Pope: People in positions of responsability must be aware of the role they play

"Gossip, speaking badly of others. This destroys, it destroys the family, it destroys the school, it destroys the workplace, it destroys the neighborhood. Wars begin from the tongue".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Those who hold positions of responsability in the educational field or any other field, in the family or political life need to be aware of their delicate role and always choose the right path on which to lead people. It is the "call" of Jesus, remembered by Pope Francis in his words before the recital of the Angelus, when he also returned to condemn "gossip" that "kills".

To the 30 thousand people present in St. Peter's Square, Francis has indeed said that "Today’s Gospel passage presents brief parables, with which Jesus wants to point out to His disciples the way to follow to live with wisdom. With the question: “Can a blind man lead a blind man?” (Luke 6:39), He wishes to stress that a guide can’t be blind, but must see well, namely, he must have the wisdom to guide with wisdom, otherwise he risks causing harm to the persons who entrust themselves to him. So Jesus calls the attention of all those that have educative responsibility or of command: Pastors of souls, public authorities, lawmakers, teachers, parents, exhorting them to be aware of their delicate role and to always discern the right way on which to lead people".

 "In today’s passage, we find another significant phrase, which exhorts us not to be presumptuous and hypocritical. It says thus: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (v. 41). So many times, we all know it, it’s easier and more comfortable to see and condemn the defects and sins of others, without being able to see our own with as much lucidity. We always hide our defects, we hide them even from ourselves; instead, it’s easy to see others’ defects. The temptation is to be indulgent with oneself —  to be easy going with oneself and hard with others. It’s always useful to help one’s neighbor with wise counsels; however, while we observe and correct the defects of our neighbor, we must be aware that we ourselves also have defects. If I think I don’t have any, I can’t condemn and correct others. We all have defects — all. We must be aware of <our defects> and, before condemning others, we must look within ourselves. Thus we can act in a credible way, with humility, witnessing charity".

"How can we know if our eye is free or if a beam impedes it? It’s again Jesus who tells us: “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its fruit” (vv. 43-44). The fruit is actions, but also words. Also from words, one knows the quality of the tree. In fact, one who is good brings out good from his heart and his mouth, and one who is evil brings out evil practicing the most deleterious exercise among us, which is murmuring, gossip, speaking badly of others. This destroys, it destroys the family, it destroys the school, it destroys the workplace, it destroys the neighborhood. Wars begin from the tongue".