“The identity of disciples comes from their having been chosen and taken from the world, and this election is a gift for them, but also a risky engagement,” said Cardinal Parolin, commenting on the Gospel passage of Saint John, where Jesus reminds His disciples that they don’t belong to the world: “behold why the world hates you.” “The world doesn’t like Jesus’ disciples,” explained the Vatican Secretary of State, “because it understands that it no longer represents the foundation of their existence.” In fact, Christ’s act of election (. . .) confers a new foundation on the existence of men and women whom, through the Gospel, God attracts, fascinates and finally transforms.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, delivered the homily at the Mass in the Basilica of Aquilea on July 12, 2018, Solemnity of Saints Hermagoras and Fortunatus, martyrs, and patrons of the Archdiocese of Gorizia. The Cardinal was at Aquilea on the occasion of a Conference for the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
“Brothers and sisters, let us learn first of all not to hate,” exhorted the Cardinal. “Jesus accepted consciously this hatred while continuing to fulfill the mission for which the Father sent Him: to love humanity, to save the world from hatred and from all fallacious ‘wisdom,” to overcome evil with good, to inaugurate the Kingdom of God.” That is why “to witness Jesus is more urgent and timely than ever because it is to put oneself at the side of love against hatred, of care of the other against indifference, of life against death,” he concluded.
