Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Dicastery for Communication, has written a commentary on a papal address in Malta, during which the Pope repeated seven times, “The joy of the Church is to evangelize.”

In the Pope’s eyes, “the heart of faith is our relationship with Jesus and the proclamation of His Gospel to the whole world,” said Tornielli. “The desire to proclaim and bear witness, while attempting to find every possible means to help the men and women of our time encounter the living Jesus.”

“There exists, however, a litmus test, explained Pope Francis, to verify how effectively the Church is permeated by the spirit of the Gospel,” Tornielli added. “This litmus test is precisely the welcome and gratuitous assistance offered to those who suffer.”