“If you were to find a person who has never, ever, ever spoken ill of another, he could be canonized immediately”. Francis used this statement to warn against the temptation of always pointing a hypocritical finger at others. Instead, he recommended having “the courage to take the first step” by acknowledging our own errors and weaknesses, [...]
“Words, words, words”, Mina sang in a well-known song. The Pope even repeated the chorus to evoke essential nature of the “Christian way”. It needs no lengthy description but rather revolves around the words “peace and mercy” and therefore, around forgiveness and the ability to forbear one another. In the Mass at Santa Marta on Thursday [...]
“Everything is there in the ‘littleness’”. In the Mass at Santa Marta on Tuesday morning, 8 September, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, Pope Francis focused on the manner of God, who acts in small ways but opens vast horizons for us. Referring to the text of the Collect recited moments before, which asked the [...]
Fear and sadness cause illness in people and even in the Church; they cause paralysis and selfishness, and in the end spoil the air of a community, which hangs a “forbidden” sign on its door, fearful of everything. However, a Christian sustained by the fear of God and by the Holy Spirit has the courageous attitude [...]
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning! Today’s catechesis will serve as a doorway to a series of reflections on family life and what it’s really like to live in a family, day in and day out. Imagine three expressions written above the doorway; expressions I’ve already mentioned here in St Peter’s Square several times before. The [...]
Pope Francis tells presidents that “only God can bring peace to the Holy Land”. Praying for peace in the Holy Land alongside leaders of long-antagonistic nations, Pope Francis called on God to act where human efforts had failed, to end what he described as violence inspired by the devil. “More than once we have [...]
MAY Thursday 1 New commission on abuse prevention A new papal commission for protecting minors from sexual abuse met today for the first time to discuss its mandate and expand input from more countries. Pope Francis established the “Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors” in December. The commission’s May 1-3 meetings are being held at [...]
Leading a crowd in prayer for peace in Syria on September 7 in Rome, Pope Francis said that war is ultimately caused by selfishness and can be overcome only though expressions of fraternity and never with violence. “Leave behind the self-interest that hardens your heart, overcome the indifference that makes your heart insensitive towards others, conquer [...]
