Holy Father Pope Francis prayed the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square with tens of thousands of pilgrims, including a large group of young Italians. The Pontiff reflected on the day’s Second Reading, in which St. Paul tells the faithful not to sadden the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30-5:2).
As reported by Vatican news, The Pontiff remarked that “It is not enough simply not to do evil. But to be a good Christian, we must also adhere to goodness and do good. Saddening the Spirit means not living according to the promises made at our Baptism, which are to renounce evil and adhere to good. Many times we hear some saying, ‘I don’t hurt anyone.’ That’s fine, But do you do good?” Further, His Holiness added, “Many people do not do evil, but neither do they do any good. These people pass their lives “in indifference, apathy, and lukewarmness.This attitude of simply not doing evil is contrary to the Gospel and the nature of young people.” And the Pontiff gave them a simple formula for life: “It’s good not to do evil. But it’s evil not to do good!”
Holy Father Pope Francis concluded his remarks by reminding that “Evil spreads where there are no bold Christians to oppose it with goodness. If we do not oppose evil, we feed it with our silence.”
