Holy Father Pope Francis met with more than 70,000 altar servers participating in the 12th International Pilgrimage for Altar Boys and Girls. During the Extraordinary Audience in St Peter’s Square on Tuesday, 5 of the pilgrims posed questions to the Pontiff.
As reported by Vatican news, Holy Father Pope Francis agreed with the altar server who brought up a question regarding the sign of peace during Mass. “Peace and Holy Mass go together”, Pope Francis said. We pray asking Jesus to give us His peace, and we are sent forth in peace at the end of Mass, he continued. Then His Holiness Pope Francis proposed that the young people ask themselves in every situation: “What would Jesus do in my place?” By doing that “we will bring Christ’s peace to our everyday lives”, he said. “You can be apostles, capable of drawing others to Jesus”, Pope Francis responded to a question regarding the pilgrims’ peers who do not go to church. “This will happen if you are full of enthusiasm for him”, he explained. The Pontiff then encouraged the pilgrims to spend time knowing and loving Jesus through prayer, Mass, Gospel reading, and through the poor.
The last question came from a pilgrim who wanted to know how to translate service into works of charity in order to become holy. Holy Father Pope Francis responded saying that “Jesus’ simple plan for advancing in the way of holiness” is the commandment to love God and our neighbor. This commandment becomes even more concrete in the works of mercy.”
