Vatican City, Mar 14, 2015 / 12:56 pm
Pope Francis reminded lay men and women of their place in the "front lines" in spreading the Gospel, living as Christian witnesses in the secular world.
Being "immersed in the world," the Pope said Saturday, lay persons are called to permeate their surroundings with Christian values through their witness, whereby they can encounter "persons in concrete situations."
The pontiff encouraged the laity, through their various professions and states in life, to be on the "front lines" in the Church's mission, guiding people in the "spirit of the Gospel" through their witness of faith, hope, and charity.
Pope Francis was speaking with members of the lay movement Seguimi – "Follow me" – during a private audience at the papal palace to mark the 50th anniversary of their founding.
There is the temptation to believe that a good Christian is one who simply does social and charitable works, the Pope said. Rather, "the sap which carries life and transforms hearts is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ," he said, calling those present to allow the Lord to "occupy" the center of their heart and work.
By being then "firmly united" too Christ, the faithful can then "go to the peripheries of the world."
Established in 1965, Seguimi helps its members to find their maturity in Christ, both in community and in professional spheres. Its initiatives include Christian and human formation, working with the elderly and disabled, and offering support for families and single mothers.
Officially recognized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity in 1984, the Seguimi lay movement offers "a form of evangelical life" to be practiced in "the context of secularism and freedom," the Pope said, offering a plan whereby Christian lay persons have "an effective way of walking in the world."
Pope Francis encouraged the fraternity of its members – married and celibate alike – that they may remain vigilant in their "spiritual journey," helping one another to be "true witnesses of the Gospel."
"Celibate and married, each in his own state of life, encounter one another and share an enriching experience of complementarity," he said.
