Pope Francis

Pope at Audience: Freedom is fulfilled through charity

21/10/2021   The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In these days we are talking about the freedom of faith, listening to the Letter to the Galatians. But I was reminded of what Jesus was saying about the spontaneity and freedom of children, when this child had the freedom to approach and move as if he were at home… And Jesus tells us: “You too, if you do not behave like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven”… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: May the Holy Spirit renew the grace of baptism in us

17/10/2021

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

The Gospel of today’s Liturgy ( Mk10: 35-45) tells that two disciples, James and John, ask the Lord to sit next to him one day in glory, as if they were “prime ministers”, something like that. But the other disciples hear them and are indignant. At this point Jesus, with patience, offers them a great teaching: true glory is not obtained by rising above others, but by living the same baptism that he will soon receive in Jerusalem, that is, the cross. What does this mean? The word “baptism” means “immersion”: with his Passion, Jesus immersed himself in death, offering his life to save us. His glory, the glory of God, is therefore love that becomes service, not power that aspires to domination. Not power that aspires to domination, no! It is love that becomes service. Therefore Jesus concludes by saying to his own and also to us:Mk 10.43). To become great, you will have to go on the path of service, to serve others… Read more »

During the Angelus, Pope Francis prays that people afflicted by mental disorders are not discriminated against

10/10/2021   The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today’s Liturgy offers us the encounter between Jesus and a man who “had great possessions” (Mk 10:22), and who went down in history as “the rich young man” (cf. Mt 19:20-22). We do not know his name. The Gospel of Mark actually speaks of him as “a man”, without mentioning his age or name, suggesting that we can all see ourselves in this man, as though in a mirror… Read more »

Pope: celebrating synod means walking together on the same road

11/10/2021

Pope Francis formally opened the Synod of Bishops on Sunday with a solemn Mass in St Peter’s Basilica.

Faithful from around the world – including laymen and -women, priests, seminarians, women and men religious, cardinals and bishops – took part in the liturgy, which marked the beginning of a two-year synodal process.

In his homily, Pope Francis took the day’s Gospel reading, recounting Jesus’ encounter with a rich young man, as the starting point for a reflection on synodality: “Celebrating a Synod,” he said, “means walking on the same road, together.”

Following the example of Jesus, he emphasized three verbs that characterize the Synod: encounter, listen, and discern… Read more »

Pope expresses shame for Church’s failure to confront abuse

07/10/2021   The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today we are taking up again our reflection on the Letter to the Galatians in which Saint Paul wrote immortal words on Christian freedom. What is Christian freedom? Today, we will reflect on this topic: Christian freedom.

Freedom is a treasure that is truly appreciated only when it is lost. For many of us who are used to being free, it often appears to be an acquired right rather than a gift and a legacy to be preserved… Read more »

Pope Francis grateful for the victims’ courage to speak out so that the Church may take the path of redemption

06/10/2021

An independent commission established by French Catholic Bishops and religious has revealed that an estimated total of 330,000 people in France have been victims of sexual abuse within Church as children, and that between 2,900 and 3,200 priests and religious committed these crimes over a period of seventy years.

The Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE) published its findings on Tuesday in a 2,500-page report after a two-and-a half-year investigation… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: the Lord holds us like a Father does his child

03/10/2021

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

In the Gospel of today’s Liturgy we see Jesus react somewhat unusually: He is indignant. And what is most surprising is that his indignation is not caused by the pharisees who put him to the test with questions about the legality of divorce, but by his disciples who, to protect him from the crowd of people, rebuke some children who had been brought to Jesus… Read more »

Pope at Audience: Power of grace must lead to works of mercy

30/09/2021   The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

On our journey to better understand Saint Paul’s teaching, today we will encounter a difficult but important topic: justification. What is justification? We, who were sinners, have become just. Who justified us? This process of change is justification. We, before God, are just. It is true, we have our personal sins. But fundamentally, we are just… Read more »

Migrants & Refugees Day: Pope calls for ‘more inclusive world’

26/09/2021

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

The Gospel of today’s Liturgy recounts a brief dialogue between Jesus and the Apostle John, who speaks on behalf of all the entire group of disciples. They saw a man who was casting out demons in the name of the Lord, but they stopped him because he was not part of their group. At this point, Jesus invites them not to hinder those who do good, because they contribute to the fulfilment of God’s plan (cf. Mk 9:38-41)… Read more »