Pope Francis’ Inauguration Sermon
Pope Francis’ homily at his Inauguration
Dear Brothers and Sisters,.
I thank the Lord that I can celebrate this Holy Mass for the inauguration of my Petrine ministry on the solemnity of Saint Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the patron of the universal Church. It is a significant coincidence, and it is also the name-day of my venerable predecessor: we are close to him with our prayers, filled with love and appreciation.
I provide a warm welcoming to my brother cardinals and bishops, the priests, deacons, males and females spiritual, and all the lay faithful. I thank the representatives of the ecclesial communities and various other churches, as well as the representatives of the Jewish community and the various other religious communities, for their presence. My friendly greetings go to the Heads of State and Government, the members of the official Delegations from many countries throughout the world, and the Diplomatic Corps.
In the Gospel we heard that “Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife” (Mt 1:24). These words currently point to the objective which God entrusts to Joseph: he is to be the custos, the protector. The protector of whom? Of Mary and Jesus; but this protection is then reached the Church, as Blessed John Paul II mentioned: “Just as Saint Joseph took enjoying care of Mary and gladly dedicated himself to Jesus Christ’s upbringing, he likewise safeguards and protects Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church, of which the Virgin Mary is the exemplar and model” (Redemptoris Custos, 1).
How does Joseph workout his part as protector? Discreetly, humbly and silently, however with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when he discovers it hard to understand. From the time of his betrothal to Mary until the finding of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, he is there at every moment with enjoying care. As the partner of Mary, he goes to her side in good times and bad, on the trip to Bethlehem for the census and in the cheerful and anxious hours when she gave birth; amidst the dramatization of the flight into Egypt and during the frantic look for their child in the Temple; and later in the day-to-day life of the house of Nazareth, in the workshop where he taught his trade to Jesus.
How does Joseph respond to his calling to be the protector of Mary, Jesus and the Church? By being continuously alert to God, open to the indicators of God’s presence and receptive to God’s plans, and not merely to his own. This is what God asked of David, as we heard in the first reading. God does not desire a house constructed by men, but loyalty to his word, to his plan. It is God himself who develops the house, however from living stones secured by his Spirit. Joseph is a “protector” due to the fact that he has the ability to hear God’s voice and be guided by his will; and for this reason he is even more conscious the individuals entrusted to his safekeeping. He can look at things reasonably, he is in touch with his surroundings, he can make really wise choices. In him, dear friends, we learn ways to reply to God’s call, conveniently and willingly, however we likewise see the core of the Christian occupation, which is Christ! Let us shield Christ in our lives, so that we can shield others, so that we can protect creation!
The occupation of being a “protector”, nevertheless, is not just something including us Christians alone; it likewise has a prior dimension which is just human, including everybody. It suggests protecting all creation, the charm of the created world, as guide of Genesis informs us and as Saint Francis of Assisi showed us. It means respecting each of God’s animals and respecting the environment where we live. It suggests securing people, showing loving concern for each and everyone, specifically children, the elderly, those in need, who are frequently the last we think of. It suggests caring for one another in our households: wives and husbands initially safeguard one another, and then, as moms and dads, they look after their children, and children themselves, in time, shield their moms and dads. It suggests structure genuine friendships in which we safeguard one another in goodness, respect, and trust. In the end, every little thing has been handed over to our protection, and all of us are responsible for it. Be protectors of God’s presents!
Whenever humans fail to live up to this responsibility, whenever we fall short to look after creation and for our sisters and brothers, the path is opened to destruction and hearts are hardened. Tragically, in every duration of history there are “Herods” who rough out death, wreak havoc, and spoil the countenance of women and men.
Please, I would such as to ask all those who have positions of obligation in financial, social and political life, and all men and women of goodwill: let us be “protectors” of creation, protectors of God’s plan engraved in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment. Let us not allow omens of destruction and death to accompany the advance of this world! To be “protectors”, we additionally have to keep watch over ourselves! Let us not forget that pride, hatred and envy defile our lives! Being protectors, then, additionally suggests watching our emotions, over our hearts, because they are the seat of great and evil intentions: intentions that develop and take down! We have to not be afraid of goodness or even tenderness!
Below I would add another thing: caring, protecting, demands goodness, it asks for a particular tenderness. In the Gospels, Saint Joseph appears as a sturdy and courageous guy, a working man, yet in his heart we see fantastic tenderness, which is not the virtue of the weak however rather an indication of strength of spirit and an ability for issue, for concern, for real openness to others, for love. We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness!
Today, together with the feast of Saint Joseph, we are celebrating the beginning of the ministry of the new Bishop of Rome, the Successor of Peter, which likewise includes a specific power. Definitely, Jesus Christ gave power upon Peter, however exactly what sort of power was it? Jesus’ three concerns to Peter about love are followed by three commands: feed my lambs, feed my sheep. Let us never ever forget that authentic power is service, which the Pope too, when exercising power, must enter ever more totally into that service which has its glowing culmination on the Cross. He has to be influenced by the lowly, concrete and faithful service which marked Saint Joseph and, like him, he must open his arms to protect all God’s individuals and welcome with tender love the whole of humankind, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew listings in the last judgment on love: the starving, the thirsty, the complete stranger, the naked, the ill and those in prison (cf. Mt 25:31 -46). Just those who serve with love are able to protect!
In the 2nd reading, Saint Paul mentions Abraham, who, “hoping against hope, believed” (Rom 4:18). Hoping against hope! Today too, amidst so much darkness, we should see the light of hope and to be men and women who bring hope to others. To shield creation, to shield every man and every woman, to look upon them with inflammation and love, is to open up a horizon of hope; it is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy clouds; it is to bring the warmth of hope! For followers, for us Christians, like Abraham, like Saint Joseph, the hope that we bring is set against the horizon of God, which has actually opened before us in Christ. It is a hope built on the rock which is God.
To protect Jesus with Mary, to safeguard the whole of creation, to safeguard each person, particularly the poorest, to protect ourselves: this is a service that the Bishop of Rome is called to carry out, yet one to which everyone are called, so that the star of hope will shine brightly. Let us secure with love all that God has provided us!
I implore the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, Saints Peter and Paul, and Saint Francis, that the Holy Spirit would accompany my ministry, and I ask all you to pray for me! Amen.
