Angelus

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 »

Pope at Angelus – Are we able to see the problems of the world through the eyes of children?

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno and happy feast day!

Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, that is, His manifestation to all peoples in the person of the Magi (cf. Mt 2:1-12). They are wise seekers who, after wondering about the apparition of a star, set out on a journey and arrive in Bethlehem. And there, they find Jesus, “with Mary His mother”, they bow down and they offer “gold, frankincense and myrrh” (c… Read more »

Pope at Angelus – Love lets us grow

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, happy New Year!

On this day, when we celebrate Mary, Mother of God, we place the new time given to us under her caring gaze. May she watch over us this year.

Today the Gospel reveals to us that the greatness of Mary does not consist in performing some extraordinary deed; rather, while the shepherds, having received the announcement from the angels, hurry towards Bethlehem (cf… Read more »

Pope at Angelus – Tenderness is beautiful in a marriage

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Gospel shows us the temple of Jerusalem, for the presentation of the Baby to the Lord (cf. Lk 2:22-40).

The Holy Family arrives in the temple bearing the humblest and simplest among the prescribed offerings as a gift, a testimony to their poverty… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: how God loves – welcomes, protects and respects others

  St Peter's Square, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!

Today, on the fourth Sunday of Advent, the Gospel presents the scene of the Annunciation (cf. Lk 1:26-39). Explaining to Mary how she will conceive Jesus, the angel tells her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (v. 35). Let us pause for a moment on this image, shadowRead more »

Pope at Angelus: Let us value silence, sobriety and listening

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

On this second Sunday of Advent, the Gospel speaks to us about John the Baptist, the precursor of Jesus (cf. Mk 1:1-8), and it describes him as “the voice of one crying in the desert” (v. 3). The desert, an empty place, where you do not communicate; and the voice, a means to speak – these seem like two contradictory images… Read more »