Dear brothers and sisters,

Happy Sunday! Today’s Gospel begins with a great question posed to Jesus: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Lk 10:25). Those words express a constant desire in our life: our yearning for salvation, for an existence free from failure, evil and death.

This hope of the human heart is described as something to be “inherited”, not something to be gained by force, begged for, or negotiated. Eternal life, which God alone can give, is bestowed on us as an inheritance, as parents do with their children.

That is why Jesus tells us that, in order to receive God’s gift, we must do his will. It is written in the Law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,” and “your neighbour as yourself” (Lk 10:27; cfr Deut 6:5; Lev 19:18). When we do these two things, we respond to the Father’s love. God’s will is the law of life that the Father himself was the first to follow, by loving us unconditionally in his Son, Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, let us look to Jesus! He shows us the meaning of authentic love for God and for others. It is a love that is generous, not possessive; a love that forgives without question; a love that reaches out and never abandons others. In Christ, God made himself a neighbour to each and every man and woman. That is why each of us can and should become a neighbour to all whom we meet. Imitating the example of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, we too are called to bring consolation and hope, above all to those who are experiencing discouragement and disappointment.

In order to live eternally, we do not need to cheat death, but to serve life, by caring for others in this, our time together. That is the supreme law that is prior to all society’s rules and gives them their meaning.

Let us ask the Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, to help us to open our hearts to God’s will, which is always a will of saving love. In this way, we will become artisans of peace every day of our lives.
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After the Angelus:

Dear brothers and sisters,

I am pleased to be with you here in Castel Gandolfo. I greet the civil and military authorities present and thank all of you for your warm welcome.

Yesterday, in Barcelona, Lycarion May (whose secular name was François Benjamin), a friar of the Institute of the Marist Brothers of the Schools, who was killed in 1909 out of hatred for the faith, was beatified. In hostile circumstances, he lived his educational and pastoral mission with dedication and courage. May the heroic witness of this martyr be an inspiration to all of us, especially those who work for the education of young people.

I greet the participants in the summer course of the Liturgical Academy from Poland, and likewise think of the Polish pilgrims who are taking part in today’s annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Częstochowa.

Today marks the end of the Jubilee pilgrimage of the Diocese of Bergamo. I greet the pilgrims who, together with their Bishop, have come to Rome to pass through the Holy Door.

I greet the pastoral community of Blessed Augustine of Tarano from the Colegio S. Augustin in Chiclayo, Peru, also here in Rome to celebrate the Jubilee. I greet the pilgrims from the parish of San Pedro Apóstol in the Diocese of Alcalá de Henares, who are celebrating the 400^th anniversary of the parish’s foundation; the Legionaries of Mary from Uribia-La Guajira, Colombia; the members of the Family of Merciful Love; the Agesci Alcamo 1^st Scout Group; and, finally, the Augustinian nuns in formation here present.

We welcome the children’s choir of the Académie Musicale de Liesse, from France. Thank you for your presence and for your commitment to singing and music.

Here with us today are 100 cadets from the Carabinieri course at the Velletri School, named after Venerable Salvo D’Acquisto. I greet the Commander, together with the officers and non-commissioned officers, and encourage you to continue your training in the service of your country and civil society. Thank you! Let us applaud them enthusiastically for their service.

During the summer months, there are many initiatives involving children and young people, and I would like to thank the educators and animators who dedicate themselves to this service. In this context, I wish to mention the important initiative of the Giffoni Film Festival, which brings together young people from all over the world, and whose theme this year is “Becoming Human”.

Brothers and sisters, let us not forget to pray for peace and for all those who, because of violence or war, find themselves in a state of suffering and need.

I wish all of you a happy Sunday!