Pope Francis surprised of a small Roman district by appearing at a shantytown for homeless families and then teaching at a nearby parish.
The Pope stopped at a shantytown called “Campo Arcobaleno” where he visited with the families and prayed with them. He also met with some of the homeless families at the parish of San Michele Arcangelo where the church cares for the homeless.
“The fact that people do not know your name, and call you ‘homeless’ and you carry this: It is your cross, and your patience,” said Pope Francis. “But there is something in the heart of all of you – of this, please be assured – there is the Holy Spirit.”
The Pope then met with the children of the parish, speaking mostly to the older children in attendance about war and evil in the world. He had the children make a list of places they know war is taking place such as Iraq, Ukraine and Africa and then he said that wars are easier for people who do not possess God.
The Pope asked the children who was the father of war and smiled when they responded “the devil.”
Pope Francis then said the devil is the “father of hate” and “the father of lies.”
“But God wants unity,” Pope Francis said. “If in your heart you feel jealousy, this is the beginning of war. Jealousies are not of God.”
“Because the devil takes stupidity and makes a world,” he continued. “Then these enmities continue and multiply for years. It destroys the family: Parents suffer because their children do not speak to each other, or with the wife of a son…And so this jealousy and envy, it is sowed by the devil. And the only one who can drive out demons is Jesus. The only one who can heal these things is Jesus. So to each of your: Have yourself healed by Jesus.”
The concluded the visit with a teaching to the entire congregation about the importance of Jesus in their lives and how vital is it to stay in contact with the Scriptures.
“Have this daily contact with the Gospel,” Pope Francis said. “Pray with the Gospel.”