Belgium: Around 40,000 attend Mass with Pope Francis

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Source: Vatican Media

Around 40,000 people gathered in Brussel's King Baudouin Stadium on Sunday morning, for Mass, followed by the Angelus, with Pope Francis.

During the Mass, the Pope beatified Anne of Jesus, a 17th-century Spanish nun who brought St Teresa of Avila's reform of the Carmelite Order to Belgium and other parts of Europe. In his homily, the Holy Father praised Blessed Anne of Jesus for bearing witness to the Christian faith through poverty, prayer, and charity, especially at a time "marked by painful scandals."

"Let us gratefully welcome the example she has given us of 'feminine styles of holiness,' gentle but strong," he said.

Pope Francis also recalled the many examples of holiness throughout the history of the Belgian Church, including St Damien de Veuster, St Guy of Anderlecht, and St Gudula.

The Holy Father went on to warn Christians against setting up "a stumbling block before one of these little ones" through scandal.

The day's liturgical readings, he noted, speak about the "free action of the Holy Spirit," as Jesus rebukes His disciples for forbidding a man to cast out demon's in His name simply because the man was not himself a disciple. Every Christian, by virtue of our Baptism, has a mission in the Church, which is a gift that transcends our limitations and sins.

"The community of believers is not a select circle of a privileged few; it is the family of those who are saved," said the Pope. "We have been sent into the world to preach the Gospel based not on our own merits, but by the grace of God."

Pope Francis turned then to the communion that unites Christ's disciples across the ages, since we are bound together in "love that unites through mutual self-donation." Each of us, he said, is tempted by selfishness that stifles charity and "crushes those who are little...

"The path of selfishness generates closed-mindedness, walls and obstacles-we can call them 'scandals'-that chain us down to material things and separate us from God and from our brothers and sisters," he said.

Speaking off-the-cuff, Pope Francis spoke about his encounter on Friday in Brussels with people who had suffered abuse by clergy members. "I heard their suffering as abuse victims," he said, "and I repeat here: in the Church, there is room for everyone, everyone, everyone, but we will all be judged, and there is no place for abuse, no place for covering up abuse. I ask everyone: do not cover up abuses! I ask the bishops: do not cover up abuses! Condemn the abusers and help them to heal from this disease of abuse."

"Evil must be brought to light," continued the Pope. "Let it be known, as some abuse victims have done, and with courage. Let it be known. And let the abuser be judged. Let the abuser be judged, whether layperson, priest, or bishop: let the abuser be judged."

Returning to his prepared homily, the Pope pointed to the plight of refugees and undocumented migrants who dream of a better future but often end up as victims of exploitation. Their cries of affliction, he said, cannot be erased and must be welcomed as prophetic voices. "They are the living voice of the Spirit because they remind us that we are all poor sinners called to conversion," he said. "We must not suffocate this prophetic voice or silence it by our indifference."

The Pope spoke again about the need to avoid giving scandal by allowing love and "the Gospel of mercy" to guide our choices.

He recalled Jesus' forceful message in the Gospel: "Get behind me, scandalous eyes that see the needy and look away! Get behind me, scandalous hands that close your fists to hide your treasures and stash them away! Get behind me, scandalous feet that run quickly, not to draw near to those who suffer, but to avoid them and stay away!"

After the Mass Pope Francis once again appealed for peace in the Middle East. He said he continues "to follow with pain and great concern the escalation and intensification of the conflict in Lebanon."

"Lebanon is a message," he said, "but at this moment, it is a message that is being torn apart."

The Pope's reiterated appeal came as Israel's military said it had struck more Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Sunday, killing another top Hezbollah leader, a day after the militant group confirmed the death of Hassan Nasrallah, deepening fears of a wider war.

"This war has devastating effects on the population: Many, too many people continue to die day after day in the Middle East."

And asking for prayers for the victims and for their families, and reminding all men and women of goodwill not to forget the suffering Ukraine, he said: "Let us pray for peace."

The Holy Father also recalled the celebration on Sunday of the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees" on the theme "God walks with His people.. From this country, Belgium, which has been and still is a destination for many migrants, I renew my appeal to Europe and the international community to consider the phenomenon of migration as an opportunity to grow together in fraternity," he said.

"And I invite everyone to see in the face of every migrant brother and sister, the face of Jesus, who became a guest and a pilgrim among us."

The Pope also announced his intention, upon his return to Rome, to "begin the process of beatification for King Baudouin, whose example as a man of faith should illuminate leaders."

"I ask that the Belgian bishops commit to advancing this cause," he said.

Pope Francis thanked his Belgian hosts for their hospitality and for the work of all who have organized his visit.

He also thanked the many faithful who travelled from "the Netherlands, Germany, and France to share this day," and concluded entrusting the gift of peace to the Virgin Mary. "Through Mary's intercession, let us ask God for the gift of peace, for war-torn Ukraine, Palestine and Israel, for Sudan, for Myanmar and all the lands scarred by war," he said.

A choir sang during the farewell ceremony for Pope Francis before his departure from Melsbroek Air Base at about 1.20pm. The Holy Father arrived back in Rome about 3pm.

On his way back to Casa Santa, Pope Francis made his traditional stop at the Basilica of St Mary Major, to pray for a moment at the feet of the icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani.

Watch today's Mass and Angelus with Pope Francis in Brussels on the Vatican Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9rRIZX7pPA