I extend a warm welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims, especially those coming from the United States of America and the Philippines. I pray that each of you, and your families, may cherish the joy of Christmas and draw near in prayer to the Saviour who has come to dwell among us. God bless you!   

Lastly, my thoughts turn to the young people, the sick, the elderly and newlyweds. In these days, which follow the Epiphany, let us continue to meditate on the manifestation of Jesus, the Christ, to all peoples. The Church invites every baptized person, after having adored the glory of God in the Word made flesh, to reflect its light with his or her own life.

And let us not forget to pray for peace. Let us not forget the martyred Ukraine; let us not forget Nazareth, Israel. Let's not forget all the countries at war. We ask for peace. And let's not forget that war always, always, is a defeat.

May the Lord bless everyone.

08.01.25

Pope Francis  General Audience  08.01.25  

Children

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

I wish to dedicate this and the next catechesis to children, and to reflect in particular on the scourge of child labour.

Nowadays we want to turn our gaze towards Mars or towards virtual worlds, but we struggle to look in the eyes of a child who has been left at the margins and who is exploited or abused. The century that generates artificial intelligence and plans multiplanetary existences has not yet reckoned with the scourge of humiliated, exploited, mortally wounded childhood. Let us think about this.

First of all, let us ask ourselves: what message does the Sacred Scripture give us about children? It is curious to note that the word that occurs most frequently in the Old Testament, after the divine name of Jahweh, is the word ben, that is, “son”: almost five thousand times. “Certainly, sons (ben) are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward” (Ps 127:3). Children are a gift from God. Unfortunately, this gift is not always treated with respect. The Bible itself leads us through the streets of history where songs of joy resound, but also the cries of victims are raised. For example, in the book of Lamentations we read: “The tongue of the infant cleaves to the roof of its mouth in thirst; children beg for bread, but no one gives them a piece” (4:4); and the prophet Nahum, recalling what had happened in the ancient cities of Thebes and Nineveh, writes: “Even her little ones were dashed to pieces at the corner of every street” (3:10). Think of how many children, today, are dying of hunger and destitution, or torn apart by bombs.

The storm of the violence of Herod, who slaughters the infants of Bethlehem, erupts immediately even on the newborn Jesus. A dismal tragedy that repeats in other forms throughout history. And here, for Jesus and His parents, is the nightmare of becoming refugees in a foreign country, as still happens today to many people, to many children (cf. Mt 2:13-18). Once the storm has passed, Jesus grows up in a village never named in the Old Testament, Nazareth; He learns the carpenter’s trade from His legal father, Joseph (cf. Mk 6:3; Mt 13:55). In this way, “the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon Him” (Lk 2:40).

In His public life, Jesus went preaching from village to village together with His disciples. One day, some mothers approached Him and presented Him their children to bless; but the disciples rebuked Him. So Jesus, breaking with the tradition according to which children were considered simply as passive objects, calls the disciples to Him and says: “Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these”. And He thus indicates the little ones as a model for adults. And He solemnly adds: “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Lk 18:16-17).

In a similar passage, Jesus calls to a child, places him among the disciples, and says: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3). And then He cautions: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Mt 18:6).

Brothers and sisters, the disciples of Jesus Christ must never allow children to be neglected or mistreated, to be deprived of their rights, not to be loved or protected. Christians have the duty to earnestly prevent and firmly condemn violence or abuse against children.

Today too, in particular, there are too many children forced to work. But a child who does not smile, a child who does not dream cannot know or nurture his or her talents. In every part of the globe there are children who are exploited by an economy that does not respect life; an economy that, in so doing, consumes our greatest store of hope and love. But children occupy a special place in God’s heart, and whoever harms a child will have to account to Him.

Dear brothers and sisters, those who recognize themselves as children of God, and especially those who are sent to bring the glad tidings of the Gospel to others, cannot remain indifferent; they cannot accept that our little sisters and brothers, instead of being loved and protected, are robbed of their childhood, of their dreams, victims of exploitation and marginalization.

Let us ask the Lord to open our minds and hearts to care and tenderness, and for every boy and every girl to be able to grow in age, wisdom and grace (cf. Lk 2:52), receiving and giving love. Thank you.

08.01.25

Pope Francis  January 2025

For the right to an education

Pope Francis  Holy Mass   06.01.25

Epiphany of the Lord

“We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage” (Mt 2:2).  This is the testimony that the Magi gave to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, announcing to them that the king of the Jews was born.

The Magi testified that they had set out in a different direction in their lives because they had seen a new light in the sky. Let us pause to reflect on this image as we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord during this Jubilee of hope. I would like to highlight three characteristics of the star about which Matthew the Evangelist speaks: it is bright, it is visible to all and it points the way.

First of all, the star is bright. Many rulers at the time of Jesus called themselves “stars” because they felt important, powerful and famous. Yet the light that revealed the miracle of Christmas to the Magi was not any of these “lights”. Their artificial and cold splendour, arising from their scheming and power games, could not satisfy the needs of the Magi who were searching for newness and hope. Instead, they were satisfied by a different kind of light, symbolized by the star, which illumines and warms others by allowing itself to burn brightly and be consumed. The star speaks to us of that unique light that can show to all people the way to salvation and happiness, namely that of love. This is the only light that can make us happy.

Above all, this light is the love of God, who became man and gave himself to us by sacrificing his life. As we reflect, then, we can see that this light likewise calls us to give ourselves for one another, becoming, with his help, a mutual sign of hope, even in the darkest nights of our lives. Let think about this: are we radiant with hope? Are we able to give hope to others with the light of our faith?

The star led the Magi to Bethlehem by its brightness. We too, by our love, can bring to Jesus the people that we meet, enabling them to see in the Son of God made man the beautyof the Father’s face (cf. Is 60:2) and his way of loving, which is through closeness, compassion and tenderness. Let us never forget this: God is close, compassionate and tender. This is love: closeness, compassion and tenderness. Moreover, we can do this without the need for extraordinary means or sophisticated methods, but simply by making our hearts bright with faith, our gazes generous in welcome, our gestures and words full of gentleness and kindness.

Thus, as we reflect on the Magi, who fixed their eyes on heaven in searching for the star, let us ask the Lord that we might be bright lights that can lead one another to an encounter with him (cf. Mt 5:14-16). How sad it is when someone is not a light for others.

Now we come to the second of the star’s characteristics: it is visible to all.  The Magi were not following the clues of a secret code, but a star that they saw shining in the sky. While they observed it, others – such as Herod and the scribes – were not even aware of its presence. Yet the star is always there, accessible to those who raise their glance to heaven in search of a sign of hope. Are we a sign of hope for others?

This too holds an important message. God does not reveal himself to exclusive groups or to a privileged few. God offers his companionship and guidance to those who seek him with a sincere heart (cf. Ps 145:18). Indeed, he often anticipates our own questions, coming to seek us even before we ask (cf. Rom 10:20; Is 65:1). For this reason, in Nativity scenes, we portray the Magi with the features of all ages and races: a young person, an adult, an elderly person, reflecting the different peoples of the earth. We do this in order to remind ourselves that God seeks everyone, always. God seeks everyone, everyone.

We do well to meditate on this today, at a time when individuals and nations are equipped with ever more powerful means of communication, and yet seem to have become less willing to understand, accept and encounter others in their diversity!

The star, which shines in the sky and offers its light to all, reminds us that the Son of God came into the world to encounter every man and woman on earth, whatever ethnic group, language or people to which they belong (cf. Acts 10:34-35; Rev 5:9), and that he entrusts to us that same universal mission (cf. Is 60:3). In other words, God calls us to reject anything that discriminates, excludes or discards people, and instead to promote, in our communities and neighbourhoods, a strong culture of welcome, in which the narrow places of fear and denunciation are replaced by open spaces of encounter, integration and sharing of life; safe spaces where everyone can find warmth and shelter.

The star is in the sky, then, not in order to remain distant and inaccessible, but so that its light may be visible to all, that it may reach every home and overcome every barrier, bringing hope to the most remote and forgotten corners of the planet. It is in the sky so that it can tell everyone, by its generous light, that God does not refuse or forget anyone (cf. Is 49:15). Why? Because he is a Father whose greatest joy is to see his children returning home, gathered together from all parts of the world (cf. Is 60:4). He delights to see his children building bridges, clearing paths, searching for those who are lost and carrying on their shoulders those who struggle to walk, so that no one is left behind and all may share in the joy of the Father’s house.

The star speaks to us of God’s dream that men and women everywhere, in all their rich variety, will together form one family that can live harmoniously in prosperity and peace (cf. Is 2:2-5).

This brings us to the third of the star’s characteristics: it points the way. This too is a helpful insight, especially in the context of the Holy Year that we are celebrating, in which one of the main features is pilgrimage.

The light of the star invites us to undertake an interior journey that, as Saint John Paul II wrote, frees our hearts from all that is not charity, in order to “encounter Christ fully, professing our faith in him and receiving the abundance of his mercy” (Letter concerning Pilgrimage to the Places linked to the History of Salvation, 29 June 1999, 12).

Walking together is “traditionally associated with our human quest for meaning in life” (cf. Spes Non Confundit, 5). By looking at the star, we can also renew our commitment to be women and men of “the Way”, as Christians were referred to in the first years of the Church (cf. Acts 9:2).

Thus may the Lord make us lights leading others to himself; may he make us generous, like Mary, in giving of ourselves, welcoming and humble in walking together, so that we may meet him, recognize him and do him homage. Renewed by him, may we go out to bring the light of his love into the world.

06.01.25 m

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  Angelus   06.01.25

Epiphany of the Lord

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

Dear brothers and sisters, happy Feast of the Epiphany!

Today the Church celebrates the manifestation of Jesus, and the Gospel concentrates on the Magi, who at the end of a long journey reach Jerusalem to adore Jesus.

If we look closely, we will discover something a bit stranger: while these wise men from far away come to find Jesus, those who were close by do not take one step towards the grotto in Bethlehem. Drawn and guided by the star, the Magi face enormous expenses, make their time available, accept the many risks and uncertainties of which there was no shortage in those times. And yet they overcome every difficulty to get to see the King Messiah, because they know that something unique is happening in the history of humanity, and they do not want to miss the event. They had inspiration within, and they followed it.

Instead, those who live in Jerusalem, who should be the happiest and the most prompt to rush, stay still. The priests and theologians correctly interpret the Sacred Scriptures and provide directions to the Magi about where to find the Messiah, but they do not move from their “desks”. They are satisfied with what they have, and they do not go seeking; they do not think it is worth the effort to leave Jerusalem.

This fact, sisters and brothers, makes us reflect and in a certain sense provokes us, because it raises a question: to what category do we, I, belong today? Are we more similar to the shepherds, who on the very night itself go in haste to the grotto, and the Magi from the east, who set out confidently in search of the Son of God made man; or are we more similar to those who, despite being physically very close to Him, do not open the doors of their heart and their life, remaining closed and insensitive to Jesus’ presence? Let us ask ourselves this question. To which group of people do I belong? According to a story, a fourth King arrives late in Jerusalem, precisely during Jesus’ crucifixion – this is a beautiful story; it is not historical, but it is a beautiful story – because he stopped along the way to help those in need, giving them the precious gifts he had brought for Jesus. Finally, an old man arrived and said to him: “In truth I say to you, all that you have done for the least of your brothers, you have done it for me”. The Lord knows everything that we have done for others.

Let us ask the Virgin Mary to help us so that, imitating the shepherds and the Magi, we are able to recognize Jesus close by, in the poor, in the Eucharist, in the abandoned, in our brother, in our sister.

06.01.25 a

Pope Francis Angelus 06.01.25 

Epiphany of the Lord

The Epiphany is World Mission Day for Children, which this year has the theme: “Go and invite everyone to the Banquet!”. I greet missionary children and young people all over the world, and I encourage them in their commitment to prayer and solidarity towards their peers in other continents.

I am pleased to convey my warmest wishes to the ecclesial communities of the east, who celebrate Holy Christmas tomorrow. I assure in a special way my prayer for those who suffer as a result of ongoing conflicts. May Jesus, Prince of Peace, bring peace and serenity to all of them!

And let us not forget to pray for peace in tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, all the countries at war, and in Myanmar.

I greet the faithful of Massafra, the young people of the “Tra Noi” (“Among Us”) Movement, the “Friends of history and tradition” of Carovilli and the Choir of Soriano nel Cimino. And I extend my greeting to the participants in the great “Procession of the Magi” in Poland, who with this initiative bear witness to the faith in the churches and streets of Warsaw and many Polish cities, but also abroad, even here in Rome! A greeting to all the Polish.

And I wish everyone a happy Feast of the Epiphany. Continue to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch, and arrivederci!

06.01.25 a

Pope Francis Epiphany Mass 06.01.25 

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