“This is why we must learn from Joseph to cultivate silence: that space of interiority in our days in which we give the Spirit the opportunity to regenerate us, to console us, to correct us. I am not saying to fall into muteness, no. Silence,” he said.
“But very often, each one of us looks inside, when we are working on something and when we finish, immediately we look for our telephone to make another call… we are always like this. And this does not help, this makes us slip into superficiality.”
“Profoundness of the heart grows with silence, silence that is not mutism as I said, but which leaves space for wisdom, reflection, and the Holy Spirit.”
He added: “We are afraid of moments of silence. Let us not be afraid! It will do us good. And the benefit to our hearts will also heal our tongue, our words, and above all our choices.”
After the address, a precis of the pope’s catechesis was read out in seven languages. After each summary, he greeted members of each language group.
He said: “I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors, especially the groups from Nigeria and the United States of America.”
“I pray that each of you, and your families, may experience these final days of Advent as a fruitful preparation for the coming of the newborn Saviour of the world. May God bless you.”
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Before greeting Italian speakers, the pope expressed his sorrow at a fuel tanker explosion in Haiti on Dec. 14 that killed more than 60 people.
He said: “In the past few hours there has been a devastating explosion in Cap-Haïtien, northern Haiti, in which many people, including many children, have lost their lives. Poor Haiti, one thing after another; they are a people who suffer.”
“Let us pray, let us pray for Haiti, they are good people, religious people, but they are suffering so much. I am close to the inhabitants of that city and the families of the victims, as well as the injured. I invite you to join me in praying for these brothers and sisters of ours, who are so sorely tried.”
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