Pope Francis: All zeal is false without the Holy Spirit

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Source: Vatican News

"Without the Holy Spirit, all zeal is vain and falsely apostolic. It would only be our own, and would not bear fruit, " Pope Francis said during Wednesday's General Audience with pilgrims in the Pope Paul VI Hall.

The Holy Father was able to walk with a stick and open the Audience with a blessing, but because he is still recovering from bronchitis, his reflection was read by Mgr Filippo Ciampanelli from the Secretariat of State.

For the last few weeks the Pope has been reflecting on the "essential characteristics" of the proclamation of the Gospel, which is joyful, addressed to everyone, and relevant to our times. The final characteristic, he said, is the need for the proclamation to take place "in the Spirit," the "protagonist" of evangelization, who is responsible for the spread of the Gospel.

However, "the primacy of the Spirit should not induce us to indolence" he said. "Confidence in the Spirit does not justify disengagement." Instead, the Holy Spirit inspires the Church's mission, which should imitate the "style" of the Spirit, marked by creativity and simplicity.

Pope Francis warned that, in an age like our own, it is easy to retreat from pastoral outreach, taking refuge "in safety zones" that are "temptations that disguise themselves as fidelity to tradition" but are often "reactions to personal dissatisfactions."

Instead, "pastoral creativity, being bold in the Spirit, ardent in His missionary fire, is the proof of fidelity to Him," the Pope said.

Proclamation in the Spirit is also marked by simplicity, "precisely because the Spirit takes us to the source, the 'first proclamation'," the revelation of the Father's infinite mercy. This 'first proclamation' "must be the centre of all evangelizing activity and all efforts at Church renewal," the Pope said, quoting his own words in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium.

Pope Francis invited the faithful to allow the Holy Spirit to be the source of all our being and our work. The Holy Spirit "enlivens and rejuvenates the Church," he said. "With Him we must not fear, because He, who is harmony, always keeps creativity and simplicity together, inspires communion and sends out in mission, opens to diversity and leads back to unity."

The Holy Father concluded his reflection with the prayer, "Come, Holy Spirit!"

After his catechesis Pope Francis reiterated his plea for prayers for all those who are suffering due to conflicts across the world.

"Let's not forget to pray for those who suffer the tragedy of war, in particular the peoples of Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine," he said.

"War is always a defeat. No one has anything to gain from it, it is a defeat for everyone - except for weapons manufacturers."

During his greetings to the Polish pilgrims present for the Audience, the Pope recalled that next Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent, the Church in Poland will observe the Day of Prayer and Material Help to the Church in the East. He expressed his thanks to "all those who support the Church in that region with their prayers and offerings, especially martyred Ukraine."

Pope Francis also appealed for prayers those affected by Hurricane Otis over a month ago in Mexico. Addressing members of the 'Fundacion Telethon' he invited them to "collaborate for the victims of Acapulco" hard-hit by the hurricane and not to neglect to include all persons with disabilities in Mexico".

As we approach the feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December, the Holy Father reminded the faithful of how the Virgin Mary "believed in God's love and responded with her 'Yes'."

He concluded: "Learn from her how to fully trust in the Lord, to give witness to the common good and evangelical love."

Watch Wednesday's General Audience on the Vatican Youtube channel: www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-12/pope-at-audience-holy-spirit-is-source-of-apostolic-zeal.html

Read the text of Pope Francis' reflection here: www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2023/documents/20231206-udienza-generale.html