Pope Francis spoke about being a missionary of hope, which is made possible “by witnessing to the hope that we having in Christ,” explains Ashley Noronha, Relevant Radio^® Rome Correspondent. “We can be confident in the transforming power that the Holy Spirit uses to work in our hearts and in the world.”

This isn’t always easy. “Sometimes, having hope proves costly,” says Noronha. Bad things are happening in the world around us and we all have our own crosses to carry. But in spite of the difficulties we face in this life, we must persevere in hope.

The witness of a Christian holding onto hope is inspiring to the rest of us. “Their witness changes us because it helps us to continue to have hope in Christ’s promises. And when we become missionaries of hope in the way that we share our hope, we can help others to never lose heart and to also look to the future with confidence,” says Noronha.

It is possible to have complete joy in the midst of persecution, violence, and suffering, only if we hold onto a “permanent sense of hope in Christ and unite these sufferings to the sufferings of Christ.”

The Pope challenged the faithful today to be a true Christian that is not complacent, not angry, but instead convinced by the strength of the Resurrection.