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A child joined Pope Francis on stage at the general audience of October 20. The Pope welcomed him, saying he was giving a message related to the theme of the catechesis during these weeks: St. Paul’s lessons on freedom.
The Pope said:
In these days we are talking about the freedom of faith, listening to the Letter to the Galatians. But I was reminded of what Jesus was saying about the spontaneity and freedom of children, when this child had the freedom to approach and move as if he were at home…
And Jesus tells us: “You too, if you do not behave like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” The courage to approach the Lord, to be open to the Lord, not to be afraid of the Lord: I thank this child for the lesson he has given us all.
And may the Lord help him in his limitation, in his growth because he has given this testimony that came from his heart. Children do not have an automatic translator from the heart to life: the heart takes the lead. Thank you.
Bishop Leonardo Sapienza left his seat to the Pope’s right, to the applause of the hundreds of faithful gathered in the Paul VI Hall, so that the child could sit down.
The child was quite interested in the Pope’s zucchetto and seemed intent on investigating it, even drawing one of the prelates by hand to help him. The child was visibly pleased when he was given one of his own, and returned to his parents.
And today we celebrate...