Pope Francis

Pope Francis is going to see the rain of roses in Santa Maria Maggiore

Photo: Vatican News

Il-Papa Franġisku se jattendi għaċ-ċerimonja tat-tfigħ tal-petali tal-ward abjad fil-Bażilika ta’ Santa Maria Maggiore fil-5 ta’ Awwissu.

Kull sena f’dik il-ġurnata l-Knisja Kattolika tiċċelebra lil “Sidtna Marija tas-Silġ”, devozzjoni Marjana marbuta ma’ din il-Bażilika li ilha ġejja mis-snin bikrin tal-Knisja.

Il-Papa se jieħu sehem fl-Għasar li jibda fil-5.30pm u jkun preżenti għat-tifkira tal-“Miraklu tas-Silġ”.

Mirakolużament, fis-seklu 4, fl-eqqel tas-sajf Ruman, fil-5 ta’ Awwissu kienet għamlet xita ta’ borra u silġ fuq l-Għolja Eskwilina, il-post futur tal-bażilika… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: Compassion and rest go hand in hand

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!

The Gospel of today’s liturgy (Mk 6:30-34) tells us that the apostles gather around Jesus after returning from their mission. They tell Him what they have accomplished. He then says to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” (v. 31). However, the people understand where they are headed and, when they get off the boat, Jesus finds the crowd waiting for Him… Read more »

Pope Francis: Let your youth be a gift for Jesus

  Asunción, Paraguay

In a message to a gathering of youth ministers in Paraguay, Pope Francis calls on young faithful to let Christ transform them, and to live their youth “as a gift for Jesus” and the world.

“Let Christ transform your natural optimism into authentic love; a love that knows how to sacrifice, that is sincere, real and genuine, so that your youth will be a gift for Jesus and for the world and you will be able to spend your life in a worthy and fruitful way.”

This was the encouragement Pope Francis sent to the XXI Latam Meeting of Caribbean and Latin American national youth ministry leaders, gathered in Asunción, Paraguay, July 15-20… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: Don’t distance yourself from Christ’s joy

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!

Today the Gospel tells us about Jesus who sends His disciples on the mission (cf. Mk 6:7-13). He sends them “two by two”, and recommends something important: to take with them only what is necessary.

Let us pause a moment on this image: the disciples are sent together, and must take with them only what is necessary… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: Catholics called to heal ‘wounded heart’ of democracy

Pope Francis delivers the concluding address of the 50th Italian Catholic Social Week in Trieste

  Unity of Italy Square, Trieste

Xtaqt nirringrazzja lill-Arċisqof għal ħafna raġunijiet, imma fuq kollox għal waħda: li ma tkellimx dwar ‘il-morda’… Semmiehom! Jafhom b’isimhom! Dan hu eżempju, għax il-karità hi konkreta, l-imħabba hi konkreta. Irrodd ħajr kbir lill-Arċisqof għal din id-drawwa. Kull persuna, f’saħħitha jew marida, kbira jew żgħira, kull persuna għandha d-dinjità.

Id-dinjità tidher fl-isem u huwa jaf l-isem. Sabiħ ħafna. Issa nawgura li din id-drawwa tibqa’ għax darba sibt kappillan ta’ parroċċa fuq il-muntanja – kellu tliet villaġġi – u għidtlu: “Imma kif jirnexxilek tiftakar l-ismijiet tan-nies kollha? … Read more »

Pope at Angelus: The Lord entrusted his Kingdom to flawed St Peter

  Saint Peter's Square, the Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today, Solemnity of the Saints Apostles Peter and Paul, in the Gospel Jesus says to Simon, whom He named Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 16:19). This is why often we see Saint Peter depicted holding two large keys, as in the statue here in this Square… Read more »

Pope at Audience: Moral duty to stop production and trafficking of drugs

  Saint Peter's Square, the Vatican

Catechesis. On the occasion of the International Day. Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! I can’t hear you!

Today marks International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987. This year’s theme is The evidence is clear: Invest in preventionRead more »

Pope at Angelus: Amid trials and ‘storms’, do I cling to Christ?

  St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!

Today the Gospel presents us with Jesus on the boat with the disciples, on Lake Tiberias. A strong storm arrives unexpectedly, and the boat is in danger of sinking. Jesus, who was asleep, wakes up, threatens the wind and everything becomes calm again (cf. Mk 4:35-41).

But really, He doesn’t wake up, they awaken Him! … Read more »

Pope: ‘Welcome, promote, accompany, and integrate’ refugees

At his weekly General Audience, Pope Francis urges compassion for “all those who are forced to flee their homes in search of peace and security.”

  St. Peter's Square, the Vatican

Ahead of the UN’s World Refugee Day, which will be celebrated on the 20th June, Pope Francis has called for called for better treatment for refugees.

Speaking at the end of his weekly General Audience, the Pope called for the World Day to be “an opportunity to turn an attentive and fraternal gaze to all those who are forced to flee their homes in search of peace and security.”

“We are all called to welcome, promote, accompany and integrate those who knock on our doors,” the Pope added… Read more »

Pope at Audience: The Psalms, ‘the prayer of Jesus,’ are for all seasons

  Saint Peter's Square, the Vatican

Cycle of Catechesis. The Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides the people of God towards Jesus our hope. 4. The Spirit teaches the Bride to pray. The Psalms, symphony of prayer in the Bible

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In preparation for the next Jubilee, I invited the devotion of the year 2024 “to a great ‘symphony’ of prayer”.  … Read more »