Pope Francis General Audience 22.01.25

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims, especially those coming from Switzerland, the United States, England and offer my cordial good wishes that the Jubilee will be for all of you a season of spiritual renewal and growth in the joy of the Gospel. In this week of Prayer for Christian Unity, I welcome the ecumenical groups present, as well as those from the Pontifical North American College. Upon you and your families I gladly invoke God’s blessings of wisdom, strength and peace.

And I want you to know that my heart is with the people of Los Angeles, who have suffered so much because of the wildfires that have devastated entire neighborhoods and communities. And that's not all... May Our Lady of Guadalupe intercede for all the inhabitants so that they may be witnesses of hope through the power of diversity and creativity for which they are known throughout the world.

And let's not forget the martyred Ukraine. Let's not forget Palestine, Israel and Myanmar. Let us pray for peace. War is always a defeat! Yesterday I called, I do it every day, the parish of Gaza: they were happy! There are 600 people in there, between the parish and the college. And they told me: "Today we ate lentils with chicken". Something they weren't used to doing in these times: just a few vegetables, something... They were happy! But let us pray for Gaza, for peace and for many other parts of the world. War is always a defeat! Don't forget: war is a defeat. And who gains from wars? The manufacturers of weapons. Please, let us pray for peace.

Lastly, my thoughts turn to the young people, the sick, the elderly and newlyweds. In these days of prayer for Christian unity, I urge you to invoke the Triune God for the full communion of all Christ's disciples.

And my blessing to you all!

22.01.25

Pope Francis  General Audience  22.01.25  

The Annunciation

Pope Francis  Angelus   19.01.25

The Lord’s superabundance

Excerpt below, for the full transcript click on the picture link above

The Gospel of today’s liturgy (Jn 2:1-11) tells us about Jesus’ first sign, when He turns water into wine during a wedding feast in Cana, in Galilee. It is an account that foreshadows and encapsulates the whole of Jesus’ mission: on the day of the coming of the Messiah – so said the prophets – the Lord will prepare “a feast of … choice wines” (Is 25:6) and “the mountains shall drip with the juice of grapes” (Am 9:13); Jesus is the Bridegroom who brings the “good wine”.

In this Gospel we can find two things: lack and superabundance. On the one hand, there is a shortage of wine and Mary tells Her Son: “They have no wine” (v.3); on the other hand, Jesus intervenes, filling six large jars and, in the end, the wine is so abundant and exquisite that the master of the banquet asks the groom why He has kept it until the end (v. 10). Thus, our sign is always lack, but “the sign of God is superabundance”, and the superabundance of Cana is its sign (cf. Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, vol. I, 294). How does God respond to man’s lack? With superabundance (cf. Rom 5:20). God is not mean! When He gives, He gives a lot. He does not give you a little bit, He gives you a lot. The Lord responds to our shortcomings with His superabundance.

In the banquet of our life – we might say – at times we realize that the wine is missing: that we lack the strength and many things. It happens when the worries that plague us, the fears that assail us or the overwhelming forces of evil rob us of the taste for life, the exhilaration of joy and the flavour of hope. Take note: in the face of this lack, when the Lord gives, He gives in superabundance. It seems to be a contradiction: the more that is lacking in us, the greater the Lord’s superabundance. Because the Lord wants to celebrate with us, in a feast without end.

Let us pray, then, to the Virgin Mary. May She, who is the “woman of the new wine” (cf. A. Bello, Maria, donna dei nostri giorni), intercede for us and, in this Jubilee year, help us to rediscover the joy of the encounter with Jesus.

19.01.25

Pope Francis Angelus 19.01.25 

In recent days, it was announced that the ceasefire in Gaza will come into effect today. I express my gratitude to all the mediators. It is a good job, to mediate so that peace is made. Thank you to the mediators! And I also thank all the parties involved in this important result. I hope that what has been agreed will be respected immediately by the parties, and that all the hostages may finally return home and embrace their loved ones. I pray a lot for them and for their families. I also hope that humanitarian aid will reach the people of Gaza, who so urgently need it, even faster and in large quantities.

Both the Israelis and the Palestinians need clear signs of hope: I trust that the political authorities of both of them, with the help of the international community, may reach the right solution for the two States. May everyone be able to say: yes to dialogue, yes to reconciliation, yes to peace. And let us pray for this: for dialogue, reconciliation and peace.

A few days ago the liberation of a group of inmates from Cuban jails was announced. This is a gesture of great hope that embodies one of the intentions of this Jubilee year. I hope that in the coming months, we will continue to undertake initiatives of this type, which instil confidence in the journey of people and populations.

In these days of prayer for Christian unity, let us not cease to invoke from God the precious gift of full communion between all the Lord’s disciples. And let us pray always for tormented Ukraine, for Palestine, Israel, Myanmar and all the populations who are suffering because of war.

I wish you all a good Sunday, and please, do not forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch, and arrivederci!

19.01.25

Pope Francis  January 2025

For the right to an education

Let us pray for migrants, refugees and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.

Today we’re experiencing an “educational catastrophe.” This is no exaggeration. Due to wars, migration, and poverty, some 250 million boys and girls lack education.

All children and youth have the right to go to school, regardless of their immigration status.

Education is a hope for everyone – it can save migrants and refugees from discrimination, criminal networks, and exploitation…. So many minors are exploited! It can help them integrate into the communities who host them.

Education opens the doors to a better future. In this way, migrants and refugees can contribute to society, either in their new country or in their country of origin, should they decide to return.

And let’s never forget that whoever welcomes the foreigner, welcomes Jesus Christ.

Let us pray for migrants, refugees and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a more human world, might always be respected.

January 2025

Pope Francis Holy Mass 12.01.25 

Baptism of the Lord  

How do we receive the Word of God? The response is clear: As one receives Jesus Christ. The Church tells us that Jesus is present in the Scripture, in His Word.

Always carry a small Gospel with you in your purse, in your pocket, and read a passage from the Gospel during the day. Not so much to learn something, but mostly to find Jesus, because Jesus actually is in His Word, in His Gospel.  Every time I read the Gospel, I find Jesus.  - Pope Francis 01.09.14

Daily Readings - read the entire New Testament over a 2 year period (reading plan courtesy of Gideon International)

The Bible Online

Pope Francis  General Audience  15.01.25  

Children

Excerpt below, for the full transcript click on the picture link above

In the last audience we spoke about children, and today too we will talk about children. Last week we focused on how, in his work, Jesus repeatedly spoke of the importance of protecting, welcoming and loving the little ones.

Yet, even today in the world, hundreds of millions of minors, despite not being of the minimum age to undergo the obligations of adulthood, are forced to work and many of them are exposed to particularly dangerous work; not to mention the boys and girls who are slaves to trafficking for prostitution or pornography, and forced marriages. And this is rather bitter. In our societies, unfortunately, there are many ways in which children are abused and mistreated. Child abuse, of whatever nature, is a despicable act, it is a heinous act. It is not simply a blight on society, no, it is a crime! And it is a gross violation of God’s commandments. No child should be abused. Even one case is already too many. It is therefore necessary to awaken our consciences, to practice closeness and genuine solidarity with abused children and young people, and at the same time to build trust and synergies between those who are committed to offering them opportunities and safe places in which to grow up serenely. I know a country in Latin America, where a special fruit grows, very special, which is called arándano [a species of cranberry]. Harvesting the arándano requires tender hands, and they make children do it, they enslave them as children to harvest it.

Widespread poverty, the shortage of social support tools for families, the increased marginality in recent years along with unemployment and job insecurity are factors that burden the youngest with the highest price to pay. In the metropolises, where the social divide and moral decay “bite”, there are children engaged in drug dealing and the most diverse illicit activities. How many of these children have we seen fall as sacrificial victims! Sometimes tragically they are induced to become “executioners” of their peers, as well as damaging themselves, their dignity and humanity. And yet, when on the street, in the neighbourhood of the parish, and these lost lives present themselves before our eyes, we often look the other way.

There is also a case in my country: a boy called Loan has been abducted and his whereabouts are unknown. And one of the theories is that he has been sent to have his organs removed, for transplants. And this happens, as you well know. This happens! Some return with a scar, others die. This is why today I would like to remember this boy Loan.

It pains us to recognize the social injustice that drives two children, perhaps living in the same neighbourhood or apartment block, to take diametrically opposed paths and destinies because one of them was born into a disadvantaged family. An unacceptable human and social divide: between those who can dream and those who must succumb. But Jesus wants us all free and happy; and if He loves every man and woman as His son and daughter, He loves the little ones with all the tenderness of His heart. That is why He asks us to stop and listen to the suffering of the voiceless, the uneducated. Fighting exploitation, especially child exploitation, is the way to build a better future for the whole of society. Some countries have had the wisdom to put children’s rights in writing. Children have rights. Look yourselves on the internet to find out what children’s rights are.

And so, we can ask ourselves: what can I do? First of all, we must recognize that, if we want to eradicate child labour, we cannot be complicit in it. And when is this the case? For example, when we purchase products that involve child labour. How can we eat and dress, knowing that behind that food and those garments there are exploited children, who work instead of going to school? Find out where those products come from. Awareness of what we purchase is a first act in order not to be complicit. Some will say that, as individuals, we cannot do much. True, but each one can be a drop that, together with many other drops, can become a sea. However, institutions, including church institutions, and companies must also be reminded of their responsibility: they can make a difference by shifting their investments to companies that do not use or permit child labour. Many states and international organizations have already enacted laws and directives against child labour, but more can be done. I also urge journalists – there are some journalists here – to do their part: they can help raise awareness of the problem and help find solutions. Do not be afraid, denounce, denounce these things.

And I thank all those who do not turn away when they see children forced to become adults too soon. Let us always remember the words of Jesus: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40). Saint Teresa of Calcutta, a joyful worker in the vineyard of the Lord, was a mother to the most disadvantaged and forgotten girls and boys. With the tenderness and attention of her gaze, she can accompany us to see the invisible little ones, the too many slaves of a world that we cannot abandon to its injustices. Because the happiness of the weakest builds the peace of all. And with Mother Theresa, let us give voice to the children:

“I ask for a safe place where I can play.

I ask for a smile from someone who knows how to love.

I ask for the right to be a child, 

to be the hope  of a better world.

I ask to be able to grow as a person.

Can I count on you?’ (Saint Teresa of Calcutta)

Thank you.

15.01.25

Pope Francis Message for the 58th World Day of Peace 01.01.25