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Pope Francis: Christian Optimism is Founded on a Living Hope
By Victor Perton
In his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation (2024), Pope Francis emphasises that "Our Christian optimism is founded on a living hope: it realises that everything is ordered to the glory of God, to final consummation in his peace and to bodily resurrection in righteousness, as we pass 'from glory to glory.'”
Christian optimism is deeply rooted in the belief that everything in creation moves towards God’s ultimate peace and righteousness, culminating in the resurrection.
Speaking to Catholic youth, Pope Francis urged, "I propose these three characteristics for your testimony at this time: honesty, responsibility, and optimism. All three accompanied by discernment."
As he suggests, Christian optimism is inseparable from the virtues of discernment and responsibility. It’s a hope that informs action, pointing believers to trust in God’s purpose, even amid life's difficulties.
Pope John Paul II also spoke to youth about the power of this optimism, stating: "Without certain hope in Christ's victory in you and in the world that surrounds you, there can be no optimism; and without optimism that serene gaiety which is characteristic of the young cannot exist."
For him, Christian optimism was the foundation of youthful joy and hope, rooted in the surety of Christ's triumph over the world’s challenges.
Christian optimism, as explored by The Centre for Optimism, is not wishful thinking but a profound belief in God’s grace and victory. Saint Josemaria Escriva captured this beautifully: "Christian optimism is not a sugary optimism, nor is it a mere human confidence that everything will turn out all right. It is an optimism that sinks its roots into an awareness of our freedom, and the sure knowledge of the power of grace."
This optimism is grounded in the resurrection, transcending worldly struggles and assuring that all events serve a divine purpose.
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, complements this view, urging believers to "start each day with prayerful optimism."
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