Holy Father Pope Francis while addressing the faithful gathered in the Basilica of St. Mary Major to mark the centenary of the foundation of the Pontifical Oriental Institute, encouraged all Christians of the Oriental Churches to continue their courageous witness, despite the dramatic persecutions they suffer. His Holiness also reflected on the day’s reading from the prophet Malachi and conveyed about the way God listens to his people and records their suffering in a book of memories.
As reported by news.va, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “If we pray and trust in the Lord, we know that, everyone who asks, receives; those who seek, find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened, but do we really know how to pray, to knock on the door of God’s heart.” Further, His Holiness added, “The Gospel reminds us that if we, sinners, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
His Holiness concluded his message by exhorting to knock courageously on the door of God’s heart and urged the Oriental Church leaders to continue courageous witness.
