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ASTI, Italy (CNS) – Pope Francis celebrated Mass at Asti Cathedral with several of his cousins and their children and grandchildren, paying a nod to his family’s roots and drawing attention to the root of the Christian faith: the cross of Jesus. .
Mass on November 20, the feast of Christ the King and World Youth Day, was the only public event of the pope’s weekend in the region where his grandparents, Giovanni Angelo Bergoglio and Rosa Vassallo, and father Mario moved to Argentina. 1929.
The visit coincided with the 90th birthday of Carla Rabezzana, the pope’s second cousin. And, after landing at Portacomaro near Asti on November 19 and stopping to pray at the village church, Pope Francis went straight to Rabezzana’s house for lunch.
After lunch, the Pope visited a nearby nursing home and then went to the small village of Tigliole to visit his cousin, Delia Guy.
The cousins and their families joined about 4,000 people for Mass with the pope at Asti Cathedral the next day.
In his home, sprinkled with words from the Piedmontese dialect taught by his grandmother, Pope Francis focused on how Christ’s kingship differs from what people usually think of a king.
“He is not fit for a throne, but hung on a gibbet,” said the pope. “The God who knocks down the mighty from their thrones appears like a slave slain by those in authority.”
Without blaming anyone, he “opens his hands to everyone.” And so he presents himself as our king: with open arms,” the pope said.
Jesus opened his arms and said, “He took in his arms our death, our sorrows, our poverty, our weakness, and our sufferings.” “He allowed himself to be humiliated and ridiculed, so that whenever we were humiliated, we would never feel alone. He allowed himself to be undressed so that no one would ever lose his dignity. He went up to the cross so that God could be in every man or woman crucified throughout history.”
“This is our king, the king of the universe,” Pope Francis said.
At the beginning of the Mass, local seminarian Stefano Accornero was installed in the acolyte ministry.
Departing from the prepared text of his homily, Pope Francis told Stefano and those preparing for the priesthood: “Remember that this is your example: do not cling to honor, no. This is your model; If you don’t think of becoming a priest like this king, you better stop here.”
Urging the members of the congregation to look at Jesus on the cross, the Pope told them that Christ “does not look at us quickly, as we have shown him many times. No, he stays there, ‘brasa aduerte’ (arms open, in Piedmontese) in silence to tell you that nothing about you is alien to him, that he wants to embrace you, lift you up and save you. You are what you are, with your past, your faults and your sins.’
By surrendering to Christ’s love and accepting his forgiveness, everyone can start over, the pope said. “Salvation comes from allowing him to love, because only in this way can we be freed from slavery to ourselves, from the fear of being alone, from the thought that we cannot succeed.”
“Ours is not an unknown God in the heavens, mighty and distant, but rather a near God.” Intimacy is God’s style; he is close with tenderness and mercy,” said the pope. “Kind and compassionate, he opens his arms to comfort and caress us. This is our king!’
The Gospel reading for the day included the “good thief” on the cross saying to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom,” and Jesus replying, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
The same promise is available to all who sincerely confess their sins and trust in the Lord, the pope said. “Before God, only soap and water, no make-up, just what you are.” Salvation begins there.”
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