Todos, All, All, All Are Welcome: Reflections of a Roman Catholic Woman Priest

“IN THE CHURCH THERE IS ROOM FOR EVERYONE”-POPE FRANCIS-WORLD YOUTH DAY 8/6/2023

DIOS NOS AMA- GOD LOVES US

In his address to a huge welcoming crowd of 1.5 million youth and others gathered for the 2023 Catholic World Youth day in Portugal today Pope Francis emphasized God’s LOVE and the INCLUSIVITY of the church. He said ” In the Church everyone is welcome” and he organized a resounding chant of “todos, todos, todos”-everyone, everyone, everyone!

He said “God loves you and accepts you just as you are, not as society wants you to be.” What a message to those of us of difference- of all colors, cultures, socioeconomic classes,genders, sexual orientations and -who are , for example, members of the LGBTQ community! Fr. James Martin, always supportive of our community, tweeted “And this does mean the LBGTQ Community” just in case anyone was still wondering. Pope Francis also said “follow the example of Jesus and be sensitive to the situations all around us, to other cultures, to the pleas of the poor and vulnerable, and the cry of the wounded and mistreated earth”(ncronline.org). He spoke clearly of loving everyone, noting that love dirties the hands-it is not an antiseptic act from afar. He said not to be afraid of loving, it is a risk, but worth it. He mentioned a huge wave on a nearby beach and suggested that we catch, ride and surf the wave of young people and all people interested in following Jesus now. He concluded by telling the youth “not to fear” and it was announced that the next World Youth Day would be in Seoul Korea in 2027.

Let us hear and enjoy the Good News spoken by Pope Francis today.

ALL are loved and cherished by God. ALL are to be included in the Church, and the church everywhere. God’s priorities are with the poor and vulnerable and our love is to be active and reaching out. God also cares for our precious environment and wants us to take good care of her. Exploitation of the labor of the poor and the gifts of the environment are concerns of the Pontiff and of everyone who says they love God- to love God is to love what and whom God loves-EVERYONE and all of Creation.

Let us then continue to love one another and God’s precious world as we go forward into this new week,

Love and blessings,

Pastor Judy Lee, RCWP

Good Shepherd Ministries of SW Florida-8/6/2023