Pope Francis: Complaining that the world is evil is ‘not Christian’

Speaking Thursday to a group of priests, bishops, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians, and pastoral workers at the Cathedral Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec, Pope Francis urged those present to model Christian joy and fraternity to those to whom they minister.

“Christian joy is about the experience of a peace that remains in our hearts, even when we are pelted by trials and afflictions, for then we know that we are not alone, but accompanied by a God who is not indifferent to our lot. When seas are rough: The storm is always on the surface but the depths remain calm and peaceful. That is also true of Christian joy: It is a free gift, the certainty of knowing that we are loved, sustained and embraced by Christ in every situation in life,” the pope said in his homily as part of a Vespers service at the cathedral.

The pope noted that the first Bishop of Québec, St. François de Laval, opened a seminary in 1663 and devoted his entire ministry to the formation of priests.

“Dear brothers and sisters, the Gospel needs to be proclaimed if we are to communicate the joy of faith to today’s men and women,” the pope said. “Yet this proclamation is not primarily a matter of words, but of a witness abounding with gratuitous love, for that is God’s way with us. A proclamation that should take shape in a personal and ecclesial lifestyle that can rekindle a desire for the Lord, instill hope, and radiate trust and credibility.”

Pope Francis spoke about contemporary challenges to the faith, including the concept of secularization, which he described as “relegating God, as it were, to the background.” He warned, however, that “we must be careful not to fall prey to pessimism or resentment, passing immediately to negative judgments or a vain nostalgia.”

“Bitterly” complaining that “the world is evil; sin reigns” is “not Christian,” the Holy Father asserted.

“We are called, instead, to have a view similar to that of God, who discerns what is good and persistently seeks it, sees it and nurtures it,” the pope preached.

“If we yield to the negative view and judge matters superficially, we risk sending the wrong message, as though the criticism of secularization masks on our part the nostalgia for a sacralized world, a bygone society in which the Church and her ministers had greater power and social relevance,” Pope Francis said.

“And this is a mistaken way of seeing things … secularization demands that we reflect on the changes in society that have influenced the way in which people think about and organize their lives,” he continued. “If we consider this aspect of the question, we come to realize that what is in crisis is not the faith, but some of the forms and ways in which we present it.”

Three challenges in a secular age
The pope offered three “challenges” to the pastoral workers that he said can shape their prayer and pastoral service in a world shaped by secularization.