Dear brothers and sisters, good Sunday!

Today the Gospel of the liturgy (Mk 10:46-52) tells us about Jesus who cures a man of blindness. His name is Bartimaeus, but the crowd in the street ignores him: he is a poor beggar. Those people do not have eyes for this blind man; they leave him, they ignore him. No caring gaze, no feeling of compassion. Bartimaeus does not see either, but he hears and he makes himself heard. He shouts, he cries out loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (v. 48). Jesus, however, hears and sees him. He places himself at his disposal and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” (v. 51).

“What do you want me to do for you?”. This question, to a blind person, seems to be a provocation, but instead, it is a test. Jesus is asking Bartimaeus who he is truly looking for, and for what reason. Who is for you the “Son of David”? And thus the Lord starts to open the blind man’s eyes. Let us consider three aspects of this encounter, which becomes a dialogue: the cry, faith, the journey.

First of all, Bartimaeus’ cry, which is not only a request for help. It is an affirmation of himself. The blind man is saying, “I exist, look at me. I do not see, Jesus. Do you see me?”. Yes, Jesus sees the beggar, and he listens to him, with the ears of the body and with those of the heart. Let us think of ourselves, when we cross paths with a beggar on the street: how many times do we look away, how many times do we ignore him, as though he does not exist? And do we hear the cry of beggars?

Second point: faith. What does Jesus say? “Go your way; your faith has made you well” (Mk v. 52). Bartimaeus sees because he believes; Christ is the light of his eyes. The Lord observes how Bartimaeus looks at him. How do I look at a beggar? Do I ignore him? Do I look at him like Jesus does? Am I capable of understanding his requests, his cry for help? When you give alms, do you look the beggar in the eye? Do you touch his hand to feel his flesh?

Lastly, the journey. Bartimaeus, healed, “followed [Jesus] on the way” (v. 52). But each one of us is Bartimaeus, blind within, who follows Jesus once he has approached Him. When you approach a poor person and make your closeness felt, it is Jesus who approaches you in the person of that poor man. Please, let us not be confused: alms are not the same as charity. The person who receives the most grace from almsgiving is the one who gives, because he makes himself visible to the Lord’s eyes.

Let us pray together to Mary, the dawn of salvation, that she may guard our path in the light of Christ.

_____________________________________________

After praying the Angelus the Holy Father continued:

Today we have concluded the Synod of Bishops. Let us pray that everything we have done this month may go forward for the good of the Church.

This 22 October was the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, established by Saint Paul VI, and tomorrow will be the 60th anniversary of the Declaration Nostra aetate of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. Especially in these times of great suffering and tension, I encourage those who are engaged in dialogue and peace at the local level.

An important International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent will open tomorrow in Geneva, 75 years after the Geneva Conventions. May this event awaken consciences so that, during armed conflicts, the life and dignity of people and peoples, as well as the integrity of civil structures and places of worship, are respected, in accordance with international humanitarian law. It is sad to see how hospitals and schools are destroyed in war in some places.

I am close to the beloved Church of San Cristóbal de las Casas, in the Mexican state of Chiapas, who is mourning the priest Marcelo Pérez Pérez, murdered last Sunday. A zealous servant of the Gospel and of the faithful People of God, may his sacrifice, like that of other priests killed for their fidelity to the ministry, be a seed of peace and Christian life.

I am close to the people of the Philippines, struck by a very powerful cyclone. May the Lord support that people, so full of faith.

I greet you all, people of Rome and pilgrims. In particular, I greet the Confraternity of the Señor de los Milagros, of the Peruvians in Rome, whom I thank for their witness and encourage to continue on the path of faith.

I greet the group of seniors from Loiri Porto San Paolo, the candidates for confirmation from Assemini (Cagliari), the “Pilgrims of health” from Piacenza, the Cistercian Secular Oblates of the Shrine of Cotrino, and the Confederation of the Poor Knights of Saint Bernard of Chiaravalle.

And please, let us continue to pray for peace, especially in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and Lebanon, so that the escalation may be stopped, and respect for human life, which is sacred, be put first! The first victims are among the civilian population: we see this every day. Too many innocent victims! Every day we see images of slaughtered children. Too many children! Let us pray for peace.

I wish you all a happy Sunday. And please, do not forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch. Arrivederci!