Pope: 'Never lose hope' when a loved one abandons their faith

Pope: ‘Never lose hope’ when a loved one abandons their faith

Vatican news

Responding to an Italian grandmother concerned that one of her grandchildren had not been baptized, Pope Francis said “free love is more convincing than many words.”

By Joseph Tulloch

Pope Francis has responded to a letter from an Italian grandmother concerned that her granddaughter, now five, was not baptized by her non-religious parents.

The brief letter, signed “Oliva de Bergamo”, was published in the first edition of the new magazine St. Peter’s Square (“Saint Peter’s Square”), published by Saint Peter’s Basilica.

In the message, Oliva says that the decision taken by her daughter and son-in-law not to baptize her grandson is “a source of great suffering” for her.

“What will Jesus think of all this? », she asks.

In his response, the Pope says he understands Oliva’s suffering and feels close to her.

Baptism, he said, is “a great gift.” Since his election as pope, he notes, he has baptized many children and always found it a “time of great joy.”

The Pope then emphasizes that we must “never lose hope” when a loved one loses faith, recalling the example of Saint Monica, who prayed for decades for the conversion of her son Saint Augustine.

He also emphasizes that “baptism cannot be imposed on parents who do not want it for their children”. He therefore urges Oliva to “accompany your children, talk with them, but do not insist on baptism”.

“Free love is more convincing than many words,” the Pope writes. “Love for God plants the seeds of the future, of friendship and its search. »

Pope Francis with newly baptized babies in the Sistine Chapel

Pope Francis with newly baptized babies in the Sistine Chapel

Vatican news

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