Pope Francis Homilies

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Pope Francis General Audience 06.11.24

I wished to greet the Virgen de los Desamparados, Our Lady who takes care of the poor, Patroness of Valencia; Valencia, which is suffering greatly, and also other parts of Spain, but Valencia which is underwater and suffering. I wanted her to be here, the Patroness of Valencia. This little image that the Valencians themselves gave to me. Today, in a special way, let us pray for Valencia and for the other areas of Spain that are suffering because of the water.

I welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims, especially the groups from England, Ghana, the United States of America, Malaysia, the Philippines and the United States of America. I also greet the priests coming from England and Wales, who are celebrating significant anniversaries of priestly Ordination.  Upon all of you and upon your families I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!

Lastly, my thoughts turn to the young people, the sick, the elderly and newlyweds. I encourage everyone to live daily life in fidelity to the Gospel, sustained by faith and hope.

And let us pray for peace. Let us not forget the martyred Ukraine, which suffers so much; let's not forget Gaza and Israel. The other day, 153 civilians were machine-gunned while they were going on the street. It's very sad. Let's not forget Myanmar. And let's not forget Valencia or Spain. That is why, as I said, the Virgen de los Desamparados, Our Lady of Desamparados, who is the patron saint of Valencia, is presiding today. I invite you to pray a Hail Mary to her for Valencia. Hail Mary....

And let us pray to the Lord to always live with hope. My blessing to you all!

06.11.24

Pope Francis  General Audience  06.11.24  

The Holy Spirit and Christian prayer

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

The sanctifying action of the Holy Spirit, in addition to the Word of God and the Sacraments, is expressed in prayer, and it is to this that we wish to dedicate today's reflection: prayer. The Holy Spirit is both the subject and object of Christian prayer. That is, He is the One who gives prayer and He is the One who is given by prayer. We pray to receive the Holy Spirit, and we receive the Holy Spirit in order to truly pray, that is, as children of God, not as slaves. Let us think a little about this: pray as children of God, not as slaves. One must always pray with freedom. “Today I have to pray for this, this, and this, because I promised this, this and this. Otherwise, I will go to hell”. No, that is not prayer! Prayer is free. You pray when the Spirit helps you to pray. You pray when you feel the need to pray in your heart, and when you do not feel anything, you stop and ask: “Why do I not feel the wish to pray? What is happening in my life?”. But always, spontaneity in prayer is what helps us the most. This is what is meant by praying as children, not as slaves.

First of all, we must pray to receive the Holy Spirit. In this regard, Jesus has a very precise word in the Gospel: “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit* to those who ask him?” (Lk 11:13). Everyone, each one of us, knows how to give good things to little children, whether they may be our children, our grandparents or our friends. The little ones always receive good things from us. And yet, the Father will not give the Spirit to us? And this should give us courage to go forward with this. In the New Testament, we see the Holy Spirit always descend during prayer. He descends upon Jesus in the baptism in the Jordan, while he “was praying” (Lk 3:21), and He descends at Pentecost upon the disciples, while they “devoted themselves with one accord to prayer” (Acts 1:14).

It is the only “power” we have over the Spirit of God. The power of prayer: He does not resist prayer. We pray, and He comes. On Mount Carmel, the false prophets of Baal – remember that passage from the Bible – were agitating to invoke fire from heaven on their sacrifice, but nothing happened, because they were idolators, they worshipped a God that does not exist. Elijah began to pray, and the fire descended and consumed the offering (cf. I Kings 18:20-38). The Church follows this example faithfully: she always as the imploration “Come! Come!” to the Holy Spirit, “Come”, whenever she addresses the Holy Spirit. And she does this especially at Mass, so that He may descend like dew and sanctify the bread and wine for the Eucharistic sacrifice.

But there is another aspect, which is the most important and encouraging for us: the Holy Spirit is He who gives us the true prayer. Saint Paul affirms this: “In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for many times we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will” (cf. Rm 8: 26-27).

It is true, we do not know how to pray, we do not know. We must learn every day. The reason for this weakness of our prayer was expressed in the past in just one word, used in three different ways: as an adjective, as a noun and as an adverb. It is easy to remember, even for those who do not know Latin, and it is worth keeping it in mind, because it contains in itself an entire treatise, these three things. We human beings, according to that saying, “mali, mala, male petimus”, which means, being bad (mali), we ask for the wrong things (mala) and in the wrong way (male). Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom [of God] … and all these things will be given you besides” (Mt 6:33); instead, we seek the extra, namely, our interests – many times – and we completely forget to ask for the kingdom of God. Let us ask the Lord for the kingdom, and everything comes with Him.

Yes, the Holy Spirit comes to aid us in our weakness, but He does something more important still: He testifies to us that we are children of God and puts on our lips the cry: “Abba! Father!” (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6). We cannot say “Father, Abba”. We cannot say “Father” without the strength of the Holy Spirit. Christian prayer is not man at one end of the telephone, speaking to God on the other; no, it is God who prays in us! We pray to God through God. Praying means placing oneself inside God, so that God enters into us.

It is precisely in prayer that the Holy Spirit is revealed as the “Paraclete”, that is, advocate and defender. He does not accuse us before the Father, but defends us. Yes, He defends us, He convinces us of the fact that we are sinners (cf. Jn 16:8), but He does so in order to make us able to savour the joy of the Father’s mercy, not to destroy us with fruitless feelings of guilt. Even when our heart reproaches us for something, He reminds us that “God is greater than our hearts” (1 Jn 3:20). God is greater than our sin. We are all sinners, but think: perhaps some of you – I don’t know – are very afraid because of the things they have done, afraid of being reproached by God, afraid of many things and unable to find peace. Pray, call to the Holy Spirit, and He will teach you how to ask for forgiveness. And do you know something? God does not know much grammar, and when we ask for forgiveness, He does not let us finish! “For…” and there, He does not let us finish the word forgiveness. He forgives us first, He always forgives, and He is always beside us to forgive us, before we complete the word forgiveness. We say “For…” and the Father always forgives us.

The Holy Spirit intercedes and He also teaches us how to intercede, in turn, for our brothers and sisters – He intercedes for us and teaches us how to intercede for others. He teaches us the prayer of intercession: praying for this person, praying for that sick person, for the one who is in prison, praying… even praying for one’s mother in law! And pray, always. Always. This prayer is particularly pleasing to God, because it is the most gratuitous and altruistic. When someone prays for everyone, it happens – as Saint Ambrose used to say – that everyone prays for someone; prayer multiplies.  This is how prayer is. This is a task that is so precious and necessary in the Church, particularly during this time of preparation for the Jubilee: to unite ourselves to the Paraclete who “intercedes for all of us according to God's plans”. But do not pray like parrots, please! Do not say, “Blah, blah, blah…”. No. Say “Lord”, but say it with your heart. “Help me, Lord”, “I love you, Lord”. And when you pray the Lord’s Prayer, pray “Father, You are my Father”. Pray with the heart, not the lips; don’t be like parrots.

May the Holy Spirit help us in prayer, which we need so much. Thank you.

06.11.24

Pope Francis  Holy Mass   04.11.24

for Deceased Cardinals and Bishops

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Lk 23:42).  These are the last words spoken to the Lord by one of the two men crucified with him.  They were not the words of one of Jesus’ disciples who had followed him along the roads of Galilee and shared bread with him at the Last Supper.  On the contrary, the man who spoke those words to the Lord was a criminal, someone who met him only at the end of his life, someone whose name we do not even know.

Yet, in the Gospel, the last words of this “outsider” initiate a dialogue full of truth.  Even as Jesus was being “numbered with the transgressors” (Is 53:12) as Isaiah had prophesied, an unexpected voice is heard, saying: “We are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong” (Lk 23:41).  So it was.  That condemned criminal represents us all; each of us can replace his name with our own.  Yet even more importantly, we can make his plea our own: “Jesus, remember me”.  Keep me alive in your memory.  “Do not forget me”.

Let us meditate on that word: remember.  To remember (ricordare) means “to lead back to the heart (cor)”, to carry in the heart.  That man, crucified alongside Jesus, transformed his dire pain into a prayer: “Carry me in your heart, Jesus”.  His words did not reflect anguish and defeat, but hope.  This criminal, who died as a disciple of the last hour, desired only one thing: to find a welcoming heart.  That is all that mattered to him as he found himself defenceless in the face of death.  The Lord heard the sinner’s prayer, even at the end, as he always does.  Christ’s heart – an open, not closed heart – pierced by pain, was laid open to save the world.  Dying himself, he was open to the voice of a dying man.  Jesus dies with us because he died for us.

Crucified despite his innocence, Jesus answered the prayer of a man crucified for his guilt: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23:43).  The memory of Jesus is effective because it is rich in mercy.  As a man’s life comes to an end, God’s love grants freedom from death.  The one who was condemned is now redeemed.  The outsider becomes a fellow-traveller; a brief encounter on the cross leads to eternal peace.  This makes us reflect a little.  How do I encounter Jesus?  Or better still, how do I let myself be encountered by Jesus?  Do I allow myself to be encountered or do I close myself off in my selfishness, in my pain, in my self-sufficiency?  Do I have a sense of my sinfulness that allows me to be encountered by the Lord, or do I feel righteous and say: “You are not here to serve me.  Move along”?

Jesus remembers those who are crucified at his side.  His compassion unto his final breath makes us realize that there are different ways of remembering people and things.  We can remember our mistakes, unfinished business, friends and enemies.  Brothers and sisters, let us ask ourselves today before this scene from the Gospel: how do we carry people in our heart?  How do we remember those who were at our side in the events of our life?  Do I judge?  Do I divide?  Or do I welcome them?

Dear brothers and sisters, by turning to the heart of God, the men and women of today and of every age can find hope for salvation, even if “in the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died” (Wis 3:2).  All of history is kept in the memory of the Lord.  Memory is safekeeping.  He is its compassionate and merciful judge.  The Lord is close to us as judge; he is close, compassionate and merciful.  These are the three attitudes of the Lord.  Am I close to people?  Do I have a compassionate heart?  Am I merciful?  With this assurance, we pray for the Cardinals and Bishops who died in the last twelve months.  Today, our remembrance becomes a prayer of intercession for our dear brothers.  Elect members of the People of God, they were baptized into the death of Christ (cf. Rom 6:3) in order to rise with him.  They were shepherds and models for the Lord’s flock (cf. 1 Pet 5:3).  Having broken the bread of life on earth, may they now enjoy a seat at his table.  They loved the Church, each in his own way, but they all loved the Church.  Let us pray that they may exult in eternal communion with the saints.  With firm hope, let us look forward to rejoicing with them in heaven.  And I invite you to say three times with me: “Jesus, remember us!”, “Jesus, remember us!”, “Jesus remember us!”.

04.11.24

Pope Francis  Commemoration of all the faithful departed  02.11.24

Grant O Lord that your  faithful departed for whom we have celebrated the paschal sacrament  might enter into your dwelling place of light Through Christ our Lord

In our visit to the cemetery, the resting place of our deceased brothers and sisters, we renew our faith in Christ who died, was buried and rose for our salvation. Even mortal bodies will waken on the last day, and those who have fallen asleep in the Lord will be united with Him in His triumph over death. With this certainty, we lift up to the Father our united prayer of intercession and blessing.

Blessed are you, O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in your great mercy has given us a new birth through Jesus' resurrection from the dead to a living hope, to an inheritance that is does not perish otr fade (cf. 1 Pet 1:3-4). Hear the prayer we raise to You for all our loved ones who have left this world. Open wide the arms of your mercy and receive them into the glorious assembly of heavenly Jerusalem.

Comfort those who suffer in the sorrow of separation, with the assurance that the dead live in you and that even the bodies, entrusted to the earth, will one day share in the paschal victory of your Son. You, who on the path of the church have placed the Blessed Virgin Mary as a luminous sign, through her intercession strenghten our faith, so that no obstacle may make us deviate from the path that leads to you, who are unending joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

02.11.24

Pope Francis November 2024

For those who have lost a child

Let us pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community, and may receive peace of heart from the Spirit of Consolation.

What can we say to parents who have lost a child? How can we console them?

There are no words.

You see, when one spouse loses the other, they are a widower or a widow. A child who loses a parent is an orphan. There’s a word for that. But when a parent loses a child, there’s no word. The pain is so great, that there’s no word.

And it’s not natural to outlive your child. The pain caused by this loss is especially intense.

Words of encouragement are at times banal or sentimental, they’re not helpful. Spoken with the best intention, of course, they can end up aggravating the wound.

To offer comfort to these parents who have lost a child, we need to listen to them, to be close to them with love, to care responsibly for the pain they feel, imitating how Jesus Christ consoled those who were afflicted.

And those parents who are sustained by their faith can certainly find comfort in other families who, by suffering such a terrible tragedy as this, have been reborn in hope.

Let us pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community, and may receive peace of heart from the Spirit of Consolation.

Novemberr  2024

The Gospel in your pocket 

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

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Pope Francis  Angelus   03.11.24

Love for God and neighbour

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

The Gospel of today’s liturgy (Mk 12:28-34) tells us about one of the many discussions Jesus had at the temple of Jerusalem. One of the scribes approaches Him and questions Him: “Which is the first of all the commandments?” (v. 28). Jesus responds by putting together two fundamental words of the Mosaic law: “You shall love the Lord your God” and “You shall love your neighbour” (vv. 30-31).


With his question, the scribe looks for “the first” of the commandments, that is, a principle at the basis of all the commandments; the Jews had many precepts and sought the basis of all of them, one that was fundamental; they tried to agree on a fundamental one, and there was discussion between them, good discussions because they were looking for the truth. And this question is essential for us too, for our life and for the journey of our faith. Indeed, we too at times feel lost among so many things, and ask ourselves: but, in the end, what is the most important thing of all? Where can I find the centre of my life, of my faith? Jesus gives us the answer, putting together two commandments that are the primary ones: the love of God and the love of neighbour. And this is the heart of our faith.


We all – as we know – need to return to the heart of life and faith, because the heart is “the radical source of their strengths, convictions” (Encyclical Dilexit nos, 9). And Jesus tells us that the source of everything is love, that we must never separate God from man. The Lord says to the disciple of every time: in your journey, what counts are not the exterior practices, such as burnt offerings and sacrifices (v. 33), but the readiness of heart with which you open yourself to God and to brethren in love. Brothers and sisters, we can do many things, but do them only for ourselves and without love, and this will not do; we do them with a distracted heart or even with a closed heart, and this will not do. All things must be done with love.


The Lord will come, and He will ask us first and foremost about love: “How did you love?”. It is important, then, to fix in our hearts the most important commandment. What is it? Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbour as yourself. And to carry out every day an examination of conscience and ask ourselves: is love for God and neighbour the centre of my life? Does my prayer to God impel me to go out to my brothers and sisters and love them gratuitously? Do I recognize the presence of the Lord in the faces of others?


May the Virgin Mary, who bore the law of God imprinted in her immaculate heart, help us to love the Lord and our brothers and sisters.

03.11.24

Pope Francis Angelus 03.11.24  

I greet you all, Romans and pilgrims from Italy and many other countries!


I greet the blood donors from Coccaglio, Brescia, and the group from Emergency Rome South, committed to recalling Article 11 of the Italian Constitution, which says: “Italy rejects war as an instrument of aggression against the freedom of other peoples and as a means for the settlement of international disputes”. Remember this article! Keep on going!


And may this principle be implemented all over the world: may war be banished and issues be addressed through law and negotiations. Let weapons be silenced and space be made for dialogue. Let us pray for tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, and South Sudan.


And let us continue to pray for Valencia, and the other communities in Spain, who are suffering so much in these days. What do I do for the people of Valencia? Do I pray? Do I offer something? Think about this question.


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

03.11.24

Pope Francis Encyclical Letter DILEXIT NOS - He Loved Us  24.10.24

On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ

Excerpt below, for the full transcript click here

“HE LOVED US”, Saint Paul says of Christ (cf. Rom 8:37), in order to make us realize that nothing can ever “separate us” from that love (Rom 8:39). Paul could say this with certainty because Jesus himself had told his disciples, “I have loved you” (Jn 15:9, 12). Even now, the Lord says to us, “I have called you friends” (Jn 15:15). His open heart has gone before us and waits for us, unconditionally, asking only to offer us his love and friendship. For “he loved us first” (cf. 1 Jn 4:10). Because of Jesus, “we have come to know and believe in the love that God has for us” (1 Jn 4:16).


The symbol of the heart has often been used to express the love of Jesus Christ. Some have questioned whether this symbol is still meaningful today. Yet living as we do in an age of superficiality, rushing frenetically from one thing to another without really knowing why, and ending up as insatiable consumers and slaves to the mechanisms of a market unconcerned about the deeper meaning of our lives, all of us need to rediscover the importance of the heart. 

24.10.24 e

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