On June 29, the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the columns of the Church and the patrons of the city of Rome, the Holy Father presided over Mass in the basilica dedicated to the Prince of the Apostles. Two key words guided the homily of Pope Francis: unity and prophecy, of which Peter and Paul witnessed during their lives.
Peter, a simple sinner from Galilee, and Paul, a literate and cultivated Pharisee, are very different, but “felt brothers“, Linked in a familiarity that comes from the Lord, He who unites without standardizing.
Unity in prayer
This unity has its source in prayer, as the first reading proposed by the liturgy recounts (Acts 12: 1-11). Upset by the arrest of Peter decided by Herod Agrippa, the Church of Jerusalem “fears for his own life” The moment is tragic, and yet, observes the Pope, no one dreams of fleeing and “save his skin“; on the contrary, “all pray together” It is in the supplicating invocation to God that they find the courage to endure the test and forge their unity under the guidance of the Spirit. Because prayer “allows the Holy Spirit to intervene, to open to hope, to reduce distances, to stay together in difficulties».
In this delicate context, Christians do not lament, accuse no one; “ (…) No one said: “If Pierre had been more careful, we would not be in this situation”. No, they didn’t speak badly of him, but prayed for him. They were not talking behind the back, but to God“, Notes the Pope, who continues by questioning:”And we today can ask ourselves: “Do we keep our unity through prayer? Do we pray for each other?”. What would happen if we prayed a lot more and whispered a lot less?” Praying for each other is a duty that the Lord entrusts to us, insists the Pope. God expects that “we also remember the one who does not think like us, the one who closed the door in our face, the one to whom we find it hard to forgive». «Only prayer breaks the chains, only prayer clears the way to unityAssures François.
Prophecy born of provocation from God
Peter and Paul were both provoked by Christ; it is from this provocation that prophecy is born. “When the gospel overturns certainties, prophecy springs forth. Only he who opens himself to the surprises of God becomes a prophet” So Peter first proclaims that Jesus is the “son of the living God“(Mt 16:16), while Paul anticipates the end of his life:”I only have to receive the crown of justice: the Lord, the just judge, will give it to me» (2 Tm 4,8).
Our time needs real prophets, not beautiful speakers, vigorously launched the Holy Father: “There is no need for miraculous manifestations, but lives that manifest the miracle of God’s love. Not power, but consistency. Not words, but prayer. Not proclamations, but of service. Not theories, but testimony. We don’t need to be rich, but to love the poor; not to win for ourselves, but to spend ourselves for others; not of the consent of the world, but of joy for the world to come; not effective pastoral projects, but pastors who give their lives: lovers of God ”. It is in love with God that Peter and Paul offer their lives; this very martyrdom is a “prophecy that changes history».
And the Pope concludes: “as the Lord transformed Simon into Peter, so he calls each of us, to make us living stones with which to build a renovated Church and humanity. There are always those who destroy unity and extinguish prophecy, but the Lord believes in us and asks you: “Do you want to be a builder of unity? Do you want to be a prophet from my heaven on earth?” Let us allow ourselves to be provoked by Jesus and find the courage to say to him: “Yes, I want it!” ».
Blessing of the Pallium
Before entering the celebration, which was held at the altar of the Chair and in the presence of 90 faithful and several cardinals, the Pope prayed in prayer before the tomb of Saint Peter, located under the central altar of the basilica.
Given the health crisis, the metropolitan archbishops appointed during the year could not make the trip to Rome for this celebration. It is indeed during the mass of June 29 that they are imposed the Pallium, white woolen cloth decorated with 5 crosses, which materializes their communion with the Successor of Peter. This Monday morning, the Holy Father therefore blessed these Palliums, before taking one of them and conferring it symbolically on Cardinal Re, dean of the Sacred College. The fabrics will then be given to the archbishops by the apostolic nuncios of their countries.
