Angelus

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 »

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 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 Angelus – Love needs presence, encounter, it needs to be given time and space

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today’s Gospel presents us with the healing of a leper (cf. Mk 1:40-45). To the sick man, who implores Him, Jesus answers: “I will; be clean!” (v. 41). He utters a very simple phrase, which He immediately puts into practice. Indeed, “immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean” (v. 42)… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: God makes Himself close to accompany us, tenderly, and to forgive us

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

The Gospel of today’s Liturgy shows us Jesus on the move: indeed, He has just finished preaching and, after leaving the synagogue, He goes to Simon Peter’s house, where He heals his mother-in-law; then, towards the evening, He goes out again towards the city gates, where He meets many sick and possessed people and heals them; the morning after, He gets up early and goes out to withdraw in prayer; and finally, He sets out again across Galilee (cf. Mk 1:29-39)… Read more »

Pope at Angelus – Am I capable of saying “no” to the temptations of evil?

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today’s Gospel shows us Jesus freeing a person possessed by an “evil spirit” (see Mk 1:21-28), tormenting and making them scream (see. vv. 23, 26). This is how the devil acts this is the way he acts: he wants to take possession of us in order to “enchain our souls.” To enchain our souls: this is what the devil wants… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: proclaiming the Gospel is not wasted time

  St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

The Gospel today recounts the vocation of the first disciples (cf. Mk 1:14-20). Calling others to join His mission is one of the first things Jesus does at the beginning of His public life: He approaches some young fishermen and invites them to follow Him to “become fishers of men” (v. 17). And this tells us something important: the Lord loves to involve us in His work of salvation, He wants us to be active with Him, He wants us to be responsible and protagonists… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: Rediscover the joy of Jesus’ disciples

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!

Today the Gospel presents Jesus’ encounter with the first disciples (cf. Jn 1:35-42). This scene invites us to remember our first encounter with Jesus. Each one of us has had the first encounter with Jesus, as a child, as an adolescent, as a young person, as an adult… When did I encounter Jesus for the first time? … Read more »

Pope at Angelus – Do you remember the date of your baptism?

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord (cf. Mk 1.7-11). It occurs at the river Jordan, where John – for this reason known as the “Baptist” – performs a rite of purification, which expresses the commitment to renounce sin and to convert. The people go to be baptized humbly, sincerely, and as the Liturgy says, “barefoot and bare of soul”, and Jesus goes there too, inaugurating His ministry: He thus shows that He wants to be close to the sinners, to come for them, for us, for all of sinners! … Read more »