Pope Francis

Pope on Congo at Audience: Do not exploit, and go forward together

09/02/2023   Paul VI Audience Hall, the Vatican

Catechesis. The Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Last week I visited two African countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. I thank God for permitting me to make this long-desired journey. Two “dreams”: to visit the Congolese people, custodians of an immense country, the green heart of Africa: together with Amazonia, they are the two lungs of the world… Read more »

Pope Francis at Audience: Life is an act of love and an invitation to love

25/01/2023   Paul VI Audience Hall, the Vatican

atechesis. The passion for evangelization: the apostolic zeal of the believer. 3. Jesus teacher of proclamation

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Last Wednesday we reflected on Jesus model of proclamation, on his pastoral heart always reaching out to others. Today we look to Him as a teacher of proclamation. Model of proclamation. Today, the teacher of proclamation Let us be guided by the episode in which He preaches in the synagogue of His village, Nazareth… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: To live life, we need to accept the challenge to leave

22/01/2023   St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

The Gospel from today’s liturgy (Mt 4:12-23) narrates the call of the first disciples who, along the lake of Galilee leave everything to follow Jesus. He had already met some of them, thanks to John the Baptist, and God had placed the seed of faith within them (cf. Jn 1:35-39)… Read more »

Pope at Audience: The pastoral heart suffers and the pastoral heart takes risks

18/01/2023   Paul VI Audience Hall, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Last Wednesday we began a cycle of catechesis on the passion of evangelization, on that apostolic zeal that should enliven the Church and every Christian. Today, let us look at the unsurpassable model of evangelization: Jesus. The Christmas Gospel defines him as the “Word of God” (cf. Jn 1:1). The fact that he is the Logos, that is, the Word, highlights an essential aspect of Jesus: He is always in relation, outgoing, never isolated, always in relation, outgoing… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: Do we attract others to Jesus, or to ourselves?

15/01/2023   Saint Peter's Square, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!

The Gospel of today’s liturgy (cf. Jn 1:29-34) relates the testimony of John the Baptist on Jesus, after having baptized him in the river Jordan. He says: “After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me” (vv. 29-30).

This declaration, this witness, reveals John’s spirit of service… Read more »

Pope at Audience: Jesus goes to the person, to the heart

11/01/2023   Paul VI Audience Hall, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today we begin a new cycle of catechesis, dedicated to an urgent and decisive theme for Christian life: the passion for evangelisation, that is, apostolic zeal. It is a vital dimension for the Church: the community of Jesus’ disciples is in fact born apostolic, born missionary, not proselytizing. And from the start we have to distinguish: being missionary, being apostolic, evangelizing, is not the same as proselytizing, they have nothing to do with one another… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: Let us ask ourselves – am I a person who divides or shares?

08/01/2023   Saint Peter's Square, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and the Gospel presents us with an astonishing scene: it is the first time that Jesus appears in public after his hidden birth in Nazareth; he arrives on the bank of the River Jordan to be baptized by John (Mt 3:13-17)… Read more »

Pope at Audience: The people who had a true encounter with Jesus were not afraid to open their hearts

04/01/2023   Paul VI Audience Hall, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Before beginning this catechesis, I would like us to join with those here beside us who are paying their respects to Benedict XVI, and to turn my thoughts to him, a great master of catechesis. His acute and gentle thought was not self-referential, but ecclesial, because he always wanted to accompany us in the encounter with Jesus… Read more »

Pope Francis describes Benedict as a ‘faithful friend’ of Jesus

05/01/2023

Thousands paid homage to Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday, with a funeral at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

Underlining Jesus’ last words on the cross “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,” Pope Francis said these words summed up Benedict’s life.

In his homily during the funeral mass, Pope Francis said: “Holding fast to the Lord’s last words and to the witness of his entire life, we too, as an ecclesial community, want to follow in his steps and to commend our brother into the hands of the Father… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: The language of the Mother of God is a language of mothers: to take care of

01/01/2023   Saint Peter's Square, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good day and Happy New Year!

The beginning of the new year is entrusted to Mary Most Holy whom we celebrate today as Mother of God. At this time, let us invoke her intercession especially for Pope emeritus Benedict XVI who left this world yesterday morning. Let us all join together, with one heart and one soul, in thanking God for the gift of this faithful servant of the Gospel and of the Church… Read more »