Pope Francis

Pope at Angelus – What is the glory I desire for myself?

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today, fifth Sunday of Lent, as we draw closer to Holy Week, Jesus in the Gospel (cf. Jn 12:20-33) tells us something important: that on the Cross we will see His glory and that of the Father (cf. vv. 23, 28).

But how is it possible that the glory of God manifest itself right there, on the Cross? … Read more »

The church needs to eliminate all situations that lead to protection of abusers – The Pope

“Biex infittxu relazzjonijiet aktar umani f’kull soċjetà, inkluża l-Knisja, irridu naħdmu bla waqfien biex niffurmaw individwi maturi u koerenti li, sodi fil-fidi u l-prinċipji etiċi tagħhom, kapaċi jeħduha kontra l-ħażen, u jagħtu xhieda tal-verità b’ittri kapitali”.

Dan affermah il-Papa Franġisku lbieraħ f’messaġġ mibgħut lill-parteċipanti tat-3 Kungress tal-Amerika Latina, li qed jinżamm fil-Panama bejn it-12 u l-14 ta’ Marzu.

Organizzat miċ-Ċentru għall-Protezzjoni tal-Minuri (CEPROME), dan l-avveniment ġabar rappreżentanti tal-Knisja mir-reġjun biex jirriflettu fuq it-tema: “Vulnerabbiltà u abbuż: Lejn viżjoni usa’ tal-prevenzjoni”… Read more »

Pope at Audience: How is it possible to obtain virtue?

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

After having concluded our overview of the vices, it is now time to take a look at the mirror image, which is in opposition to the experience of evil. The human heart can indulge evil passions, it can pay heed to harmful temptations disguised in persuasive garb, but it can also oppose all of this… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: A lot still must be done for the equal dignity of women to be genuinely recognised

The Angelus on the fourth Sunday of Lent

  St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

On this fourth Sunday of Lent, the Gospel presents us with the figure of Nicodemus (cf. Jn 3:14-21), a pharisee, “a ruler of the Jews” (Jn 3:1). He saw the signs Jesus performed, he recognized in Him a teacher sent by God, and he went to meet Him by night, so as not to be seen… Read more »

Pope at Audience: Humility is the true remedy for every act of pride

  St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Cycle of Catechesis. Vices and Virtues. 10. Pride

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In our catechetical journey on the vices and virtues, today we come to the last of the vices: pride. The ancient Greeks defined it with a word that could be translated “excessive splendor.” Indeed, pride is self-exaltation, conceit, vanity. The term also appears in that series of vices that Jesus lists to explain that evil always comes from the heart of man (cf. Mark 7:22)… Read more »

Pope Francis’s Laudate Deum document published in Maltese

Id-Dar Editriċi tal-Franġiskani Konventwali, Reliġjon u Ħajja (RuĦ), għadha kif ippubblikat id-dokument Laudate Deum tal-Papa Franġisku bil-Malti. It-traduzzjoni saret minn Francesco Pio Attard, il-ktejjeb hu ta’ 48 paġna u bl-istess format tal-Enċiklika Laudato Si’ li kienet ppubblikata fl-2015. Il-ktieb bl-Enċiklika Laudato Si’ bil-Malti kien ġie eżawrit u RuĦ ħarġet edizzjoni ġdida tiegħu flimkien mad-dokument Laudate Deum… Read more »

Pope at Audience – Envy, if unchecked, leads to hatred

  Paul VI Audience Hall, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today we examine two deadly vices that we find in the great lists that the spiritual tradition has left us: envy and vainglory.

Let us start with envy. If we read Holy Scripture (cf. Gen 4), it appears to us as one of the oldest vices: Cain’s hatred of Abel is unleashed when he realizes that his brother’s sacrifices are pleasing to God… Read more »

Pope at Angelus – Never direct your eyes away from the light of Jesus

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

The Gospel of this second Sunday of Lent presents us with the episode of the Transfiguration of Jesus (cf. Mk 9:2-10).

After having announced his Passion to the disciples, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with him and goes up a high mountain, and physically manifests himself there in all his light. In this way, he reveals to them the meaning of what they had experienced together up to that moment… Read more »

Pope at Angelus – Lent is the time for prayer and silence

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today, first Sunday of Lent, the Gospel presents us with Jesus tempted in the desert (cf. Mk 1:12-15). The text says: “He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan”. We too, during Lent, are invited to “enter the wilderness”, that is, silence, the inner world, listening to the heart, in contact with the truth… Read more »

Pope at Audience – One must have the courage to welcome God’s presence

  Paul VI Audience Hall, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters,

Among all the capital sins there is one that is often overlooked, perhaps because of its name, which is often incomprehensible to many: I am talking about acedia. Therefore, in the list of vices, the term acedia is often substituted by another, much more commonly used: sloth, or laziness. In reality, laziness is an effect more than a cause… Read more »