Pope Francis explains what to do to be a good Christian

"The sign that we are a good Christian, that's when the conversion reaches the pocket." With these words spoken at the general audience on Wednesday, August 21, in the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican, Pope Francis explained what it was necessary to do to be a good Christian.

"If you want to know if you are good Christians … yes, you must pray, you must try to get closer to communion, reconciliation …, but the sign that your heart has become is when your conversion reaches your pockets. It is there that we see if we are generous towards others, if we help the weaker, the poorer: when that is your own interest. When the conversion gets there, make sure it's a real conversion. If it remains only in words, in gestures …, it is not a good conversion. "

In his catechesis, the Pope reflected on the term koinonia, "Greek word meaning" to share "," to share "," to communicate, to participate ". In the original church, koinonia He especially spoke about the participation in the body and the blood of Christ, which is reflected in a fraternal union and, consequently, in the sharing of goods and the collection of the collection in favor of the Mother Church of Jerusalem. "

The Holy Father explained that "the koinonia or communion, it has become the new modality of relationship between the disciples of the Lord. A Christian Modality So much so that the Gentiles looked at the Christians and told them, "Look how they love each other." Love was the modality, but not the love of speech, a false love. No, love the works, to help each other. Concrete love. The concretion of love. The bond with Christ establishes a link between brothers who advance together and also express themselves in the communion of material goods. "

Francisco invited "not to forget the poor. Remember the poor. Not only the material poor, but also the spiritual poor. People who have problems need our proximity. A Christian always starts from himself, from his own heart and approaches as Jesus approaches us. "

"As members of the body of Christ," he says, "believers are responsible for one another. It's something we do not always think about. Believing in Jesus makes us all responsible for each other. "Look at the problem that he has." "I'm mocking, it's his business." No, among Christians, we can not say that.

On the contrary, "If a person has a problem at home, there is a problem in his family, I have to pray, I have to worry. I do not remain indifferent. It's Christian. For this reason, the strong help the weak and no one lives the destitution that humiliates and disfigures human dignity. "

"The Church has always had this gesture of Christians who have stripped themselves of what they had more, of what was not necessary, to give them to those who were in need. And not only money, but also time. How many Christians, for example, here in Italy, how many Christians volunteer? It's beautiful It's communion: sharing my time with others to help those who need it: volunteering, charitable activities, visiting the sick … Always share with others and do not just look for your own interest ".