confession

Pope Francis: homily for feast of Saints Peter and Paul

Pope Francis on Thursday morning celebrated Mass in St Peter’s Square to mark the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. In his homily the Pope focused on three words, confession, persecution and prayer, which he said are essential for the life of an apostle today. Please see below the full text of Pope Francis’ homily at [...]

“In our weakness, we can do nothing without Your help”

“Weakness, prayer, forgiveness”. These three words remind us that without God’s help we cannot go forward in life. Pope Francis offered this reflection at Mass on Thursday morning, 18 June, in the chapel at Santa Marta. In the collect prayer of the day’s liturgy, he began, “we asked for help from the Lord, who is our [...]

"Be courageous and go to Confession!"

Pope Francis'General Audience - St. Peter’s Square - Vatican City, February 19, 2014 Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!   Through the Sacraments of Christian initiation -- Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist -, man receives new life in Christ. Now we have this life “in earthen vessels” (2 Corinthians 4:7), we are still subject to temptation, [...]

To Feel Ashamed is a Grace

“I do not understand my own actions... For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want, that I do... For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me [...]

Two Days of Celebrations in St. Peter’s Square

With humor and passion, Pope Francis on the vigil of Pentecost shared highlights of his personal faith journey and explained some key points of his teaching to an enthusiastic crowd of representatives from Catholic lay movements. Celebrating the Pentecost vigil with an estimated 200,000 people singing, chanting and waving their groups’ banners, Pope Francis focused on [...]