The way to evangelization is “unreserved openness” to others, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, OFM Conv, said on the fourth day of the Novendiales, the Church’s nine days of mourning for Pope Francis.
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Gambetti, who is archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, celebrated the Mass for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul in the presence of the cardinals and the chapters of the four papal basilicas, which are groups of clergy entrusted with ensuring the liturgical and sacramental care of the basilicas.
The first reading at the Mass, held in St. Peter’s Basilica, was from the Acts of the Apostles and quotes Peter, who says: “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.”
In a globalized, secular age that is thirsty for truth and love, Gambetti said, “Peter’s attitude points the way to evangelization: the unreserved openness to the human, gratuitous interest in others, the sharing of experience and deepening to help every man and every woman give respect to life, to creaturely grace, and, when they see that it pleases God — St. Francis of Assisi would say (RegNB XVI, 43) — the proclamation of the Gospel.”
The Gospel at the Mass was a passage in which Jesus tells his disciples that in his heavenly kingdom, the Son of Man will one day separate people, “as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
The cardinal noted that sheep “do not rebel, [are] faithful, meek, take care of the lambs and the weakest of the flock,” while goats “want independence, defy the shepherd and other animals with their horns, jump over the other goats as a sign of dominance, think of themselves and not the rest of the flock in the face of danger.”
“On a personal and institutional level, which of the two styles do we embody?” Gambetti said, posing the question for reflection.
“Clearly, then, whether or not we belong to the kingdom of God does not depend on explicit knowledge of Christ: Lord, when did we see you hungry … thirsty … a stranger … naked … sick or in prison…? In the Greek text, the verb ‘to see’ is expressed by Matthew as òráo, which means to see deeply, to perceive, to understand. Paraphrasing: Lord, when did we ‘understand,’ ‘detect,’ ‘distinguish’ you?” the cardinal said.
“Jesus’ answer suggests that it is not the profession of faith, theological knowledge, or sacramental practice that guarantees participation in God’s joy but qualitative and quantitative involvement in the human story of the least of our brothers and sisters,” he added.
According to Gambetti, the parable of the Last Judgment “reveals the supreme dignity of human acts, defined in relation to compassion, solidarity, tenderness, and closeness in humanity.”
He said Pope Francis expressed such humanity and quoted from some poetic verses of the Hungarian-born Italian writer and Holocaust survivor Edith Bruck.
Bruck, who met and spoke with Pope Francis on several occasions, wrote a farewell to him in the April 23 edition of the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.
Quoting Bruck, Gambetti said:
“We have lost a man who lives in me.
“A man who loved, was moved, wept, invoked peace, laughed, kissed, hugged, was moved and moved others, spread warmth.
“The love of people of all colors and everywhere rejuvenated him.
“Irony and wit made him wise.
“His humanity was contagious, softening even stones.
“To heal him from illnesses was his healthy faith rooted in heaven.”
The nine days of Masses for Pope Francis will continue with the fifth day on April 30. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, vice dean of the College of Cardinals, will celebrate the Mass, which will include the Papal Chapel.
The College of Cardinals, in the midst of pre-conclave meetings called general congregations, will begin the conclave to choose Francis’ successor on May 7.
