Among the Pope's teachings this summer, in addition to his catechesis during the August 7 general audience, two letters stand out: the one he sent to the People of God on pilgrimage in Germany (29-VI-2019) and the Letter to Priests (4-VIII-2019) on the 160th anniversary of the death of the Curé of Ars.

Discerning the paths of hope

The first Letter is a testimony of how the Pope, in the current circumstances of uncertainty and changes that German Catholics are going through, wishes to promote a series of attitudes that can be synthesized in this phrase: "to encourage the search to respond with parresia to the present status ".

The letter - which is useful to all Catholics, especially to Europeans - underlines some presuppositions for ecclesial discernment. A first group of elements have to do with what we could consider prudential or ethical discernment, integrated in the Christian experience: realism and patience -because not all needs can be addressed at once, and for this reason it is also convenient to set processes in motion, rather than trusting in immediate and immature results-; analysis and courage to walk together, looking at reality and with the energies of the theological virtues.

reference letter Here there is an appeal to a new Pelagianism that would entrust everything to "administrativeStructures and perfect organizations"(Evangelii Gaudium, 32). Further on, he also speaks of the new Gnosticism of those who "wishing to make a name for themselves and to expand their doctrine and fame, seek to say something ever new and different from what the Word of God gave them"; of those who, feeling themselves 'advanced' or 'enlightened', would like to overcome the ecclesial "we" with their own schemes (cf. J. Ratzinger, The God of Jesus Christ, Salamanca 1979).

As on previous occasions (cf. meeting with the committee directive of CELAM, Bogota, 7-IX-2017), the Pope proposes to "manage balance" with hope and not to be "afraid of imbalance" (cf. Evangelii gaudium, 97); for there are tensions and imbalances that are inevitable and, even more, indispensable as part of the advertisement of the Gospel.          

To improve our evangelizing mission statement we have discernment, which today must also be carried out through synodality. It is a matter of "living and feeling with the Church and in the Church, which, in many situations, will also lead us to suffer in the Church and with the Church", both at the universal and particular levels. For this we must seek real paths, so that all voices, even those of the simplest and humblest, have space and visibility.

Living tradition and correspondence to grace

Francis also points out other conditions of discernment that are specifically ecclesial, because this discernment is carried out in the framework of the life of the Church as a correspondence to the grace of God.

It is necessary to "always keep alive and effective communion with the whole body of the Church", without closing ourselves up in our particularities or allowing ourselves to be enslaved by ideologies. This requires a connection with the living Tradition of the Church.  

This framework is ensured by the reference letter to holiness that we all have to foster and the motherhood of Mary; by the fraternity within the Church and trust in the guide of the Holy Spirit; by the need to prioritize a broad vision of the whole, but without losing attention to the small and close.

All this also requires, in order to make possible the correspondence staff to grace, especially of pastors, a "state of vigil and conversion": gifts of God to be implored by means of prayer (which includes adoration), fasting and penance. In this way we can aspire to have the same sentiments as Christ (cf. Phil 2:7), that is, his humility, poverty and courage.

Sorrow and gratitude, encouragement and praise.

The Letter to Priests, on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the death of the holy Curé of Ars, comes at an opportune moment, when many need the gratitude and encouragement of an older brother and father. Four words mark the attitudes that the Pope wants to convey to priests: sorrow, gratitude, encouragement and praise. And all this against the backdrop of hope and trust in God's mercy.

First of all, pain, first of all, for the victims of abuse committed by priests. Also, and at the same time, sorrow for priests who feel rejected or placed under suspicion in some places.

God wants us to carry forward our mission statement with conversion and transparency, sincerity and solidarity especially with the victims, always attentive to every form of suffering of others. God also seeks ecclesial purification, to save us from hypocrisy and appearances, for humble repentance is always a good way to a renewed beginning of holiness.

Secondly, gratitude. First of all to God, who has called us to his service. So that this "gratefulreport " is a guarantee of the spiritual fruitfulness that usually follows in the life of priests. (It is here that Pope Francis quotation to Lucio Gera as a great teacher of priestly life of his land).

The Pope also thanked the priests for their fidelity to their commitments, despite the difficulties of the environment, their limitations and sins. Thank you for your daily struggle to maintain a joyful and faithful heart, for your fraternity with other priests, for your unity around the Bishop, for your perseverance and endurance, for your fortitude and courage. Thank you for your daily prayer and the celebration of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, where you pour out God's mercy. Thank you for your closeness to those who suffer. Thanks also to the faithful people who accompany us and take care of us, and whom we have to take care of on our part.

Thirdly, Francis encourages priests to turn to prayer and to be close to all those who need them, especially those who suffer, because they are "the wounds of Jesus". Prayer is necessary to avoid acedia or spiritual sadness. In prayer we discover our weaknesses and the strength that comes from God and is supported by the prayer of the People of God.

Along with prayer, the priest must seek spiritual accompaniment for himself. This strengthens his bond with the people of God and opens him to an evangelizing outreach. And always raising our hearts in praise to God, together with Mary.

The example of the Apostles

Of the attitudes that appear in these two letters - both those that the Pope promotes for all Catholics and those that he wishes to encourage in priests - those that appear in the Acts of the Apostles are model .

"They intercede and Christ acts, working 'together with them' and confirming the Word with the signs that accompany it (Mk 16:20)"(General Audience, August 7, 2019).

In the healing of the paralytic who was begging for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, Peter and John show the face of the Church, which "sees those who are in difficulty, does not close its eyes, knows how to look humanity in the face in order to create meaningful relationships, bridges of friendship and solidarity instead of barriers (...). (...). It is the "art of accompaniment" which is characterized by the delicacy with which we approach the "sacred ground of the other". (...) Peter and John teach us not to trust in the means, which are also useful, but in the true richness that is the relationship with the Risen One. (...)"

All of us, the Pope asks us, must ask ourselves what is our wealth, our treasure with which we can make others rich. And we will discover, with grateful report , that the benefits of God's love in our lives impel us to a witness of praise and recognition, to generosity that reaches out so that others may be lifted up.