"The Word of God has protected you in the past from the temptations of ideology, and today it delivers you from the intimidation of fear. For this reason I exhort you to love the Bible, and spend increasingly more time with it," he said. "Everyone shall find in it the source of mercy for the poor, and for those who are wounded by life and war."
He noted that since the community's founding, the world's economy and communications have become globalized and, in a sense, unified.
"But for many people, especially the poor, new walls have been raised. Diversity is an occasion for animosity and conflict; a globalization of solidarity and of the spirit still awaits to be built," the Pope continued. "The future of the global world is living together: this ideal calls for the commitment to build bridges, to keep dialogue open, to continue and meet with one another."
This is both an organizational and individual imperative, said the Pope.
"Everyone is called to change his or her heart, acquiring merciful eyes to look at the others, turning into artisans of peace and prophets of mercy," he said, invoking the parable of the Good Samaritan.
The Samaritan was a foreigner and had no specific responsibilities to the half-dead man on the roadside but "he behaved like a brother, because his eyes were merciful."
The Pope said the community's anniversary should be "a time when our faith is challenged to turn into a new audaciousness for the Gospel."
"Audaciousness is not the courage of a day, it is the patience of a daily mission in the city and in the world," he said. "A mission to patiently weave together again the human fabric of the peripheries that violence and impoverishment have torn apart; a mission to communicate the Gospel through personal friendship; to show how life truly becomes human when it is lived beside the poor; a mission to create a society that considers no one a foreigner. It is the mission to cross borders and walls, to join together."
Pope Francis encouraged the community to continue on their path, standing at the side of "the children of the peripheries," the elderly, and the refugees of war and hunger.
"The poor are your treasure!" he said.
Knowing that they belong to Christ is the Community of St. Egidio's key to face the future, he said.
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"Always belong to Christ in prayer, in caring for his little brothers and sisters, in seeking peace, for he is our peace. He will walk with you, he will protect you and guide you!" the Pope exhorted.
Pope Francis told the community he will pray for them, and asked their prayers in return.