蜜桃交友

By Joseph Tulloch

Pope Francis has replied to a letter from an Italian grandmother concerned that her granddaughter, now five years old, has not been baptised by her non-religious parents.

The brief letter, signed 鈥淥liva from Bergamo鈥�, was published in the first edition of the new magazine Piazza San Pietro (鈥楽t Peter鈥檚 Square鈥�), published by St Peter鈥檚 Basilica.

In the message, Oliva says that the decision taken by her daughter and son-in-law not to baptise her grandchild is 鈥渁 source of great suffering鈥� to her.

鈥淲hat will Jesus think of all this?鈥�, she asks.

In his reply, the Pope says that he understands Oliva鈥檚 suffering and feels close to her.

Baptism, he says, is 鈥渁 great gift鈥�. Since his election as Pope, he notes, he has baptised many children, and always found this to be a moment of 鈥済reat joy鈥�.

The Pope goes on to point out that one should 鈥渘ever lose hope鈥� when a loved one loses their faith, recalling the example of St Monica, who prayed for decades for the conversion of her son St Augustine.

He also stresses that 鈥渂aptism cannot be imposed on parents who do not want it for their children.鈥� He therefore urges Oliva to 鈥渁ccompany your children, speak with them, but not insist on baptism鈥�.

鈥淕ratuitous love is more persuasive than many words,鈥� the Pope writes. 鈥淟ove for God plants seeds of the future, of friendship, of the search for Him.鈥�

Pope Francis with newly baptised babies in the Sistine Chapel