Pope Francis

Pope at Audience: Bring your young children, closer to the elderly, always bring them closer

20/04/2022   The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today, with the help of the Word of God that we have heard, we open a passage through the fragility of old age, marked in a special way by the experiences of confusion and despondency, of loss and abandonment, of disillusionment and doubt. Of course, the experiences of our frailty in the face of life’s dramatic – sometimes tragic – situations can occur at any stage of life… Read more »

Pope Francis at Urbi et Orbi: Peace is a duty

17/04/2022   Central loggia of the Vatican Basilica

Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!

Jesus, the Crucified One, is risen! He stands in the midst of those who mourned him, locked behind closed doors and full of fear and anguish. He comes to them and says: “Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:19). He shows the wounds in his hands and feet, and the wound in his side. He is no ghost; it is truly Jesus, the same Jesus who died on the cross and was laid in the tomb… Read more »

Pope at Way of the Cross: Grant that we never act as enemies of the cross of Christ, so we may share in the glory of his resurrection

15/04/2022   Rome, Italy

Pope Francis presides over the Way of the Cross on the evening of Good Friday, with families offering meditations for each of the 14 Stations based on their own experiences of suffering and hope.

The traditional Via Crucis returned on Good Friday evening to the Colosseum in Rome for the first time since 2019, a hiatus of nearly three years… Read more »

Pope at Chrism Mass: There is no peace greater than his forgiveness

14/04/2022   Vatican Basilica

In the reading from the Prophet Isaiah that we have heard, the Lord makes a promise full of hope, one that concerns us at first hand: “You shall be called priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God… I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them” (61:6.8). Being priests, dear brothers, is a grace, a very great grace, yet it is not primarily a grace for us, but for our people. [1] The fact that the Lord chooses, from among his flock, some who devote themselves exclusively to the care of his flock as fathers and shepherds is a great gift for our people… Read more »

Pope Francis on Maundy Thursday: The Lord judges and forgives

14/04/2022   The Correctional Facility of Civitavecchia, Rome

Kull Ħamis ix-Xirka naqraw din is-silta mill-Vanġelu: hija ħaġa sempliċi. Ġesù, flimkien ma’ ħbiebu, id-dixxipli tiegħu, jinsab waqt ikla, l-ikla tal-Għid; Ġesù li jaħsel riġlejn id-dixxipli tiegħu – ħaġa stramba din li għamel: f’dak iż-żmien ir-riġlejn kienu jaħsluhom l-ilsiera fid-daħla tad-dar. U mbagħad, Ġesù – b’ġest li jmiss ukoll il-qalb – jaħsel riġlejn it-traditur, dak li biegħu. Hekk hu Ġesù, u jgħallimna dan, sempliċiment: fostkom, għandkom taħslu r-riġlejn… Read more »

The Pope at Audience: Every war represents an outrage against God

13/04/2022   The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

We are in the middle of Holy Week, which lasts from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. Both these Sundays are characterized by the feast that takes place around Jesus. But they are two different feasts.

Last Sunday, we saw Christ solemnly entering Jerusalem, as though for a feast, welcomed as the Messiah: cloaks (cf. Lk 19:36) and branches cut from trees (cf Mt 21:8) were laid before him on the ground… Read more »

Pope Francis prays for peace in Peru during Angelus

10/04/2022   The Vatican

Dear brothers and sister,

Before concluding this Celebration, I would like to greet all of you, in particular, the pilgrims from various countries, among whom are numerous young people. I wish all of you a good Holy Week, even to those who are connected through the media.

I am near to the dear people of Peru, who are experiencing a difficult moment of social tension… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: I will remember many of your faces, as well as the luminous face of Malta!

03/04/2022   The Granaries, Floriana

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am grateful for Archbishop Scicluna’s kind words on your behalf, but I am really the one who should be thanking you! Thank you very much!

I would like to express my gratitude to the President of the Republic and the civil authorities, to my brother Bishops, to you, dear priests, men and women religious, and to all the citizens and faithful of Malta and Gozo for your warm and affectionate welcome… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: We are the ones who get tired of asking for forgiveness, but he always forgives

27/03/2022   The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday, buongiorno!

The Gospel for this Sunday’s Liturgy recounts the so-called Parable of the Prodigal Son (cf. Lk 15:11-32). It leads us to God’s heart who always forgives compassionately and tenderly. Always, God always forgives. We are the ones who get tired of asking for forgiveness, but he always forgives. It [the parable] tells us that God is a Father who not only welcomes us back, but rejoices and throws a feast for his son who has returned home after having squandered all his possessions… Read more »