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The Church is a place of "openness" where people should say things with frankness. That’s what Pope Francis said at the morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican on Monday, Vatican Radio reports. 
 
The Pontiff added that only the Holy Spirit is able to change our attitude, the story of our lives, and to give us courage – just as the Apostles were inspired by Christ’s Resurrection.

"We cannot keep silent [about] what we have seen and heard," Pope Francis said in his homily, alluding to the day’s First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles where Peter and John ask the Lord to enable them to speak freely and openly.

The Pontiff recalled that Peter and John, having performed a miracle, had been jailed and threatened by the priests not to speak in the name of Jesus. But they continue to do so and when they return to the others, they encourage them to proclaim the Word of God “with frankness." They entreat the Lord “to take note of their threats” and enable His “servants” “to not flee” but to proclaim His Word “boldly.”

"And today too, the Church's message is the message of the path of openness, the path of Christian courage,” the Pope said. “These two simple [men]- as the Bible says – with no education, had courage. A word that can be translated as 'courage,' 'straightforwardness,' 'freedom to speak,' ‘not being afraid to say things' ... It’s a word that has many meanings, in its original form. Parrésia, that frankness ... and their fear gave way to 'openness,’ to saying things with freedom. "