Hajja Salesjana

Photo by Ben White - Unsplash.com Pope to Roman Curia: ‘ ‘ Only those who love go forward ’ by Linda Bordoni In his annual address to the Roman Curia for the exchange of Christmas Greetings, Pope Francis issues an invitation to listen, discern, and journey, never losing sight of Christ’s call to be merciful, loving and courageous. Pope Francis’s Christmas greetings to the Curia resonated with the spirit of the ongoing Synodal process, which asks the Church to listen, discern, and walk together with the faithful so that everyone can participate in the dynamism of missionary communion. Addressing members of the Roman Curia in the Vatican, the Pope began his address highlighting the importance of listening. Listening with the heart He drew attention to the exemplary model of the Virgin Mary, and urged those present to listen not only with their ears but with their hearts, echoing the wisdom of Saint Benedict who speaks of listening with “the ear of your heart.” Mary’s open-hearted reception of the angel’s message, he said, serves as a reminder that true listening involves an interior openness that goes beyond mere exchange of information “… because more important than any precept is our need to enter into a relationship with God by accepting the gift of the love that he comes to bring us. More important than any precept is our need to enter into a relationship with God by accepting the gift of the love that he comes to bring us.” The Pope went on to emphasize the significance of humility in listening and said, “There is no better way to listen than ‘on our knees’.” This humble posture, he explained, shows a willingness to set aside preconceived notions and prejudices, allowing us to truly understand the desires and needs of others. Warning against the temptation to be like “hungry wolves,” who devour words without genuine understanding, Pope Francis said that “really listening to another person requires an interior quiet and making room for silence between what we hear and what we say.” Thus, he encouraged members of the Curia to nurture a culture of listening that transcends daily tasks and positions, giving value to relationships and maintaining an evangelical spirit marked by the ability to listen sincerely and without judgment. “Brothers and sisters, in the Curia too, we need to learn the art of listening. Even more important than our daily tasks and responsibilities, or even the positions we hold, is our need to appreciate the value of relationships,” he said. Discernment Moving to the second word, discernment, the Pope recalled the story of John the Baptist. Despite the apostle’s powerful preaching, he said, he experiences a crisis of faith when confronted with the unexpected mercy and compassion of Jesus. “The Baptist,” the Holy Father said, “realizes that he needs to discern, so as to receive fresh eyes. In a word, Jesus was not what people had expected, and even the Precursor had to be Top photo by Vlad Bagacian - Unsplash.com 14 Jannar-Marzu 2025 hajja