His Holiness Pope Francis on Sunday afternoon called on the entire Catholic community to reject the "globalization of indifference" to those suffering and follow the example of Jesus, who preached the Gospel in response to the injustices He witnessed.
In the homily during a massive service at Lima-based
Las Palmas Air Base, Pope Francis railed against our society's growing sense of aloofness from "non-citizens," that is, those lacking the conditions needed for a dignified existence.
"Seeing these things [e.g. people along roadsides] in our cities and our neighborhoods […], we become indifferent, and as a result, anonymous and deaf to others, cold and hard of heart. When this happens, we wound the soul of our people," he was quoted as saying by Vatican News.
Jesus, the example
Instead, the Holy Father continued, we must aim to be like Jesus, who reacted to the unjust arrest of John by preaching the Gospel of God, which eventually reached our days.
"It [the Kingdom of God] has come to us in order to act once more as a timely antidote to the globalization of indifference. In the face of that Love, one cannot remain indifferent," he pointed out.
The father of the Catholic Church went on to urge everyone to listen to Jesus and to become engaged in overcoming breakdown and injustice with fraternity and solidarity.
"Today the Lord calls each of you to walk with him in the city, in your city. He invites you to become his missionary disciple, so that you can become part of that great whisper that wants to keep echoing in the different corners of our lives: Rejoice, the Lord is with you!" he concluded.
Published: 1/21/2018