General Audiences

Pope at Audience: Charisms are gifts of the Spirit for unity and service

  Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City

Pope Francis continues his cycle of catechesis and highlights the Holy Spirit’s diverse gifts, or charisms, as vital tools for unity and service in the Church, emphasising their purpose for the common good and their rootedness in love.

As he continued his cycle of catechesis on “The Spirit and the Bride”, Pope Francis opened his reflection during his General Audience on Wednesday, November 20th, by inviting the faithful to reflect on the charisms: the diverse and unique gifts of the Spirit… Read more »

Pope at Audience: Mary takes us by the hand to Jesus

  Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Among the various means by which the Holy Spirit implements His work of sanctification in the Church – the Word of God, the Sacraments, prayer – there is one in entirely particular, and it is  Marian piety. In the Catholic tradition there is this motto, this saying: “ Ad Iesum per Mariam”, that is, “to Jesus by means of Mary”… Read more »

Il-Papa fl-Udjenza: L-Ispirtu s-Santu jgħinna meta nitolbu

  Pjazza San Pietru, il-Vatikan

Għeżież ħuti, l-għodwa t-tajba!

L-azzjoni santifikatriċi tal-Ispirtu s-Santu, barra fil-Kelma ta’ Alla u fis-Sagramenti, tidher ukoll fit-talb, u hu lil dan li rridu niddedikaw ir-riflessjoni tal-lum: it-talb. L-Ispirtu s-Santu huwa fl-istess waqt suġġett u oġġett tat-talb Nisrani. Jiġifieri hu Dak li jagħtina t-talb u hu Dak li hu mogħti lilna permezz tat-talb. Aħna nitolbu biex nirċievu l-Ispirtu s-Santu u nirċievu l-Ispirtu s-Santu biex nistgħu nitolbu tassew, jiġifieri bħala wlied Alla, mhux ilsiera… Read more »

Pope at Audience: Confirmation communicates Holy Spirit’s abundant gifts

  Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today we will continue our reflection on the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church through the Sacraments.

The sanctifying action of the Holy Spirit reaches us primarily through two channels: the Word of God and the Sacraments. And among all the Sacraments, there is one that is quintessentially the Sacrament of the Holy Spirit, and it is on this that I would like to focus today… Read more »

Pope at General Audience: Invite Holy Spirit to protect your marriage and children

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Last time we explained what we proclaim about the Holy Spirit in the Creed. The reflection of the Church, however, did not stop at that brief profession of faith. It continued, both in the East and in the West, by the work of the great Fathers and Doctors. Today, in particular, we would like to gather a few crumbs of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit developed in the Latin tradition, to see how it enlightens all of Christian life and the sacrament of marriage in particular… Read more »

Pope at Audience: Faith frees us from thinking everything ends here

  Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

With today’s catechesis, we will move on from what the Holy Spirit revealed to us in the Holy Scripture to how He is present and active in the life of the Church, in our Christian life.

In the first three centuries, the Church did not feel the need to give an explicit formulation of her faith in the Holy Spirit… Read more »

Pope at Audience: The Holy Spirit expands and unites the Church

Pope Francis highlights the Holy Spirit's role in expanding the Church's mission to all peoples while fostering unity from within.

  Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In our itinerary of catechesis on the Holy Spirit and the Church, today we will refer to the Book of the Acts of the Apostles.

The account of the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost begins with a description of some preparatory signs – the rush of wind and the tongues of fire – but finds its conclusion in the affirmation that “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4)… Read more »

Pope at Audience: I saw living and joyful faith in Asia and Oceania

  Saint Peter's Square

Today I would like to begin with some good news: I would like to present two suicidal people to you: these two are getting married next Saturday! A round of applause for them!

It is beautiful to see when love leads us on to form a new family: this is why I wanted to present these two to you, to give thanks to the Lord… Read more »

Pope at Audience: World must heed cries of migrants dying in deserts and seas

  Saint Peter's Square, the Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today, I will postpone the usual catechesis and I would like to pause with you to think about the people who – even at this moment – are crossing seas and deserts to reach a land where they can live in peace and safety.

Sea and desert: these two words return in many testimonies I receive, both on the part of migrants, and of people who are engaged in coming to their aid… Read more »

Pope at Audience: Sin distances us from Jesus

  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. 6. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me”. The Holy Spirit in the Baptism of Jesus

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today we will reflect on the Holy Spirit who comes upon Jesus in the baptism in the Jordan, and spreads from Him into His body, which is the Church… Read more »