In these times of suffering prayer is of even more help.

May each family rediscover family prayer, which helps to bring about mutual understanding and forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not a result of our efforts, but is a gift. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit who showers us with mercy and grace that pours forth unceasingly from the open heart of Christ crucified and risen.

Sometimes we are tempted to be that kind of Christian who keeps the Lord’s wounds at arm’s length. Yet Jesus wants us to touch human misery, to touch the suffering flesh of others. He hopes that we will stop looking for those personal or communal niches which shelter us from the maelstrom of human misfortune and instead enter into the reality of other people’s lives and know the power of tenderness. Whenever we do so, our lives become wonderfully complicated and we experience intensely what it is to be a people, to be part of a people.

We cannot be part-time Christians! We should seek to live our faith at every moment of every day.

We all have in our hearts some areas of unbelief. Let us say to the Lord: I believe! Help my unbelief.

The two key words for the European Union are creativity and fruitfulness. That's the challenge.