Pope Francis on Thursday described the ‘embrace’ as a fundamental human expression where life begins, in an address to some 50,000 members of Catholic Action.
He focused on three types of embraces: the missing embrace, the saving embrace, and the life-changing embrace, highlighting their impact on global harmony and personal growth.
The pontiff discussed the ‘missing embrace,’ noting that gestures of joy and brotherhood often face resistance or rejection, sometimes leading to violence.
“Wars originate from missing embraces,” he said, explaining how this absence can foster prejudices and misunderstandings.
He then discussed the ‘saving embrace,’ noting how an embrace can express values such as affection, esteem, trust, and reconciliation, especially when combined with faith.
“At the center of our existence is the merciful embrace of God that saves, the embrace of the good Father revealed in Christ Jesus, whose face is reflected in every one of His gestures,” he said.
Addressing the ‘life-changing embrace,’ Pope Francis referenced the saints, whose lives were often marked by significant embraces. He encouraged the attendees to embody the presence of Christ through their actions towards those in need.
Pope Francis also spoke about the Synod, urging attendees to promote and advance synodality in their communities.
“Seeing all of you here together reminds me of the Synod,” he said. He thanked the participants for their roles in fostering community and faith and invoked the Madonna to guide and accompany them.
