In a heartfelt message read during the Slovak national jubilee pilgrimage to Rome, Pope Francis reminded the faithful that faith is not a private possession but a gift meant to be joyfully shared with others. The message, which was read at Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday by Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice, came during a significant moment of unity for the Slovak Church.
“I would have greatly wished to be present among you to share this moment of faith and communion,” Pope Francis wrote, expressing his regret for not being able to attend the pilgrimage personally, according to Vatican News reporters Benedetta Capelli and Deborah Castellano Lubov.
More than 4,300 Slovak pilgrims, including President Peter Pellegrini, government officials, and Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, the Apostolic Nuncio to Slovakia, made the journey to Rome. The gathering marked a moment of national and spiritual renewal for the people of Slovakia, a country with deep Christian roots.
“Faith Is a Treasure”
In his message, Pope Francis reflected on the value of faith in today’s world, especially amid hardships. “Faith is a treasure to be shared with joy,” the Holy Father emphasized, according to Vatican News. He noted that even in difficult times, faith becomes “an opportunity to grow in trust and surrender to God.”
Drawing inspiration from the Virgin Mary’s example, the Pope encouraged believers to offer their own sincere and simple “yes” to God. “Saying yes today,” he said, “can allow us to open new horizons of faith, hope, and peace, for ourselves and for those whom the Lord places in our path.”
A Call to Discernment and Listening
Pope Francis also emphasized the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit, especially during times of transition and discernment. “He called on the faithful to listen, in a synodal style, to the Spirit ‘without fearing what is new but discerning in it God’s initiative, which always surprises us,’” according to Vatican News.
This call aligns with the broader vision of the Synod on Synodality, a process Pope Francis has championed to help the Church grow in listening, dialogue, and mission.
Pilgrims on a Journey of Faith
The pilgrimage itself was seen as a visible sign of Slovakia’s deep commitment to its Christian heritage. “Your pilgrimage,” Pope Francis wrote, “is a concrete sign of the desire to renew faith, to strengthen the bond with the Successor of Peter, and to joyfully witness to the hope that does not disappoint.”
This hope, he continued, “comes from Christ” and reminds believers that they are always pilgrims — journeying through life with eternity as their destination. The pilgrimage, which included passing through the Holy Doors and visiting the tombs of the Apostles and Martyrs, was described by the Pope as part of Slovakia’s “rich Christian tradition… nourished by the testimony of Saints Cyril and Methodius and many other saints, who for over a thousand years have irrigated it with the Gospel of Christ.”
Guided by the Patroness of Slovakia
In closing, Pope Francis entrusted the pilgrims to the care of the Virgin Mary, Slovakia’s patroness. “Finally, Pope Francis concluded by imploring the Blessed Mother, the country’s patroness, whom you especially venerate as Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, guide and protect you,” according to Capelli and Castellano Lubov.
Through his words, Pope Francis once again reminded the faithful that pilgrimage is not only a physical journey but a spiritual one — one rooted in faith, community, and the enduring hope found in Christ.
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Through Mary to Jesus is the new mantra for Catholics and all christians who are aware of the signal role played by the Blessed Mary, Ever Virgin especially in these modern times of wars and hatred of increasing dimensions world over. To God, all things humanly impossible are possible. God made the human race with love and mercy. May His Kingdom prevail on earth soon. May crimes against humanity abate.Amen.