Pope Francis’s Christmas greetings to the Curia resonated with the spirit of the ongoing Synodal process, which asks the Church to listen, discern, and walk together with the faithful so that everyone can participate in the dynamism of missionary communion.
Addressing members of the Roman Curia in the Vatican on Thursday morning, the Pope began his address highlighting the importance of listening.
Listening with the heart
He drew attention to the exemplary model of the Virgin Mary, and urged those present to listen not only with their ears but with their hearts, echoing the wisdom of Saint Benedict who speaks of listening with “the ear of your heart.”
Mary’s open-hearted reception of the angel’s message, he said, serves as a reminder that true listening involves an interior openness that goes beyond mere exchange of information “because more important than any precept is our need to enter into a relationship with God by accepting the gift of the love that he comes to bring us.“
“More important than any precept is our need to enter into a relationship with God by accepting the gift of the love that he comes to bring us.”
The Pope went on to emphasize the significance of humility in listening and said, “There is no better way to listen than ‘on our knees’.”
This humble posture, he explained, shows a willingness to set aside preconceived notions and prejudices, allowing us to truly understand the desires and needs of others… Read more »
