Pope Francis Homilies

Books of the Bible Index of Homilies

Pope Francis General Audience 18.12.24 

I extend a warm welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors, especially those coming from Malta. I pray that each of you, and your families, may experience a blessed Advent in preparation for the coming of Jesus our Saviour at Christmas.

Lastly, my thoughts turn to the young people, the sick, the elderly and newlyweds. Christmas is now near and I like to think that there is a nativity scene in your homes: this important element of our spirituality and our culture is an evocative way to remember Jesus who came "to dwell among us".

And then, dear brothers and sisters, let us pray for peace. Let's not forget the people who suffer from war: Palestine, Israel, and all those who are suffering, Ukraine, Myanmar... Let us not forget to pray for peace, so that wars may end. Let us ask the Prince of Peace, the Lord, to give us this grace: peace, peace in the world. War, let us not forget, is always a defeat, always! War is always a defeat.

My blessing to you all!

18.12.24

Pope Francis  General Audience  18.12.24  

Jesus Christ our Hope

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

Today we will begin the cycle of catechesis that will continue throughout the Jubilee Year. The theme is “Jesus Christ our Hope”: for He is the aim of our pilgrimage, and He Himself is the way, the path to follow.

The first part will look at the childhood of Jesus, which is narrated to us by the Evangelists Matthew and Luke (cf. Mt 1-2; Lk 1-2). The Infancy Gospels recount Jesus’ virginal conception and His birth from Mary's womb; they recall the messianic prophecies fulfilled in Him and speak of the legal paternity of Joseph, who grafted the Son of God onto the “trunk” of the Davidic dynasty. We are presented with an infant, child and adolescent Jesus, submissive to his parents and, at the same time, aware that He is wholly devoted to the Father and His Kingdom. The difference between the two Evangelists is that while Luke recounts the events through Mary’s eyes, Matthew does so through Joseph's, insisting on this unprecedented fatherhood.

Matthew begins His Gospel and the entire New Testament canon with the ‘genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham’ (Mt 1:1).

It is a list of names already present in the Hebrew Scriptures, to show the truth of history and the truth of human life. In fact, “the Lord’s genealogy consists of the true story that includes a number of figures who are problematic to say the least, and the sin of King David is also emphasized (cf. Mt 1:6). Yet, everything culminates with Mary and Christ (cf. Mt 1:16)” (Letter on the Renewal of the Study of Church History, 21 November 2024). Then, there appears the truth of human life that passes from one generation to the next, bringing three things: a name that encompasses a unique identity and mission; belonging to a family and a people; and finally, the adherence of faith to the God of Israel.

Genealogy is a literary genre, that is, a form suitable for conveying a very important message: no one gives life to himself, but receives it as a gift from others. In this case, the chosen people, and those who inherit the legacy of faith from their forefathers, in passing on life to their children, also convey to them the faith in God.

Unlike the genealogies of the Old Testament, however, where only male names appear – because in Israel it is the father who imposes the name on his son – in Matthew's list of Jesus’ ancestors, women also appear. We find five of them: Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah who, left a widow, pretends to be a prostitute in order to ensure an offspring for her husband (cf. Gen 38); Racab, the prostitute of Jericho who allows the Jewish explorers to enter the promised land and conquer it (cf. Jas 2); Ruth, the Moabite who, in the book of the same name, remains faithful to her mother-in-law, takes care of her and will become King David's great-grandmother; Bathsheba, with whom David commits adultery and, after having her husband killed, begets Solomon (cf. 2 Sam 11); and finally Mary of Nazareth, wife of Joseph, of the house of David: from her the Messiah, Jesus, is born.

The first four women have in common not the fact that they are sinners, as is sometimes said, but the fact that they are foreign to the people of Israel. What Matthew brings out is that, as Benedict XVI has written, “through them the world of the Gentiles enters ... into Jesus’ genealogy - his mission to Jews and Gentiles becomes visible” (The Infancy Narratives, Milan-Vatican City 2012, 15).

While the four previous women are mentioned alongside the man who was born of them or the one who begot him, Mary, on the other hand, acquires particular prominence: she marks a new beginning. She herself is a new beginning, because in her story it is no longer the human creature who is the protagonist of generation, but God Himself. This is clearly seen from the verb “was born”: “Jacob [was] the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born” (Mt 1:16). Jesus is the son of David, grafted by Joseph into that dynasty and destined to be the Messiah of Israel, but He is also the son of Abraham and of foreign women, destined therefore to be the “Light of the Gentiles” (cf. Lk 2:32) and the “Saviour of the world” (Jn 4:42).

The Son of God, consecrated to the Father with the mission of revealing His face (cf. Jn 1:18; Jn 14:9), enters the world like all children of man, so much so that in Nazareth He will be called “son of Joseph” (Jn 6:42) or “son of the carpenter” (Mt 13:55). True God and true man.

Brothers and sisters, let us awaken in ourselves the grateful memory of our ancestors. And above all, let us give thanks to God, who, through Mother Church, has generated us to eternal life, the life of Jesus, our hope.

18.12.24

Pope Francis  December 2024

For pilgrims of hope

Let us pray that this Jubilee strengthen us in our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in the midst of our lives, transforming us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

Christian hope is a gift from God that fills our lives with joy.

And today, we need it a lot. The world really needs it a lot!

When you don’t know if you’ll be able to feed your children tomorrow, or if what you’re studying will allow you to get a good job, it’s easy to get discouraged.

Where can we look for hope?

Hope is an anchor – an anchor that you cast over with a rope to be moored on the shore.

We have to hold onto the rope of hope – hold on tight.

Let’s help each other discover this encounter with Christ who gives us life, and let’s set out on a journey as pilgrims of hope to celebrate that life. And entering into the upcoming Jubilee is the next stage within that life.

Day by day, let us fill our lives with the gift of hope that God gives us, and through us, let us allow it to reach everyone who is looking for it.

Don’t forget – hope never disappoints.

Let us pray that this upcoming Jubilee strengthen us in our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in the midst of our lives, transforming us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

December 2024

Pope Francis  Holy Mass

Ajaccio 15.12.24

Apostolic Journey to Ajaccio, Corsica

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

The crowds ask John the Baptist, “What then should we do?” (Lk 3:10). What should we do? We should listen carefully to this question, for it expresses a desire for spiritual renewal and a better life. John proclaims the coming of the long-awaited Messiah, and those who listen to his preaching want to be prepared for this encounter: the encounter with the Messiah, the encounter with Jesus.

Luke’s Gospel tells us that those who express the desire for conversion are the “outsiders”. It is not those who were generally considered closest, the Pharisees and doctors of the law, but those who were farthest away, the tax collectors, who were thought to be sinners, and the soldiers who ask, “Teacher, what should we do?” (Lk 3:12).  This is a beautiful question that perhaps each of us could take to prayer before going to bed tonight: “Lord, what should I do to prepare my heart for Christmas?”. Those who consider themselves righteous are not renewed. Those regarded as public sinners, on the other hand, long to leave behind their former lives of dishonesty and violence, and to embark upon a new life. Those who are distant become close whenever Christ approaches. John responds to those tax collectors and soldiers by urging them to be fair, upright and honest (cf. Lk 3:13-14). The proclamation of the Lord’s coming stirs consciences. It appeals especially to the poor and the outcast, because he comes not to condemn but to save those who are lost (cf. Lk 15:4-32). The best way to open our hearts to the salvation brought by Jesus is to be honest: “Lord, I am a sinner”. All of us here today are sinners. All of us. “Lord, I am a sinner”. And so, we approach Jesus in truth, not with the glamour of a false righteousness. Indeed, he comes precisely to save sinners.

This is why today we too can ask the same question that the crowds asked John the Baptist. In this season of Advent, let us find the courage to ask without fear, “What then should I do?”, “What then should we do?” in order to prepare a humble heart, a trusting heart for the Lord’s coming.

The Scriptures we have heard present us with two different ways of waiting for the Messiah: we can wait either with suspicion or with joyful expectation. We can await salvation with these two attitudes: either with suspicion or with joyful expectation.  Let us reflect on these spiritual attitudes.

The first attitude, that of suspicion, is full of distrust and anxiety. When we think constantly of ourselves and our own needs, we lose the spirit of joy. Instead of awaiting the future with hope, we view it with diffidence. Caught up in worldly concerns, we are not open to the workings of God’s providence. We do not know how to wait with the hope that the Holy Spirit brings us. The words of Saint Paul can serve as an antidote to rouse us from our lethargy: “Do not worry about anything” (Phil 4:6). When anguish overwhelms us, it destroys us. Pain, both physical pain and the hurt produced by family tragedies, is one thing, but anguish is quite different. As Christians, we must not be overwhelmed by anguish. Stop being distressed, disappointed or sad. How widespread are these spiritual ills nowadays, especially in places where consumerism reigns! I have seen so many people on the streets of Rome these days that are out shopping, doing their shopping, overwhelmed by the anxiety of consumerism that then disappears and leaves you empty. Societies that live on consumerism grow old; they remain unsatisfied, since they no longer know how to give.  If we live only for ourselves, we will never find happiness. If we live like this (like a closed fist) and not like this (an open hand) we will not be happy. I think that if we live with our hands like this (closed), instead of using our hands to give, to help and to share, we will never be happy. This is an evil that all of us can fall into, all Christians, even priests, Bishops and Cardinals, all of us, even the Pope.

The Apostle proposes an effective remedy when he writes, “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil 4:6). Faith in God gives hope! The Congress that has just taken place here in Ajaccio stressed the importance of cultivating faith and appreciating the importance of popular piety. Let us take as an example the recitation of the Rosary. When we take up the Rosary and pray it well, it trains us to keep our hearts centred on Jesus Christ by sharing in the contemplative gaze of Mary. We can also think of the traditional Confraternities, which have much to teach us about generously serving our neighbours by works of spiritual and corporal mercy. These associations of the faithful, so rich in history, actively participate in the liturgy and the Church’s prayer, which they enrich with popular songs and devotions. I encourage the members of the Confraternities to become ever more present, especially to those in greatest need, and in this way to practice their faith through acts of charity. Those Confraternities who have a specific devotion are present to everyone, present to their neighbours in order to help them.

This brings us to the second attitude: joyful expectation. The first attitude was waiting with suspicion. For me this means waiting with your hands closed. The second attitude is joyful expectation. It is not easy to be joyful. Christian joy is neither shallow nor ephemeral, like the joy that comes from going to the fair. No, it is not like that. On the contrary, it is a joy rooted in the heart and built on a solid foundation. In this sense, the prophet Zephaniah could tell his listeners to rejoice, for “the Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory” (Zeph 3:17).  Trust in the Lord who is in our midst, who dwells among us. We forget this so often: he is in our midst when we do a good deed, when we educate our children, when we care for the elderly. He is not in our midst, however, when we gossip or when we speak ill of others. The Lord is not present there, only we are. The Lord’s coming brings us salvation: that is the reason for our joy. God is “mighty”, Scripture tells us. He can redeem our lives because he is able to accomplish what he promises!  Our joy is not a fleeting consolation that helps us to forget life’s sorrows. No, it is not a fleeting consolation. Our joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, born of faith in Christ the Saviour, who knocks at the door of our hearts and frees us from sorrow and lethargy. The Lord’s presence in our midst is a cause for celebration; it fills everyone’s future with hope. In the company of Jesus, we discover the authentic joy of living and we become signs of the hope that our world so eagerly seeks.

And the first of those signs of hope is peace. He who comes is Emmanuel, God with us, who bestows peace on those favoured by the Lord (cf. Lk 2:14). And as we prepare to welcome Jesus during this season of Advent, may our communities grow in their ability to accompany everyone, especially the young people preparing for Baptism and the other sacraments. And in a special way, the elderly as well. The elderly are the wisdom of a people. Let us never forget that! And each of us can ask ourselves: how do I react to the elderly? Do I try to care for them? Do I spend time with them? Do I listen to them? “Oh no, their stories are so boring!”. Do I abandon them? How many children abandon their parents in retirement homes! I remember once how, in another diocese, I went to visit a nursing home. And there was a lady there who had three or four children. I asked her: “And how are your children?” – “They are doing very well! I have many grandchildren” – “And do they come to see you?” – “Yes, they always come”. When I left the room, the nurse said: “They come once a year”. But the mother covered up her children’s shortcomings. So many people abandon the elderly. They wish them a Happy Christmas or Easter over the phone! Take care of the elderly; they are the wisdom of a people.

The word of God never fails to encourage us. Despite sufferings that affect nations and peoples, the Church proclaims an unshakable hope that does not disappoint, because the Lord has come and dwells in our midst. And in his coming, our efforts to work for peace and justice find inexhaustible strength.

Sisters and brothers, in every time and amid every affliction, Christ remains present; Christ is the source of our joy. He is with us in every tribulation to carry us through and give us joy. Let us always foster this joy in our hearts, this assurance that Christ is with us, walking with us. Let us not forget this! And so, with this joy, with the security that Jesus is with us, we will be happy and make others happy. This must be our witness.

15.12.24 m

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 prayer with clergy

Ajaccio 15.12.24

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

I am here in this beautiful land of yours only for a day, but I wanted to meet you and spend at least a brief moment together. This gives me a chance, first of all, to say thank you. Thank you for being here, with the gift of your lives. Thank you for your work and your daily efforts. Thank you because you are a sign of God’s merciful love and witnesses to the Gospel. 

15.12.24 a

Pope Francis  General Audience  11.12.24  

The Holy Spirit and the Bride

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

We have arrived at the end of our catecheses on the Holy Spirit and the Church. We will devote this final reflection to the title we gave to the entire cycle, namely: “The Holy Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides the People of God towards Jesus our hope”. This title refers to one of the last verses of the Bible, in the Book of Revelation, which says: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come’” (Rev 22:17). Who is this invocation addressed to? It is addressed to the risen Christ. Indeed, both Saint Paul (cf. 1 Cor 16:22) and the Didaché, a text from apostolic times, attest that in the liturgical meetings of the first Christians there resounded the cry in Aramaic, “Maràna tha!”, which indeed means “Come, Lord!”. A prayer to Christ, for Him to come.

At that earliest time, the invocation had a background we would describe today as eschatological. Indeed, it expressed the ardent expectation of the glorious return of the Lord. And this cry, and the expectation it expresses, have never been extinguished in the Church. Still today, in the Mass, immediately after the consecration, she proclaims Christ’s death and resurrection “as we await the blessed hope and [His] coming”. The Church awaits the coming of the Lord.

But this expectation of the final coming of Christ has not remained the one and only. It has also been joined by the expectation of his continuous coming in the present and pilgrim situation of the Church. And it is this coming that the Church thinks of above all, when, animated by the Holy Spirit, she cries out to Jesus: “Come!”.

A change, or better, let’s say, a development, full of meaning, has occurred with regard to the cry “Come”, “Come, Lord!”. It is not habitually addressed only to Christ, but also to the Holy Spirit Himself! He who cries out is now Him to whom we cry out. “Come!” is the invocation with which we begin almost all the hymns and prayers of the Church addressed to the Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Spirit”, we say in the Veni Creator, and “Come, Holy Spirit”, “Veni Sancte Spiritus”, in the sequence of Pentecost; and so on, in many other prayers. It is right that it should be so, because, after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit is Christ’s true “alter ego”, He who takes His place, who makes Him present and operative in the Church. It is He who “declare[s] … the things that are coming” (cf. Jn 16:13) and makes them desired and expected. This is why Christ and the Spirit are inseparable, also in the economy of salvation.

The Holy Spirit is the ever-gushing source of Christian hope. Saint Paul left us these precious words, this is what Paul says: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rm 15:13). If the Church is a boat, the Holy Spirit is the sail that propels it and lets it advance on the sea of history, today as in the past!

Hope is not an empty word, or a vague desire of ours that things may turn out for the best; hope is a certainty, because it is founded on God’s fidelity to His promises. And this is why it is called a theological virtue: because it is infused by God and has God as its guarantor. It is not a passive virtue, which merely waits for things to happen. It is a supremely active virtue that helps make them happen. Someone who fought for the liberation of the poor wrote these words: “The Holy Spirit is at the origin of the cry of the poor. He is the strength given to those who have no strength. He leads the struggle for the emancipation and full realization of the people of the oppressed”.

The Christian cannot be satisfied with having hope; he or she must also radiate hope, be a sower of hope. It is the most beautiful gift that the Church can give to all of humanity, especially at times in which everything seems to be dragging down the sails.

The apostle Peter exhorted the first Christians with these words: “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope”. But he added a recommendation: “But do it with gentleness and reverence” (1 Pt 3:15-16). And this is because it is not so much the strength of the arguments that will convince people, but rather the love that we know how to put in them. This is the first and most effective form of evangelization. And it is open to everyone!

Dear brothers and sisters, may the Spirit always, always help us to “abound in hope by virtue of the Holy Spirit! Thank you.

11.12.24

Pope Francis Holy Mass, Ajaccio, Corsica  15.12.24

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