When Pary Gul, a Christian woman from Afghanistan, met Pope Francis Sept. 22, she gave him her wedding ring as a reminder of her husband, who has disappeared and may be dead.

A living faith draws strength from remembering the past while continuing to grow in love of God and service to others, Pope Francis said.

Jesus's death on the cross calls Christians to focus on helping the vulnerable rather than defending contentious agendas, Pope Francis said.