Pope Francis: God listens to everyone, sinner, saint, victim, murderer

Everyone lives a life that is often inconsistent or a "contradiction" because people can be both a sinner and a saint, a victim and a tormentor, said Pope Francis.

No matter what his situation is, people can put themselves back in the hands of God through prayer, he said on June 24 during his weekly general audience.

“Prayer gives us nobility; he is able to protect his relationship with God, who is the true companion of humanity's journey, between thousands of difficulties in life, good or bad, but always with prayer, "he said.

The audience, streamed from the library of the Apostolic Palace, was the Pope's last general audience speech until August 5, according to Vatican News. However, his Sunday speech at the Angelus was to continue throughout the month of July.

With the start of the summer holidays for many, the pope said he hoped that people could have a peaceful rest, despite continued restrictions "related to the threat of coronavirus infection."

It may be a time of "enjoying the beauty of creation and strengthening ties with humanity and with God," he said greeting the Polish-speaking spectators and listeners.

In his keynote address, the pope continued his prayer series and reflected on the role prayer has played in the life of David - a young pastor whom God has called to become king over Israel.

David learned early in life that a shepherd takes care of his flock, protects them from harm and provides them, the pope said.

Jesus is also called "the good shepherd" because he offers his life for his flock, guiding them, knowing each one by name, he said.

When David later came face to face with his terrible sins, he realized that he had become a "bad shepherd", someone who was "sick with power, a poacher who kills and plunders," said the pope.

He no longer behaved like a humble servant, but he had robbed another man of the only thing he loved when he took the man's wife as his own.

David wanted to be a good shepherd, but sometimes he failed and sometimes he did, the pope said.

"Saint and sinner, persecuted and persecutor, victim and even executioner," David was full of contradictions - being all these things in his life, he said.

But the only thing that remained constant was his prayerful dialogue with God. "David the saint, pray, David the sinner, pray", always raising his voice to God either in joy or in deep despair, said the pope .

This is what David can teach the faithful today, he said: always talk to God, regardless of circumstances or one's state of being, because everyone's life is often characterized by contradictions and inconsistencies.

People should talk to God about their joy, sins, pains and love - everything, said the pope, because God is always there and listening.

Prayer returns people to God "because the nobility of prayer leaves us in the hands of God," he said.

The pope also took note of the feast on the day of the birth of St. John the Baptist.

He asked that people learn from this saint, how to be courageous witnesses of the Gospel, above and beyond every single difference, "preserving the harmony and friendship that are the basis for the credibility of every proclamation of faith ".