This morning at 10:30 local time in Rome, the Holy Father, Pope Francis began the weekly General Audience which was held in Saint Peter's Square, where he met with groups of pilgrims from various parts of Italy and other countries throughout the world.
Continuing the tradition of his predecessors, His Holiness took up the next phase of the catechesis on the Year of Faith today. The teaching is usually proclaimed in Italian, and followed by a synthesis of the catechesis which is presented in various languages. Lastly, the Pope greets the pilgrims who are present in various languages.
The Audience concludes with the recitation of the Our Father and then the Pope imparts the Apostolic Blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning,
Today, I continue the Catechesis on the Year of Faith. In the Credo, we repeat the expression: On the third day, he rose again, in accordance with the scriptures. This is truly the event that we celebrate: the Resurrection of Jesus, the central truth of the Christian message, which has resounded from the very beginning of the Church and continues to resonate in us. Saint Paul writes to the Christians at Corinth: To you ... I handed on the tradition which I had myself received, that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried; and that on the thrid day he was raised to life in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas; and later to the Twelve (1 Cor 15:3-5). This brief confession of faith announces the truth of the Paschal Mystery, with the first apparitions of the Risen Christ to Peter and the Twelve: the Death and the Resurrection of Jesus are truly the heart of our hope. Without this faith in the death and the resurrection of Jesus, our hope would be weak - perhaps we couldn't even call it hope. Truly the death and resurrection of Jesus are the heart of our hope. The Apostle affirms: If Christ has not been raised, your faith is pointless, and you have not after all, been released from your sins (v. 17). Unfortunately, many have often tried to obscure faith in the Resurrection of Jesus, even among the believers, certain doubts have been insinuated. A 'watered down faith' as we call it, is not a strong faith. It is superficial, sometimes indifferent, kept busy by a thousand things that seem to be the most important, or by a strictly horizontal understanding of life. But only the Resurrection truly gives us hope, because only the Resurrection opens our lives and the lives of the world to an eternal future with God, to the fullness of light, to the certitude that evil, sin and death can be overcome. This certainty makes it possible for us to live every day with more trust, facing daily challenges with courage and commitment. The Resurrection of Christ illuminates these daily truths with a new light. The Resurrection of Christ is our strength!
But how was the truth of faith in the Resurrection of Christ passed on? There are two kinds of witness in the New Testament: one in the form of a profession of faith, that is a synthesis that indicates the centrality of faith; and the other through the telling of the story of the Resurrection and the facts associated with it. The first: the formula of a profession of faith, for example, is that which we have just heard, and also the profession contained in the Letter to the Romans in which Saint Paul writes: if you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved (10:9). From the earliest days of the Church, faith in the mystery of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus have been steadfast and clear. Today, however, I would like to concentrate on the second: on the evidence that we find in the form of a story in the Gospels. First of all, we note that the first witnesses to the Resurrection were women. At dawn, they go to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, and they find the first sign: the empty tomb (cf. Mk 16:1). Then follows the meeting with a Messenger of God who announces: Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified, is not here, he is risen (cf. vv. 5-6). The women are filled with love and welcome this announcement with faith: they believe, and pass on the good news immediately, not keeping it for themselves, but passing it on. The joy of knowing that Jesus is alive, the hope that fills the heart, cannot be contained. This should be the same in our lives. Let us experience the joy of being Christians! We believe in a Risen Christ who has conquered evil and death! We must have the courage to 'come out' so that we can bring this joy and this light to all the places where we live! The Resurrection of Christ is our greatest certainty, it is the most precious treasure! How can we not share this treasure with others, this certitude? This truth is not only for us, it must be passed on, it must be told to others, shared with others. We are truly witnesses to this truth!
Another aspect. In the professions of faith contained in the New Testament, only men are remembered as witnesses to the Resurrection, the Apostles, but not the women. This is because, according to the Jewish law of the time, women and children could not provide reliable or believable witness. In the Gospels, however, women have a primary and fundamental role. Here we can see an argument in favor of the historical accuracy of the Resurrection: if it was an invented fact, in the context of the established rule of the day it would not have been considered reputable based solely on the witness of women. The Evangelists however simply narate the facts: women are the first witnesses. This shows us that God does not make decisions based on human criteria: the first witnesses of the birth of Jesus are the shepherds, simple and humble people; the first witnesses to the Resurrection are women. And this is beautiful. And this is, in a way, the mission of women: of mothers, of women! To bear witness to their children and to their grandchildren that Jesus is alive, that he is living, that he is Risen. Mothers and women, pass on this witness! For God examines our hearts, and sees how much we are open to Him, how we are all children who trust in him. But this also reflects on how women, in the Church and in the journey of faith, have had and continue to have, even today, the particular role of opening the door to the Lord, of following him and of communicating his Face, because the glance of faith must always be a simple and profound glance of love. The Apostles and the disciples find it harder to believe. The women don't. Peter runs to the tomb, but stops at the empty tomb. Thomas must touch the holes in th body of Jesus with his own hands, in order to believe. So also in our journey of faith, it is important to know and to feel that God loves us, and not to be afraid to love Him in return: faith is professed with the mouth and with the heart, with a word and with love.
After the appraitions to the women, there were others: Jesus is present in a new way: he is the Crucified, but his body is glorious; he doesn't return to earthly life, but in a new condition. In the beginning, they don't recognize him, only through his words and gestures are their eyes opened: the encounter with the Risen Lord transforms, gives new strength of faith, an unshakable foundation. Also for us there are many signs by which the Risen Christ is made known: in Sacred Scripture, the Eucharist, the other Sacraments, in charity - these gestures of love bear with them a ray of the Risen Lord. Let us allow ourselves to be enlightened by the Resureection of Christ, transformed by his strength, because through us (and through our faith) the signs of death in our world give way to the signs of life. I have seen that there are many people here in the Square. Here you are! To you I say: show forth your conviction: the Lord is alive and walks beside us in life. This is your mission! Bear witness to this hope. Hold fast to this hope: this anchor which is in heaven; hold fast to the cord, be anchored to it and be witnesses to hope. You are God's witnesses, tell the world that Jesus is alive and this is what gives us hope; give hope to this world which is a bit worn out by war, by evil and by sin. Youth of the world, go and be witnesses!
Afther the catechesis, the Holy Father offered greetings in various languages to the pilgrims who were gathered in Saint Peter's Square. To the English-language pilgrims he said:
I offer a warm welcome to all the English-speaking visitors present at today's Audience, including those from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austrailia, the Philippines, Canada and the United States (of America). In a speical way I greet the newly-ordained deacons from the Pontifical Irish College and their families. My greeting also goes to the delegation from the United States Senate. I thank the choirs for their praise of God in song. With great affection, I invoke upon all of you the joy and peace which are the abiding gifts of the Risen Lord.
Continuing the tradition of his predecessors, His Holiness took up the next phase of the catechesis on the Year of Faith today. The teaching is usually proclaimed in Italian, and followed by a synthesis of the catechesis which is presented in various languages. Lastly, the Pope greets the pilgrims who are present in various languages.
The Audience concludes with the recitation of the Our Father and then the Pope imparts the Apostolic Blessing.
Catechesis for the weekly General Audience
presented by the Holy Father
(spoken in Italian)
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning,
Today, I continue the Catechesis on the Year of Faith. In the Credo, we repeat the expression: On the third day, he rose again, in accordance with the scriptures. This is truly the event that we celebrate: the Resurrection of Jesus, the central truth of the Christian message, which has resounded from the very beginning of the Church and continues to resonate in us. Saint Paul writes to the Christians at Corinth: To you ... I handed on the tradition which I had myself received, that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried; and that on the thrid day he was raised to life in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas; and later to the Twelve (1 Cor 15:3-5). This brief confession of faith announces the truth of the Paschal Mystery, with the first apparitions of the Risen Christ to Peter and the Twelve: the Death and the Resurrection of Jesus are truly the heart of our hope. Without this faith in the death and the resurrection of Jesus, our hope would be weak - perhaps we couldn't even call it hope. Truly the death and resurrection of Jesus are the heart of our hope. The Apostle affirms: If Christ has not been raised, your faith is pointless, and you have not after all, been released from your sins (v. 17). Unfortunately, many have often tried to obscure faith in the Resurrection of Jesus, even among the believers, certain doubts have been insinuated. A 'watered down faith' as we call it, is not a strong faith. It is superficial, sometimes indifferent, kept busy by a thousand things that seem to be the most important, or by a strictly horizontal understanding of life. But only the Resurrection truly gives us hope, because only the Resurrection opens our lives and the lives of the world to an eternal future with God, to the fullness of light, to the certitude that evil, sin and death can be overcome. This certainty makes it possible for us to live every day with more trust, facing daily challenges with courage and commitment. The Resurrection of Christ illuminates these daily truths with a new light. The Resurrection of Christ is our strength!
But how was the truth of faith in the Resurrection of Christ passed on? There are two kinds of witness in the New Testament: one in the form of a profession of faith, that is a synthesis that indicates the centrality of faith; and the other through the telling of the story of the Resurrection and the facts associated with it. The first: the formula of a profession of faith, for example, is that which we have just heard, and also the profession contained in the Letter to the Romans in which Saint Paul writes: if you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved (10:9). From the earliest days of the Church, faith in the mystery of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus have been steadfast and clear. Today, however, I would like to concentrate on the second: on the evidence that we find in the form of a story in the Gospels. First of all, we note that the first witnesses to the Resurrection were women. At dawn, they go to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, and they find the first sign: the empty tomb (cf. Mk 16:1). Then follows the meeting with a Messenger of God who announces: Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified, is not here, he is risen (cf. vv. 5-6). The women are filled with love and welcome this announcement with faith: they believe, and pass on the good news immediately, not keeping it for themselves, but passing it on. The joy of knowing that Jesus is alive, the hope that fills the heart, cannot be contained. This should be the same in our lives. Let us experience the joy of being Christians! We believe in a Risen Christ who has conquered evil and death! We must have the courage to 'come out' so that we can bring this joy and this light to all the places where we live! The Resurrection of Christ is our greatest certainty, it is the most precious treasure! How can we not share this treasure with others, this certitude? This truth is not only for us, it must be passed on, it must be told to others, shared with others. We are truly witnesses to this truth!
Another aspect. In the professions of faith contained in the New Testament, only men are remembered as witnesses to the Resurrection, the Apostles, but not the women. This is because, according to the Jewish law of the time, women and children could not provide reliable or believable witness. In the Gospels, however, women have a primary and fundamental role. Here we can see an argument in favor of the historical accuracy of the Resurrection: if it was an invented fact, in the context of the established rule of the day it would not have been considered reputable based solely on the witness of women. The Evangelists however simply narate the facts: women are the first witnesses. This shows us that God does not make decisions based on human criteria: the first witnesses of the birth of Jesus are the shepherds, simple and humble people; the first witnesses to the Resurrection are women. And this is beautiful. And this is, in a way, the mission of women: of mothers, of women! To bear witness to their children and to their grandchildren that Jesus is alive, that he is living, that he is Risen. Mothers and women, pass on this witness! For God examines our hearts, and sees how much we are open to Him, how we are all children who trust in him. But this also reflects on how women, in the Church and in the journey of faith, have had and continue to have, even today, the particular role of opening the door to the Lord, of following him and of communicating his Face, because the glance of faith must always be a simple and profound glance of love. The Apostles and the disciples find it harder to believe. The women don't. Peter runs to the tomb, but stops at the empty tomb. Thomas must touch the holes in th body of Jesus with his own hands, in order to believe. So also in our journey of faith, it is important to know and to feel that God loves us, and not to be afraid to love Him in return: faith is professed with the mouth and with the heart, with a word and with love.
After the appraitions to the women, there were others: Jesus is present in a new way: he is the Crucified, but his body is glorious; he doesn't return to earthly life, but in a new condition. In the beginning, they don't recognize him, only through his words and gestures are their eyes opened: the encounter with the Risen Lord transforms, gives new strength of faith, an unshakable foundation. Also for us there are many signs by which the Risen Christ is made known: in Sacred Scripture, the Eucharist, the other Sacraments, in charity - these gestures of love bear with them a ray of the Risen Lord. Let us allow ourselves to be enlightened by the Resureection of Christ, transformed by his strength, because through us (and through our faith) the signs of death in our world give way to the signs of life. I have seen that there are many people here in the Square. Here you are! To you I say: show forth your conviction: the Lord is alive and walks beside us in life. This is your mission! Bear witness to this hope. Hold fast to this hope: this anchor which is in heaven; hold fast to the cord, be anchored to it and be witnesses to hope. You are God's witnesses, tell the world that Jesus is alive and this is what gives us hope; give hope to this world which is a bit worn out by war, by evil and by sin. Youth of the world, go and be witnesses!
Afther the catechesis, the Holy Father offered greetings in various languages to the pilgrims who were gathered in Saint Peter's Square. To the English-language pilgrims he said:
I offer a warm welcome to all the English-speaking visitors present at today's Audience, including those from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austrailia, the Philippines, Canada and the United States (of America). In a speical way I greet the newly-ordained deacons from the Pontifical Irish College and their families. My greeting also goes to the delegation from the United States Senate. I thank the choirs for their praise of God in song. With great affection, I invoke upon all of you the joy and peace which are the abiding gifts of the Risen Lord.
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