Pope Francis: only prayer unlocks the chains

On the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on Monday, Pope Francis urged Christians to pray for one another and for unity, saying that "only prayer unlocks the chains".

"What would happen if we prayed more and complained less?" Pope Francis asked in his homily in St. Peter's Basilica on June 29.

“The same thing that happened to Peter in prison: now as then, so many closed doors would have been opened, so many binding chains would have been broken. ... We ask for the grace to be able to pray for each other, "he said.

Pope Francis said that Peter and Paul were two very different people, yet God gave them the grace to be closely united in Christ.

“Together we celebrate two very different individuals: Peter, a fisherman who spent his days among boats and nets, and Paul, an educated Pharisee who taught in synagogues. When they went on a mission, Peter spoke to the Jews and Paul to the pagans. And when their paths crossed, they could argue animatedly, since Paul is not ashamed to admit one of his letters, "he said.

"The closeness that united Peter and Paul did not come from natural inclinations, but from the Lord," said the pope.

The Lord "commanded us not to love one another, but to love one another," he said. "It is he who unites us, without making us all equal."

St. Paul urged Christians to pray for everyone, said Pope Francis, "especially those who govern." The pope stressed that this is "a task that the Lord has entrusted to us".

“Are we making it? Or do we just talk ... and do nothing? " churches.

Referring to the account of St. Peter's imprisonment in the Acts of the Apostles, Pope Francis said that the early Church responded to the persecution by joining in prayer. Chapter 12 of the Book of Acts describes Peter as being imprisoned "by double chains" when an angel appeared to him to facilitate his escape.

"The text says that 'while Peter was kept in prison, the Church prayed fervently to God for him," said Pope Francis. "Unity is the fruit of prayer, because prayer allows the Holy Spirit to intervene, opening our hearts to hope, shortening distances and keeping us united in times of difficulty".

The pope said that none of the early Christians described in Acts "complained of Herod's evil and his persecution" as they faced martyrdom.

“It is useless, even boring, for Christians to waste time complaining about the world, society, all that is not right. The complaints don't change anything, "he said. “Those Christians have not blamed it; they prayed. "

"Only prayer opens the chains, only prayer opens the way to unity," said the pope.

Pope Francis said that both St. Peter and St. Paul were prophets who looked to the future.

He said: "Peter is the first to proclaim that Jesus is" the Christ, the Son of the living God ". Paul, who considers his imminent death, said: "Henceforth the crown of righteousness which the Lord will grant me will be laid."

"Peter and Paul preached Jesus as men in love with God," he said. “At his crucifixion, Peter did not think of himself but of his Lord and, considering himself unworthy of dying like Jesus, asked to be crucified upside down. Before his beheading, Paul thought only of offering his own life; he wrote that he wanted to be 'poured out like a libation' ".

Pope Francis offered mass at the altar of the chair, which is located behind the main altar which is built on the tomb of San Pietro. The pope also prayed in front of the bronze statue of St. Peter in the basilica, which was adorned for the feast with a papal tiara and a red headdress.

During this mass, the pope blessed the "pallium", the white wool robes to be given to each new metropolitan archbishop. These were made with wool woven by the Benedictine nuns of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere and are adorned with six black silk crosses.

The tradition of the pallium dates back to at least the fifth century. Metropolitan archbishops wear the pallium as a symbol of authority and unity with the Holy See. It serves as a sign of the jurisdiction of the metropolitan archbishop in his diocese, as well as the other particular dioceses within his ecclesiastical province.

“Today we bless the pallia to be given to the dean of the College of Cardinals and to the metropolitan archbishops appointed in the last year. The pallium is a sign of unity between the sheep and the Shepherd who, like Jesus, carries the sheep on his shoulders, so as never to separate from it, "said Pope Francis.

The pope, who also wore a pallium during mass, conferred a pallium on cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who was elected dean of the cardinal college in January.

The newly appointed metropolitan archbishops will receive their palia blessed by their local apostolic nuncio.

After the mass, Pope Francis prayed the Angelus from the window of the Vatican Apostolic Palace with a small crowd scattered in St. Peter's Square for the feast.

"It is a gift to find ourselves praying here, near the place where Peter died a martyr and is buried," said the pope.

"Visiting the tombs of the Apostles will strengthen your faith and testimony."

Pope Francis said that only in giving can one grow up, and said that God wants to help every Christian to grow in his ability to give his life.

"The most important thing in life is to make life a gift," he said, saying that this is true for both parents and consecrated persons.

“Let's look at St. Peter: he did not become a hero because he was released from prison, but because he gave his life here. His gift has transformed a place of execution into the beautiful place of hope where we are, "he said.

“Today, before the Apostles, we can ask ourselves: 'And how do I organize my life? Do I think only of the needs of the moment or do I believe that my real need is Jesus, who gives me a gift? And how can I build life, on my abilities or on the living God? "" He said. "May Our Lady, who entrusted everything to God, help us to put it at the basis of each day"