Francischurch: Pray for the conversion of the rich!

Francis during his audience with poor people (and their escorts) from the diocese of Lyon.

Bergoglio to poor: Pray for the conversion of the rich!

Francis-Bergoglio received a group of poor and homeless people from the Lyon region of France who are taking part in a pilgrimage led by Cardinal Barbarin

Pray for the rich, the wise and the hypocrites. Pray that “the Lord may bring about a conversion in their hearts.” In fact, go even further: “give them a smile from the heart, wish them all the best and ask Jesus for their conversion.” This was the “favour” Pope Francis asked a group of poor pilgrims from the French diocese of Lyon, headed by Cardinal Philippe Barbarin. The group was received today in the Paul VI Hall. The initiative was organized by the ATD Fourth World international movement, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Fr Joseph Wresinski, who devoted his life to the poor.

“You are in the heart of the Church,” the Pope said speaking off the cuff. “I try to imagine what people thought when they saw Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the streets, fleeing to Egypt. They were poor, they were afflicted by persecution: but God was there”. “Abstract theories lead us to ideologies, and ideologies lead us to deny that God made Himself flesh, one of us. It is life shared with the poor that transforms us and converts us,” the Pope went on to say, addressing those who were escorting the poor: “In addition, you inspire a community around them, restoring to them an existence, identity, dignity”.

Continuing off the cuff, he remarked: “You asked me to remind the French Church that Jesus suffers at the entrance to our churches if there are no poor present. If there are no poor present… ‘These are the treasure of the Church, the poor’, said Roman deacon St. Lawrence.” 

“I wish to send you on a mission more than ask a favour of you,” Francis said. “A mission that only you in your state of poverty can carry out. 

Let me explain: Sometimes Jesus was very strict and he strongly reproached those who do not take the Father’s message on board. And so, just as He said that beautiful word ’blessed’ to the poor, the hungry, to those who weep, to those who are despised and persecuted, He said another that strikes fear: ’Woe’ to the rich, the wise, to those who laugh now, to those who like to be adulated, to the hypocrites. I give you the mission of praying for them, so that the Lord may change their heart. I ask you also to pray for those who are responsible for your poverty, so that they convert! Pray for the many rich who … feast without being aware of Lazarus at their door, seeking to quell his hunger with the crumbs from the rich man’s table. Pray also for priests, for the Levites, who, seeing the man beaten half to death, walk on by, looking the other way, because they have no compassion. To all these people, and certainly also to the many others who are linked negatively to your poverty and with many sufferings: smile at them from your heart, wish well to them and ask Jesus to convert them.” 

“Dear brothers and sisters,” he concluded, “I ask you to conserve the courage and, in the midst of your anguish, to conserve the joy of hope. That flame that abides in you must not be spent. Because we believe in a God Who amends all injustices, Who consoles all suffering and knows how to recompense those Who maintain their trust in Him. As we await that day of peace and light, your contribution is essential for the Church and for the world: you are witnesses of Christ, intercessors before God, Who hears your prayers in a special way”.

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