Pope thanks Don Guanella Servants of Charity for their work

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday thanked the Don Guanella Servants of Charity for their work in favour of the poor, the disabled and the sick.

The Pope’s words of gratitude came during a private audience with representatives of the Don Guanella family who are celebrating their patron, Our Lady of Divine Providence.

Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: 

In his address the Pope recalled the words of Don Guanella himself, the founder of the Congregation, whose birth centenary has just been marked.

He said that at the core of Don Guanella’s faith was his total trust in God, and he noted that Lord is sad when he sees that his children do not trust in him fully. God, he said, is pure love, providential love, and knows what is good for us so there is no reason for being wary or distant.

The Pope then commented on how we all need to look at the world with the eyes of hope and love.

Remarking on how our world is full of problems, poverty and injustice, Pope Francis said the greatest shortage we have is a shortage of charity, and to overcome this shortage we need people whose eyes have been renewed by love and by hope.  

Finally, he said, we need to make haste because the poor are God’s most beloved children and he who gives to the poor, gives to God.

As Don Guanella said, he continued: “misery cannot wait” and we must not stop as long as there are poor people to assist.

Pope Francis concluded his discourse thanking those present for the good work they do and encouraging them to continue to do so without tiring.