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May 05, 2020 There are "ideologies" that prevent "the freedom to follow Jesus". Among these, "rigidity in the heart and in the interpretation of the law. Rigidity is not fidelity" but "a security for ourselves", "takes us away from the wisdom and beauty of Jesus". "Many shepherds increase the rigidity in the faithful ". The Pope said so in the homily of the Mass in Santa Marta. Among the factors that prevent following Jesus there is "wealth. Should we fall into pauperism? No. But we must not be imprisoned by wealth". 

 To prevent the relationship with God, the pope explains, even "the clericalism of those who put themselves in the place of Jesus", "takes away the freedom of the faithful, is a bad disease". Among the "impediments" to an authentic faith, the Pope also mentioned "sloth" and "the worldly spirit. Let's think of some sacraments in some parishes: how much worldliness!".

In this regard, the Pope narrates an anecdote linked to a lady who told her that she attended a wedding on a Saturday, with a mass during which the Sunday mass was not read. 'It was an untrue mass,' he said. To which the Pontiff warns: "That is rigidity and takes us away from the wisdom of Jesus. Many pastors make this rigidity grow in the faithful".

All "ideologies", these, which prevent the freedom of the encounter with God. "With freedom we can slip but worse is to slide before the freedom to go to meet Jesus," he said. Hence the invocation to the Lord "to make us sheep of his flock".

The Pope in Santa Marta also prayed for the deceased in the coronavirus emergency. "We pray today for the deceased for the pandemic - said the Pope in the intention of prayer - they died alone, without the caress of his own, yet with the funerals the Lord receives them in glory".