Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis has reminded Catholics that the weak and vulnerable are ‘most valuable’ in God’s eyes.

Addressing his weekly Angelus at St Peter’s Square yesterday, the Pope advised believers against treating religion as a human interest.

“Religion means welcoming the revelation of God, who is Father and who takes care of each one of his own creatures, even the smallest and most insignificant in the eyes of man,” the Pope said. “No human condition can constitute grounds for exclusion from the heart of the Father, and that the only privilege in the eyes of God is that of not being privileged, of being abandoned into his hands.”

Pope Francis also reminded Catholics that while some take the initiative when seeking God, ‘it’s always he who comes to look for us.’

The Pope addressed his message as young Italian people from Catholic Action in Rome prayed alongside him and released commemorative balloons as part of their annual Caravan of Peace event.

During his Angelus, the Pope reflected on that day’s Gospel where Jesus was thrown out the temple and threatened by people in his hometown of Nazareth, and how this would affect Mary.

“She had a small anticipation of what she would suffer beneath the Cross,” the Pope said.