蜜桃交友

By Pope

The Emmanuel Community in Lecce, southern Italy, is a non-profit organization that works with individuals and families in difficulty. The Organization also runs a treatment centre for  drug addiction. Its motto is 鈥淲elcoming and Sharing鈥�.       

Doing and being

Pope Francis focused on these words when he met members of the Community in audience in the Vatican. He thanked them for all they have done in these almost 40 years, 鈥渇or the welcome, the accompaniment, the work鈥�. He also praised the Community for 鈥渁lways nourishing the 鈥榙oing鈥� with the 鈥榖eing鈥欌��. This is important, he said, 鈥渙therwise you will become a welfare agency or a company鈥�.

Faith in service

鈥淵our community expresses an embodied faith in service鈥�, said Pope Francis. 鈥淵ou started with a gesture of welcome鈥� and you have continued to respond鈥�. The most difficult thing is to persevere, to move forward, continued the Pope. 鈥淏eing with Christ and being with your brothers and sisters in difficulty. This is the key鈥�, he said.

God-with-us

Pope Francis stressed the name of the community: Emmanuel. 鈥淕od-with-us鈥�. Jesus is not just an idea, or an ideology, he continued. 鈥淗e is God-with-us, who witnessed to the love of the Father by sharing our human condition to the full鈥�.

Jesus is the source that ensures we never give up on joy, hope, and courage. He helps us continue our work with joy even when we struggle and feel tired. He guarantees we remain faithful to the original spirit of our vocation and mission.  

The joy of the Gospel

Pope Francis concluded by thanking the Emmanuel Community for their visit, saying that, for him, 鈥渋t is always a gift and a consolation to meet the communities that seek to live the joy of the Gospel鈥�.