Pope Francis: Worldly Kingdoms Dominate, Christ’s Kingdom Liberates

Worldly logic is rooted on 'ambition and competition,' he said, and 'fights with weapons of fear, blackmail and manipulation of conscience.'

(photo: CNA/Daniel Ibáñez)

VATICAN CITY — In a world that employs “weapons of fear” and manipulation, the strength of Christ’s kingdom is founded in truth and love, Pope Francis said in his Nov. 22 Angelus address, during which he also remembered persecuted Christians. 

“The strength of Christ’s reign is love,” the Holy Father said, centering his reflection on the Solemnity of Christ the King. Rather than oppressing us, Jesus’ kingship “frees us from our weaknesses and miseries” and encourages us on the path to “reconciliation and forgiveness.”

“Christ is not a king who dominates us, who treats us like subjects, but who elevates us to his own dignity.” 

Speaking to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square ahead of the Angelus, Pope Francis took a look at the account in John’s Gospel in which Jesus tells Pontius Pilate his kingdom is “not of this world.” 

There are two logics here that are juxtaposed, the Pope said: the logic of the world and the logic of the Gospel.  

Worldly logic is rooted on “ambition and competition,” he said, and “fights with weapons of fear, blackmail and manipulation of conscience.”

In contrast, the logic of the Gospel expresses itself “in humility and gratitude, silently yet effectively, with the strength of the truth.”

The Pope observed that Jesus’ kingship is revealed on the cross. 

“In speaking of power and strength, for the Christian, this means to refer to the power of the cross and the strength of Jesus’ love.”

This love, Pope Francis continued, “remains resolute and complete, even in the face of rejection, and stands out as the achievement of a life spent in the total offering of self on behalf of humanity.” 

The Holy Father recalled the passage from the Gospel of Mark that recounts how passersby on Calvary mockingly told Jesus to save himself and come down from the cross.

“If Jesus had descended from the cross, he would have fallen to the temptation of the world’s princes,” the Pope said. 

Rather, in not saving himself, he was able to save “every one of us from our sins.”

The Holy Father also spoke about the “Good Thief” who, crucified next to Jesus, says to him, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 

With many wounds in the world and “in the flesh of men,” the Pope asked for Mary’s intercession to help us imitate Jesus, our king, who “makes his kingdom present with his acts of tenderness, understanding and mercy.”

Following the recitation of the Angelus in Latin, Pope Francis recalled Nov. 21’s beatification of Federico da Berga and his 25 companions, who were martyred in 1936 amid the persecution of the Church in Spain. The Holy Father observed that these were martyr-priests and young friars awaiting ordination, as well as lay brothers of the Franciscan Capuchin Order of Friars Minor.

“We entrust to their intercession our many brothers and sisters who, sadly, even today, in various parts of the world, are persecuted because of their faith in Christ.”

Pope Francis concluded his remarks by asking for prayers for his late-November visit to Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic.

“I ask all of you to pray for this journey, in order that it may be for all these brothers and sisters, as well as for me, a sign of closeness and love,” the Pope said.

The Holy Father then asked everyone to recite the Hail Mary, in order to ask Our Lady “to bless these beloved lands, in order that they may be in peace and prosperity.”