Pope Francis

‘Overcome polemics about the liturgy to rediscover its beauty’ – Pope Francis

30/06/2022

With an Apostolic Letter to the people of God entitled “Desiderio desideravi”, Pope Francis calls for Catholics to overcome forms of aestheticism that appreciate only outward formality or allow sloppiness in liturgy, noting that “a celebration that does not evangelize is not authentic.”

The Pope has written an Apostolic Letter to the people of God on the liturgy, to recall the profound meaning of Eucharistic celebrations as it emerged from the Council and to encourage liturgical formation… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: Only through dialogue can social peace be achieved

26/06/2022   St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

The Gospel for this Sunday’s Liturgy tells us about a turning point. This is what it says: “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he made a resolute decision to set his face to go to Jerusalem” (cf. Lk 9:51). Thus he begins his “great journey” toward the Holy City which required a special decision because it was his last one… Read more »

Pope at Audience: We elders, let us look at the young, and always with a smile

22/06/2022   St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Catechesis on Old Age: 15. Peter and John

Dear brothers and sisters, welcome and good morning!

In our catechetical journey on old age, today we meditate on the dialogue between the risen Jesus and Peter at the end of John’s Gospel (21:15-23). It is a moving dialogue, from which shines all the love of Jesus for his disciples, and also the sublime humanity of his relationship with them, in particular with Peter: a tender relationship, but not melancholic; direct, strong, free, and open… Read more »

Pope at Angelus asks us not to forget the people of Myanmar and Ukraine

19/06/2022   The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno and blessed Sunday!

Today in Italy and in other countries, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is celebrated. Instituted during the Last Supper, the Eucharist was like the destination of a journey along which Jesus had prefigured it through several signs, above all the multiplication of the loaves narrated in the Gospel of today’s Liturgy (cf. Lk. 9:11b-17)… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: Let us all work to eliminate the scourge of child labour

12/06/2022   The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno and blessed Sunday!

Today is the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, and in the Gospel of the celebration Jesus presents the other two divine Persons, the Father and the Holy Spirit. He says of the Spirit: “He will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come”… Read more »

Pope at Pentecost calls on leaders: ‘Do not lead humanity into ruin’

05/06/2022   The Vatican

In the final words of the Gospel we have just heard, Jesus says something that can offer us hope and make us think. He tells his disciples: “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all I have said to you (Jn 14:26). “Everything”, “all” – these words are striking; they make us wonder: how does the Spirit give this new and full understanding to those who receive him? … Read more »

Pope at Audience: The elderly are the memory of the family, of humanity, of the country

01/06/2022   St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Catechesis on Old Age: 12. “Forsake me not when my strength is spent” (Ps 71:9)

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

The beautiful prayer of the elderly man that we find in Psalm 71, which we have listened to, encourages us to meditate on the strong tension that dwells in the condition of old age, when the memory of labours overcome and blessings received is put to the test of faith and hope… Read more »

The Pope at Regina Caeli: true love is close but not possessive

29/05/2022   St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

Today in Italy and in many countries the Ascension of the Lord, that is, his return to the Father, is celebrated. In the Liturgy, the Gospel according to Luke narrates the final apparition of the Risen Christ to the disciples (cf. 24:46-53). The earthly life of Jesus culminates precisely with the Ascension, which we also profess in the Creed: “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father”… Read more »