They are not the right words, the only right word is peace. This is the only right word. This is a war between Christians: you all have the same baptism and are fighting with other Christians. Think of this scandal. Let us all pray, because prayer is our reaching out to God in time of war".
The Pope, who pronounced today’s message standing, dedicated his catechesis to the father figure, highlighting the “positive aspect” of paternity after speaking about “absent fathers” last week. “Even St. Joseph was tempted to leave Mary when he found out she was pregnant. But the angel of the Lord intervened and revealed God’s plan to him and his mission as an adoptive father. Joseph, being a righteous man, took his wife with him and "became the father of the family of Nazareth".
"Every family - he added - Every family needs a father. Today we reflect on the value of his role, and I would like to begin from some expressions that are found in the Book of Proverbs, (“I taught you things you did not know, I corrected errors that you did not see.” … “I had to put myself first to the test of wisdom of heart, and to watch over excesses of sentiment and resentment,” … “I am happy to be your father."). "A father is well aware how much it costs to transmit this heritage: how much closeness, how much gentleness and how much firmness.” “The first necessity … is that the father be present in the family,” Francis added spontaneously amidst applause. “But to be present is not the same as controlling. Because fathers who are too controlling override the children, they do not let them grow.”
Francis then quoted the parable of the "Prodigal Son," or better of the "Merciful Father”: “Fathers should be patient, many times there is nothing else that can be done other than to wait. Pray and wait with patience, gentleness, magnanimity and mercy. A good father is able to wait and to forgive from the depth of his heart. Of course, he is also able to correct with firmness: he is not a weak, compliant and sentimental father. The father who is able to correct without discouraging is the same one who is able to protect tirelessly. One time, I heard a father, in a meeting with married couples, say: "I, sometimes, must hit my child a little, but never in the face, to not degrade him. How beautiful! He knows the sense of dignity!”
“May the Lord bless all good fathers and pick up the negligent ones, protecting them from evil,” Francis said greeting Arabic-speaking pilgrims. "Therefore - concluded the Pope - if there is someone who can explain in depth the prayer of the "Our Father," taught by Jesus, it is in fact one who lives paternity personally. However, children are in need of finding a father who waits for them when they return from their failures. They will do everything not to admit it, not to make it seen, but they need him and in not finding him opens in them wounds that are difficult to heal.”
At the end of the Audience, Francis greeted bishops attending the conference promoted by the Community of Sant’Egidio, including Mgr. Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family and postulator for the beatification cause of Mgr. Oscar Arnulfo Romero, which the Pope approved yesterday.
