On Sunday, December 29, Pope Francis led the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square. Before the prayer, he reminded the faithful that today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. He recalled a stressful event for parents when, during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, twelve-year-old Jesus separated from his parents to remain in the temple.
“It is an almost commonplace experience for a family that alternates between calm moments and dramatic ones. It appears to be the story of a family crisis, a crisis of our times, of a difficult teenager and two parents who are unable to understand him.”
Pope Francis emphasized the need to pause and look at the Holy Family as an example to follow. An example of a family that communicates, speaks, and listens. He highlighted that dialogue is an essential element for a family.
“Dialogue is an important element for a family! A family that does not communicate cannot be a happy family.”
He noted that it’s beneficial for mothers not to start with rebuke but with a question, and he presented Mary as an example of a mother who tries to understand by listening how to accept a son who is so different.
“Mary does not accuse and does not judge, but tries to understand how to accept this Son who is so different by listening. Despite this effort, the Gospel says that Mary and Joseph ‘did not understand what He said to them.'”
Pope Francis pointed out that the fact that they did not understand Jesus shows that in a family, listening is more important than understanding, because through listening, we give importance to the one who speaks, acknowledging their right to exist and think autonomously. He then emphasized:
“Children need this. Think carefully, parents: listen to your children, who need this!”
He stressed that family meals are moments that encourage conversation and bring generations together. He urged never to shut ourselves off or turn towards screens instead of each other.
In his conclusion, Pope Francis reminded everyone that the Holy Family is an example for all families, yet even Jesus’ parents did not always understand him. Therefore, we should not be surprised if we sometimes fail to understand each other, prompting us to reflect:
“When it happens, let us ask ourselves: have we listened to each other? Do we confront problems by listening to each other, or do we close up in silence, at times in resentment and pride? Do we take a little time to converse? What we can learn from the Holy Family today is mutual listening.”
Pope Francis, Saint Peter’s Square, Sunday, 29 December 2024.
