Pope Francis presided over a Mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday morning, marking the final public event of his four-day apostolic trip to Luxembourg and Belgium. During the Mass, the Pope beatified Anne of Jesus, a 17th-century Spanish nun who brought the reform of the Carmelite Order of St. Teresa of Avila to Belgium and other parts of Europe.
Example of holiness in times of scandal
In his homily, the Holy Father praised Blessed Anne of Jesus for her witness to the Christian faith through poverty, prayer and charity, especially in a time “marked by painful scandals.” “Let us gratefully welcome the example she has given us of ‘feminine styles of holiness,’ gentle but strong,” the Pope said.
He also recalled the numerous examples of holiness throughout the history of the Belgian Church, including St. Damian of Veuster, St. Guido of Anderlecht and St. Gudula.
Openness to the Spirit’s invitation for all
The Holy Father warned Christians about the danger of putting “an obstacle before one of these little ones” through scandal. The day’s liturgical readings, he noted, speak of the “free action of the Holy Spirit,” as Jesus rebukes his disciples for forbidding a man to cast out demons in His name simply because the man was not a disciple.
Every Christian, by baptism, has a mission in the Church, a gift that transcends our limitations and sins. “The community of believers is not a select circle of a privileged few; it is the family of the saved,” the Pope stated. “We have been sent into the world to preach the Gospel not based on our own merits, but by the grace of God.”
Listening to the prophetic voices of the oppressed
Pope Francis spoke of the communion that unites Christ’s disciples across the centuries, as we are united in “a love that unites through mutual giving.” Each of us, he said, is tempted by selfishness that suffocates charity and “crushes the little ones.”
The path of selfishness creates closure, walls and obstacles—we can call them ‘scandals’—that bind us to material things and separate us from God and our brothers and sisters. Speaking spontaneously, the Pope shared his meeting in Brussels with people who had suffered abuse by members of the clergy.
“I heard your suffering as victims of abuse,” he said, “and I repeat here: in the Church, there is room for everyone, everyone, everyone, but we will all be judged, and there is no room for abuse, nor for covering up abuse. I ask everyone: do not cover up abuse! I ask the bishops: do not cover up abuse! Condemn the abusers and help them heal from this disease of abuse.”
“The evil must come to light,” the Pope continued. “Let it be known, as some victims of abuse have done, and with courage. Let it be known. And let the abuser be judged, whether layman, priest or bishop: let the abuser be judged.”
Returning to his prepared homily, the Pope pointed to the plight of refugees and undocumented migrants who dream of a better future but often end up as victims of exploitation. Their cries of affliction, he said, cannot be erased and must be welcomed as prophetic voices.
“They are the living voice of the Spirit because they remind us that we are all poor sinners called to conversion,” he noted. “We must not stifle this prophetic voice or silence it with our indifference.”
Letting the Gospel of mercy guide us
The Pope spoke again about the need to avoid scandal, allowing love and “the Gospel of mercy” to guide our decisions. He recalled the powerful message of Jesus in the Gospel: “Depart from me, you scandalous eyes that see the needy, and turn away! Depart from me, you scandalous hands that close their fists to hide their treasures and keep them! Depart from me, you scandalous feet that run quickly, not to approach those who suffer, but to avoid them and stay away!”
