Pope Francis to Catholic Lay Movements: Get out of your comfort zone




May 20, 2013. (Romereports.com) From Catholic Lay Movements, to associations and communities, about 200,000 people went to St. Peter's Square to celebrate the Pentecost Vigil with Pope Francis. The Pope called on them to never forget that Jesus should be at the center of everything they do.

POPE FRANCIS
“All of you out there on the Square have yelled out 'Francis, Francis, Pope Francis! But where is Jesus? I would have rather heard 'Jesus, Jesus is Lord and He is among us.' From now on, it shouldn't be 'Francis,' you scream out, it should be 'Jesus.'”

When it comes to the word crisis, the Pope said society often talks about the economy and not the needy.

POPE FRANCIS
“Today, it's painful to say, but a homeless man out on the street, freezing to death, isn't considered news. Nowadays, news is about  scandals! Oh a scandal! Yes, that's news. To think that even today, there are so many children that don't have anything to eat, yet that's not considered news. This is serious! It's serious! We cannot be quiet about this.”

So the Pope called on people to take action, to help out and to not be indifferent.

POPE FRANCIS
“Just like John Paul II and Benedict XVI said, today's world needs many witnesses. Not so much teachers, as witnesses. It's not about just talk. It's about talking through your actions. Living a coherent life. It's precisely about a coherent life.”

When it comes to living out this message, the Pope said the best way is by going out of one's comfort zone.

POPE FRANCIS
“This is dangerous. We lock ourselves in our parish, with our friends, in our movement, with those who think just like we do. But you know what happens? When the Church is closed off, it gets sick.”

As usual, Pope Francis took some time to greet pilgrims out in the Square and even in the nearby street of Via della Conciliazione.

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