Pope Francis

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 »

Pope at Angelus: Fidelity to God means willingness to serve

20/09/2021

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

The Gospel of today’s Liturgy (Mk 9:30-37) narrates that, on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus’ disciples were discussing “with one another who was the greatest” (v. 34). So, Jesus directed harsh words toward them that are still valid today: “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (v… Read more »

Pope at Divine Liturgy in Slovakia: Let us turn our hearts to the Cross

14/09/2021

On Tuesday in Prešov, Pope Francis presided at the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross.

The liturgy, in the Byzantine Rite, was celebrated by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Prešov, Ján Babjak and concelebrated by numerous Greek and Latin Catholic prelates.

In his homily, Pope Francis repeated the words of St Paul: “We proclaim Christ crucified… the power of God and the wisdom of God.” The Cross, which on the surface can seem to be a “scandal” and “foolishness,” reveals to us “the beauty of God’s love”: “The Cross was an instrument of death, yet it became the source of life.”

The Pope noted that in Tuesday’s Liturgy, the account of the crucifixion is taken from the Gospel of St John, who was personally present at the foot of the Cross… Read more »

Pope at Angelus in Budapest: May the Cross link your past and future

12/09/2021

Dear brothers and sisters,

The word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving”, and at the end of this celebration that concludes the Eucharistic Congress and my visit to Budapest, I want to thank you from my heart. I thank the great Hungarian Christian family, which I would like to embrace in its rites, its history, its brothers and sisters, both Catholic and those of other confessions: all journeying towards full unity… Read more »