Improvised words by the Holy Father during the Audience...

This morning, Saturday 1 October 2022, in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received the participants in the XXVI General Chapter in the audience.

After the words of the newly elected Superior General, Father Rogério Gomes presented to the Holy Father some of the conclusions of the reflections and the commitment of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer for the next 6 years, the Holy Father addressed the St. Alphonsus’ spiritual sons with a message for the occasion.

Improvised words in Spanish by the Holy Father during the Audience:

"I would like to say a few more words spontaneously.

To go on mission, to go out on mission is the missionary dimension, which you mentioned in your speech. I was impressed by your phrase: Lasciare le zone di confort and go on mission. I wonder what are the comfort zones that a Congregation has, that a province has, a community has, and that each one of us has? Ask yourselves that question because it was said that each one accommodates the vows as he wants. And then, he can practice poverty with a bank account, chastity with a companion, and obedience by dialoguing and deciding what he wants. These are very contorted forms. However, the one that always produces deformation in the three vows is comfort. That is where the evil comes in, by trying to be comfortable, to be comfortable, to live a bourgeois life, without going out and going out on mission, and going out on mission, and going out on mission. So each one of us should analyze our temptation of comfort. We all have that temptation. We all have that temptation.

Just now, for example, when they told me: “You have many priests you have to go and talk to”, I thought: “Ufa, I want to go to lunch…”. Comfort, right? (laughs) We all have the temptation of comfort, but each has its own first and last name. Look for the root of comfort in each one of you, which will help you detach yourselves and look at the horizon of the mission. A Redemptorist without this horizon of mission is not understood, even if he has to sit at a desk all his life. The horizon of the mission. Moreover, the ability to go out of one’s comfort zone. So I suggest that, as a fruit of this Chapter, in your prayer during these days, each one of you should ask yourselves: “What is my comfort zone, that which does not allow me to be free, does not allow me to fly? Try to answer that question.

The second thing that characterizes the Redemptorists is that they are moral teachers, and I thank them for that. Above all, I want to thank the Alfonsianum here in Rome. I think the rector is here… He is not here. Give him my regards, because I wanted to tell him that he is doing very well, very well. You are rendering a service to a mature, serious, Catholic moral theology. And with an impressive height, a very great academic height. So I thank you, as Father General, that this Institute continues to help the Church. Teachers of morals, but also teachers of morals in the children’s catechism, in the confessionals….

That people understand what is right and what is wrong, that they know that mercy covers everything, but that this is right and wrong, because one thing is the mercy of God and another is “manganchism”. To have a wide sleeve, that is to say, “everything is fine”… not to distinguish, not to have a moral culture, and that is so important, without reductionism. Today, with great sadness, we have to say that there are commandments that are not fulfilled, are not fulfilled, in the face of these social injustices that exist. An example: is people who squander their money on trips, tourism, parties, luxury restaurants, and people who do not have enough to eat a loaf of bread. So, there is the immorality of thought. The eighth commandment, who fulfills it today? Nowadays, if one can cheat others, take away what is fair, underpay them, pay them fair wages – there are less and less of them – how much work is needed! People accept whatever they can get. In other words, they go against justice, against the truth. Please, teach strong morals there; go on. Charge your conscience. Well, all the commandments. Idolatry, for example, what is it? “No, I do not worship any idol”. You are full of idols yourself, but teach them: “This is idolatry”.

I tell them to continue with this because they are doing it very well, but do not forget that they are formers of conscience. This is what I want to get to, formers of moral conscience. And this is a charisma that you have, that you inherited from the founder, who dedicated himself to these things, among others.

Well, I thank you for what you do in the Church, I really do. I thank you from my soul. I thank you for your thirteen years here… Surviving in Rome is not easy! Thank you. And to you, when it costs you a little, a little cachaça to lift your spirits (laughs).

Now I want to give you my blessing."

[Blessing]

After the blessing the Pope added:

"And do not forget to reflect, what is my comfort zone?"