Reflection Thursdays

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi on March 13, 2013. He is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Loved for his care for the poor and marginalized today’s quote reminds us to not close our hearts to the other and stranger among us.

"Having doubts and fears is not a sin... The sin is to allow these fears to determine our responses, to limit our choices, to compromise respect and generosity, to feed hostility and rejection... The sin is to refuse to encounter the other, the different, the neighbor, when this is in fact a privileged opportunity to encounter the Lord ... to overcome our fears so as to encounter the other, to welcome, to know and to acknowledge him or her." - Pope Francis