On Sunday afternoon, Pope Francis visited the parish of San Pier Damiani ai Monti di San Paolo, in the locality of Casal Bernocchi, some 10 kilometers from Rome, on the way to Rome’s Fiumicino International airport.
The Pontiff arrived at the Sports Center at 3:45 pm. He had a meeting with children, who gave him a book with their simple drawings and who asked him several spontaneous questions. He also met with the young people studying the catechism.
He greeted the sick and the Neocatechumenal Community present in the parish and also the poor being helped by Caritas. As part of his pastoral visit, he heard four penitents’ Confession.
At 6:30 pm, the Holy Father presided over the afternoon Sunday Mass, improvising his homily.
“How can we adore Christ?” he asked.
“With the prayer of Adoration and letting the people feel the inspiration of the Spirit, otherwise, we do not let the Spirit work,” pointed out the Pontiff, and he invited them to “guard the Holy Spirit and not speak as the devil teaches us.” And he reiterated: “I’m sorry if I always return to this subject, but it’s the enemy that destroys communities: gossip.”
“Let us not throw stones at one another, because the devil is amused: let us ask for the grace to guard the Holy Spirit that is within us. Let us not grieve Him, and let our attitude be one of gentleness and reverence,” he said.
The Pontiff also pointed out that “it’s awful to see persons who call themselves Christians but are full of bitterness. The Church calls the Spirit ‘sweet Guest of the soul.’ And, in regard to respect, “always respect others. He teaches us to reverence others.”
This was the Pope’s 15th parish visit in the diocese of Rome and he was the third Pontiff to visit this parish. The first was Paul VI and the second was Saint John Paul II.
