Pope Francis

Pope at Angelus: One cannot do good by hastily destroying what is bad

  Saint Peter's Square, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today’s Gospel offers us the parable of the wheat and the weeds (cf. Mt 13:24-43). A farmer, who has sown good seed in his field, discovers that an enemy by night has sown darnel in it, a plant that looks very similar to wheat, but is a weed.

In this way, Jesus talks about our world, which in effect is like a large field, where God sows wheat and the evil one sows darnel, and therefore good and bad grow together… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: Do I sow goodness?

  Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today the Gospel presents us the parable of the sower (cf. Mt 13:1-23). “Sowing” is a very beautiful image, and Jesus uses it to describe the gift of his Word. Let us imagine a seed: it is tiny, barely visible, but it makes plants grow that bear fruit. The Word of God is thus: think of the Gospel, a small book, simple and within reach of all, that produces new life in those who receive it… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: God reveals himself by liberating and healing the human person

  Saint Peter's Square

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today the Gospel contains a very beautiful prayer Jesus addresses to the Father, saying, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children” (Mt 11:25). But what things is Jesus talking about? And then, who are these little children to whom such things are revealed? … Read more »

Pope at Audience: There is no holiness if there is no care for the poor, the needy

  Saint Peter's Square, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today we must have a bit of patience, with this heat – and thank you for coming, with this heat, with this sun: thank you very much for your visit.

In this series of catecheses on apostolic zeal – we are talking about this – we are encountering some exemplary figures of men and women from all times and places, who have given their lives for the Gospel… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: What do I fear?

  Saint Peter's Square, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, Buongiorno, Good Sunday!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus repeats to his disciples three different times: “have no fear” (Mt 10:26, 28, 31). Shortly prior to this, he had spoken to them about the persecutions they would have to undergo for the Gospel, a fact that is still a reality. Since its beginning, in fact, the Church has experienced, together with joys – of which she has had many – many persecutions… Read more »

Special collection for the charitable work of Pope Francis

On Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June 2023, all parishes in Malta will be collecting offerings for Peter’s Pence, the traditional collection to support the charitable work of Pope Francis to help our suffering brothers and sisters as well as to support the work of the Holy See around the world.

What is Peter’s Pence?

Peter’s Pence is the name given to the financial support offered by the faithful to the Holy Father as a sign of their sharing in the concern of the Successor of Peter for the many different needs of the Universal Church and for the relief of those most in need… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: Do we confide in Him?

  Saint Peter's Square, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

I wish to express my gratitude to those who, during the days of my stay at the Gemelli Hospital, showed me affection, care and friendship, and assured me of the support of prayer. This human closeness and spiritual closeness were of great help and comfort to me. Thank you all! Thank you! Thank you from my heart! … Read more »

Pope at Angelus: God is a communion of love

Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

  St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today, Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, the Gospel is taken from the Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus (cf. Jn 3:16-18). Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, passionate about the mystery of God: he recognizes in Jesus a divine master and goes to speak to him in secret, in the night. Jesus listens to him, understands he is a man on a quest, and then first he surprises him, answering that to enter the Kingdom of God one must be reborn; then he reveals the heart of the mystery to him, saying that God loved humanity so much that he sent his Son into the world… Read more »

Pope at Audience: Let us ask ourselves inwardly – Am I consistent?

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

We are continuing these catecheses speaking about apostolic zeal, that is, what the Christian feels in order to carry out the proclamation of Jesus Christ. And today I would like to present another great example of apostolic zeal: we have spoken about Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Paul, the apostolic zeal of the great zealots; today we will talk about one – Italian, but who went to China: Matteo Ricci… Read more »

Pope at Regina Caeli: The Spirit frees from fear

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today, the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Gospel takes us to the upper room, where the apostles had taken refuge after the death of Jesus (Jn 20: 19-23). The Risen One, on the evening of Passover, presents himself precisely in that situation of fear and anguish and, breathing on them, says: “Receive the Holy Spirit” (v… Read more »