Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See gathered in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace on March 14th morning to attend Mass, which they requested in order to pray for Pope Francis. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, celebrated the Mass, and thanked those who proposed the idea of praying together as a group.
“We gather in prayer this morning for the intention of the Holy Father’s health, that he may recover and return soon among us,” said the Cardinal in his homily. He also recalled the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis’ election to the papacy, which occurred on March 13 as he recovers from bilateral pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. Cardinal Parolin then reflected on the essence and purpose of prayer, saying it is more about opening our hearts to God than about informing him of our desires, which He already knows. Rather, he said, prayer is the key that opens the Lord’s heart, since it opens our own heart to listening to His word.
Turning to the day’s Gospel, which is about the righteousness required to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, Cardinal Parolin noted that Jesus emphasizes the impor-tance of loving our neighbours, even if we disagree. Jesus told His disciples that even those who are angry with someone else will be subject to judgement. “Wars do not start [on the battlefield],” said the Cardinal. “They start here, in the human heart, born from feelings of hatred and hostility that we harbour toward others.”