• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Pope Francis meets members of the general chapter of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Oct. 2, 2023. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Be tender, close to the poor, pope asks religious

October 3, 2023
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Sharing the Gospel message requires closeness and tenderness, especially toward people most in need, Pope Francis said in separate meetings with a religious order of women and an order of men holding their general chapters in Rome.

Tenderness and closeness are “so precious in a society like ours where, despite the abundance of means, instead of good works multiplying, hearts seem to harden and close,” Pope Francis told members of the Little Sisters of Jesus Oct. 2.

The pope prayed that the sisters’ “gentle proximity” would be “a mild challenge to indifference — today we are in a culture of indifference — a witness to fraternity, a gentle cry reminding the world” that each person is a child of God.

Quoting St. Charles de Foucauld, who inspired the founding of the Little Sisters of Jesus, Pope Francis said that the key to witnessing to the Gospel is “to be charitable, meek, humble with all men: this is what we have learned from Jesus. Be militant with no one.”

Pope Francis asked the sisters to dedicate a lot of time to adoring Jesus in the Eucharist, just as St. Charles de Foucauld did.

In eucharistic adoration, he said, “hearts are opened to the ways of God, who does not do violence to people, but inspires creative thoughts and feelings of adherence, helpfulness and service.”

Even though the sisters are facing declining vocations and the aging of their members, the pope said, they are still “God’s precious instruments for sowing in the world little pearls of evangelical tenderness, which is your specialty.”

That will continue, he said, as long as “you remain simple and generous, in love with Christ and the poor. That will bear fruit in time, have no doubt.”

As he does with every group, Pope Francis asked the sisters to pray for him. But he added a reason: “This job is not easy; in fact, it’s a bit bothersome.”

Meeting later with members of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, the pope urged them to study the heart of Jesus through their reading of Scriptures and to share his love with all they meet.

“The poor, migrants and the many miseries and injustices that continue in the world question us with urgency,” the pope said. “Before them, do not fear to let yourselves be overcome by the compassion of the heart of Christ.”

“Let him love through you and show his mercy through your goodness,” the pope told them. “And do it with courage like he did,” allowing “the irresistible tenderness of the Sacred Heart to shape, modify and even upset, if necessary, your plans and projects.”

Read More Vatican News

Pope celebrates Apollo 11 anniversary with peek at the heavens, call to astronaut

Pope, Palestinian president discuss humanitarian tragedy in Gaza during phone call

Pope condemns Israel’s attack against church, calls for end to ‘barbarity’

Pope: Summer marks time to balance busyness with rest, prayer, joy with loved ones

A sower of light in the shadows

Filled with hope, Christians know cries of the innocent will be heard, pope says

Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Cindy Wooden

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

  • NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best

  • New Catholic scouting patch honors Pope Leo XIV

  • Top Republican appears to walk back probe of Catholic entities amid charged committee hearing

| Latest Local News |

Radio Interview: Youth ministry changing with the times

Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

Lay associates journey with the Oblate Sisters of Providence

Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

Scopes Monkey Trial ignited century-long debate on evolution and belief 

| Latest World News |

Archbishop Wenski leads Knights on Bikes to pray rosary at Alligator Alcatraz

Poland’s government clashes with bishops over migration remarks while cardinal urges a shift in language

Patriarch’s visit hailed ‘a miracle,’ while parishioners in Gaza feel horror, desperation

Pope celebrates Apollo 11 anniversary with peek at the heavens, call to astronaut

Pope, Palestinian president discuss humanitarian tragedy in Gaza during phone call

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Archbishop Wenski leads Knights on Bikes to pray rosary at Alligator Alcatraz
  • Poland’s government clashes with bishops over migration remarks while cardinal urges a shift in language
  • Patriarch’s visit hailed ‘a miracle,’ while parishioners in Gaza feel horror, desperation
  • Pope celebrates Apollo 11 anniversary with peek at the heavens, call to astronaut
  • Pope, Palestinian president discuss humanitarian tragedy in Gaza during phone call
  • Is NFP finally breaking into medical schools?
  • Radio Interview: Youth ministry changing with the times
  • Gaza’s Catholic pastor recalls ‘terrible’ attack as Parolin decries ‘war without limits’
  • Pope condemns Israel’s attack against church, calls for end to ‘barbarity’

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en