Pope Francis: We must persevere in prayer always

During his General Audience today, Pope Francis focussed on the importance of persevering in prayer. He told pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square:

"Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis for this Holy Year of Mercy, we now turn to the parable of the unjust judge and the widow. In telling us that even an unscrupulous judge will finally render justice to a poor woman because of her persistence, Jesus encourages us to persevere in prayer to our heavenly Father, who is infinitely just and loving.

"He also assures us that God will not only hear our prayers, but will not delay in answering them. The Gospels tell us that Jesus himself prayed constantly. His own intense prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is a model for our own: it teaches us to present our petitions with complete trust in Father's gracious will. The parable of the unjust judge and the widow ends with a pointed question: "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

"Perseverance in prayer keeps our faith alive and strong. For in that prayer, we experience the compassion of God who, like a Father filled with love and mercy, is ever ready to come to the aid of his children.

At the conclusion of his weekly General Audience, Pope Francis recalled that it is International Missing Children's Day. "It is a duty of everyone to protect children, especially those exposed to elevated risk of exploitation, trafficking, and deviant conduct," he said.

The Holy Father expressed his hope that "civil and religious authorities might stir consciences and raise awareness, in order to avoid indifference in the face of children on their own, exploited children, and children far from their families and their social context, children who cannot grow-up peacefully or look with hope to the future... Let us pray that each of them might be restored to the affection of their loved ones."

Pope Francis concluded by praying for the victims of terrorist attacks that took place in Syria on Monday.

"I exhort everyone to pray to the merciful Father, to pray to the Madonna, that God might give eternal rest to the victims, and consolation to their families," the Pope said, "and might convert the hearts of those who sow death and destruction." He then led the crowd in the Hail Mary.

More than 160 people were killed in the coordinated attacks on cities of Jableh and Tartus, government strongholds which had remained relatively untouched throughout the civil war, now in its sixth year.

Source: Vatican Radio