Pope Francis

Pope at Angelus: We do not need to give in to negative feelings

18/12/2022   Saint Peter's Square, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today, the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, the liturgy presents the figure of Saint Joseph to us (cf. Mt 1:18-24). He is a just man who is about to get married. We can imagine what his dreams for the future are – a beautiful family, with an affectionate wife and many wonderful children, and a dignified job – simple and good dreams, the dreams of simple and good people. But all of a sudden, these dreams come up against a disconcerting discovery… Read more »

Pope at Audience: If vigilance is lacking, there is a very high risk that all will be lost

14/12/2022   Paul VI Audience Hall, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

We are now entering the final phase of this journey of catechesis on discernment. We started out from the example of Saint Ignatius of Loyola; we then considered the elements of discernment, namely, prayer, self-knowledge, desire and the “book of life”; we focused on desolation and consolation, which form its “matter”; and then we reached the confirmation of the choice made… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: Instead of thinking about gifts, we can give words and gestures of consolation to those who are wounded

12/12/2022

Dear brothers and sisters, blessed Sunday!

The Gospel of this third Sunday of Advent speaks to us about John the Baptist who, while in prison, sends his disciples to ask Jesus: “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Mt 11:4). Indeed, John, hearing of Jesus’ works, is seized with doubt as to whether He is really the Messiah or not… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: It takes effort to choose good

08/12/2022   Saint Peter's Square, Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno and happy feast day!

The Gospel of today’s Solemnity introduces us into the home of Mary to recount the Annunciation (cf. Lk 1:26-38). The angel Gabriel greets the Virgin like this: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (v. 28). He does not call her by her name, Mary, but with a new name, that she did not know: full of grace… Read more »

Pope at Audience: Possessiveness is the enemy of goodness and kills affection

08/12/2022   Paul VI Audience Hall, Rome

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In the process of discernment, it is also important to remain attentive to the stage that immediately follows the decision taken, in order to either catch the signs that confirm it or those that disprove it. I have to make a decision, [so] I make the discernment, pro or con, my feelings, I pray… then this process ends and I make the decision and then comes that part where we have to be careful, see… Read more »

No disability can change the fact that we are all children of the one Father – The Pope

05/12/2022   Saint John Lateran, Rome

Dear brothers and sisters!

All of us, as the Apostle Paul would say, hold the treasure of life in earthen vessels (cf. 2 Cor 4:7). The International Day of Persons with Disabilities invites us to recognize that our frailty in no way obscures “the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ”, but instead reveals that “its extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us” ( 2 Cor 4:4,7)… Read more »

Pope at Audience: An invitation to learn from experience to not repeat the same mistakes

28/11/2022   St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Għeżież ħuti, l-għodwa t-tajba!

Inkomplu bir-riflessjoni tagħna fuq id-dixxerniment, u b’mod partikulari fuq l-esperjenza spiritwali msejħa “konsolazzjoni”, li dwarha tkellimna l-Erbgħa li għaddiet, u nistaqsu: kif nagħrfu liema hi l-vera konsolazzjoni? Hija mistoqsija importanti ħafna għal dixxerniment tajjeb, biex ma niġux imqarrqa fit-tiftixa tal-ġid veru tagħna.

Nistgħu nsibu xi kriterji f’silta mill-Eżerċizzi spiritwali ta’ Sant’Injazju ta’ Loyola… Read more »

For your sakes Christ became poor – Pope Francis on World Day of the Poor

Message by Pope Francis for the 6th World Day of the Poor

13/11/2022

1. “Jesus Christ… for your sakes became poor” (cf. 2 Cor 8:9). With these words, the Apostle Paul addresses the first Christians of Corinth in order to encourage their efforts to show solidarity with their brothers and sisters in need. The World Day of the Poor comes this year as a healthy challenge, helping us to reflect on our style of life and on the many forms of poverty all around us… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: God is hidden in our life, he is always there

27/11/2022   St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno, blessed Sunday!

In the Gospel of today’s Liturgy we hear a beautiful promise that introduces us to the Time of Advent: “Your Lord is coming” (Mt 24:42). This is the foundation of our hope, it is what supports us even in the most difficult and painful moments of our life: God is coming, God is near and is coming… Read more »

Pope at Audience: “Consolation is an interior movement that touches our depths”

23/11/2022

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

We continue the catechesis on the discernment of spirits and how to discern them when they take place in our hearts and in our souls. After having considered several aspects of desolation – that darkness in the soul – today let us talk about consolation – which is light in the soul and another important element in discernment, which is not to be taken for granted, because it can lend itself to misunderstandings… Read more »