Joy is a central point of reference in all Pope Francis's teaching - a theme that's even more necessary in difficult times. God is joyful, asserts the Pope. And God's compassion, to which Pope Francis has dedicated the Jubilee - the foundational act of his pontificate - is no less than the deepest manifestation of God's joy, and the heart of all Christian preaching. The liberating revolution of the Gospel - and, in truth, all of Christianity - is encapsulated here. We are not supposed to mortify the flesh or carry burdens heavier than those we already have, but to bear witness to a new, beautiful and surprising horizon: to share a joy that has been prepared for everyone. And in fact this joy changes us in the very moment we are ready to welcome it. The Pope's words are a constant invitation to embrace authentic beauty and to open oneself to encountering God, to change attitudes that exclude others, to reveal the deep dissatisfaction we all hide, and to overcome life's challenges with courage and faith, without being overwhelmed by sadness and pessimism. True joy is not an ephemeral sentiment, nor an illusory antidote to suffering, it springs from a solid hope that nothing and no one can take away. It is joy that has the last word - always. It is the sharing of a smile, the first small yet significant step to try something new, to renew oneself - to be reborn.