Cross is sign of God's love, not superstitious ornament, Pope Francis says

VATICAN CITY -- Christ's cross is a powerful symbol of God's love for humanity and not just a decoration or trinket, Pope Francis said.

While Christians often hang a crucifix on the wall or wear one around their necks, it should be used as a sign "of our desire to be united with Christ" and not "reduced to a superstitious object or an ornamental necklace," the pope said Aug. 30 during his Sunday Angelus address.

"Each time we fix our gaze on the image of Christ crucified, let us contemplate that he, as the true servant of the Lord, has accomplished his mission, giving life, spilling his blood for the forgiveness of sins," the pope said.

Before concluding his address, the pope made an appeal for peace in "the Eastern Mediterranean area which is under threat from various outbreaks of instability."

According to Bloomberg News, tensions between Greece and Turkey over contested territorial waters and energy resources in the Mediterranean Sea continued to escalate.

The recent stationing of Greek troops on the island of Kastellorizo was seen as a provocation by the Turkish government, which demanded their immediate withdrawal.

"I appeal, please, for constructive dialogue and respect for international law and order to resolve the conflicts that threaten the peace of the peoples of that region," the pope said.

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But before praying the Angelus prayer with pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, the pope reflected on the day's Gospel reading from St. Matthew, in which Jesus tells his disciples that he will be killed but will rise again on the third day.

The disciples, Pope Francis said, do not understand the need for Christ to suffer and die because their faith "is still immature and too closely tied to the mentality of this world. They think of too earthly a victory, and therefore they do not understand the language of the cross."

Peter's reaction -- "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you" -- showed that "he has faith, he believes in Jesus, he believes -- he wants to follow him, but does not accept that his glory will pass through the Passion," the pope explained.

"For Peter and the other disciples -- but for us as well -- the cross is a stumbling block, a 'hindrance,' whereas Jesus considers the 'hindrance' escaping the cross, which would mean avoiding the Father's will, the mission that the Father has entrusted to him for our salvation," he said.

Nevertheless, Jesus tells Peter, "Get behind me, Satan," which indicates that the temptation to flee "is typical of the evil spirit, it is typical of the devil to make us stray from the cross, from the cross of Jesus," the pope said.

Pope Francis said that in calling his disciples to deny themselves and take up their cross, Jesus also calls on all Christians to experience "a reversal of mentality and of values" and to bear daily tribulations "with faith and responsibility."

"The life of Christians is always a struggle," the pope said. "The Bible says that the life of Christians is a military undertaking: fighting against the evil spirit, fighting against evil."