At noon today in Vatican City, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace to lead the prayer of the Regina Coeli with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
With the following words, the Pope introduced the Marian prayer:
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
On this Sunday which concludes the Octave of Easter, I renew to all of you my Easter greetings with the words of the Risen Jesus: Peace be with you! (Jn 20:19; 21:26). This is not a greeting, nor even a simple wish, it is a gift, truly the precious gift that Christ gives to his disciples after passing through death and the underworld. He shares this gift of peace, as he had promised: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you. Not as the world gives, do I give it to you (Jn 14:27). This peace is the fruit of the victory of God's love over evil. It is the fruit of forgiveness. And so it is: true, deep peace is the fruit of having experienced the mercy of God. Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, by the will of Blessed John Paul II who closed his eyes to this world on the eve of this annual observance.
The gospel of John tells us that Jesus appeared to the apostles twice while they were closed in the Cenacle: the first on the very evening of the Resurrection; on that occasion Thomas was not present, the one who said if I do not see and do not touch , I do not believe. The second time, eight days later, Thomas was present (with the others). Jesus went first to him, invited him to examine his wounds, to touch them, and Thomas exclaimed: My Lord and my God! (Jn 20:28) Then Jesus said, Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed (v. 29). And who were those who believed without seeing? Other disciples, other men and women of Jerusalem who, even without having met the Risen Jesus, believed the testimony of the Apostles and of the women. This is a very imporant word of faith: we can call it the beatitude of faith. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed: this is the beatitude of faith! In every time and in every place, blessed are those who, through the word of God proclaimed in the Church and witnessed by Christians, believe that Jesus Christ is the incarnate love of God, Mercy incarnate. And that goes for all of us!
Along with the gift of his peace, Jesus gave the Apostles the Holy Spirit so that they could share the forgiveness of sins with all the world, the forgiveness that only God can give, the forgiveness that cost the Blood of the Son (cf Jn 20:21-23). The Church is mandated by the Risen Christ to transmit the forgiveness of sins to all men, and in so doing, strengthen the Kingdom of love, sowing peace in all hearts, peace that is affirmed also in relationships, in society and in institutions. And the Spirit of the Risen Christ casts out fear from the hearts of the Apostles and compels them to leave the Cenacle in order to announce the Gospel. We also have more courage to witness to faith in the Risen Christ. We must never be afraid to be Christians and to live as Christians! We must have the courage to go and announce the Risen Christ, for He is our peace, He made peace with his love, with his forgiveness, with his blood and with his mercy.
Dear friends, this afternoon I will celebrate the Eucharist in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. Together, let us ask the Virgin Mary to help us, Bishop and people, to walk in faith and charity, trusting always in the mercy of the Lord: He always waits for us, loves us, has forgiven us with his blood and forgives us every time we go to Him and ask for forgiveness. We trust in his mercy!
After the recitation of the Regina Coeli, the Pope continued:
I cordially greet the pilgrims who participated in the Holy Mass presided over by the Cardinal Vicar of Rome in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sassia, centre of devotion to Divine Mercy. Dear brothers and sisters, be heralds and witnesses of the mercy of God!
I am also pleased to greet the many members of Movements and Associations present for this our moment of prayer, especially the Neocatechumenal communities of Rome who are beginning today a special mission which will take place in the city squares. I invite you all to carry the Good News to every walk of life with gentleness and respect (1 Pt 3:16)! Go into the squares and announce Jesus Christ, our Saviour!
I greet all the children and young people who are here, especially the students from the Collège St-Jean-de-Passy in Paris and from the Scuola Giuseppi Mazzini from Marsala, as well as the group of administrators from Taranto.
I greet the choir from the Basilica of Collemaggio from l'Aquila; the faithful from Campoverde from Aprilia, Verolanuova and Valentano, and the White Scarf Scout community.
May the Lord bless you. Have a good lunch.
With the following words, the Pope introduced the Marian prayer:
Address of the Holy Father Francis
before the recitation of the Regina Coeli
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
On this Sunday which concludes the Octave of Easter, I renew to all of you my Easter greetings with the words of the Risen Jesus: Peace be with you! (Jn 20:19; 21:26). This is not a greeting, nor even a simple wish, it is a gift, truly the precious gift that Christ gives to his disciples after passing through death and the underworld. He shares this gift of peace, as he had promised: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you. Not as the world gives, do I give it to you (Jn 14:27). This peace is the fruit of the victory of God's love over evil. It is the fruit of forgiveness. And so it is: true, deep peace is the fruit of having experienced the mercy of God. Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, by the will of Blessed John Paul II who closed his eyes to this world on the eve of this annual observance.
The gospel of John tells us that Jesus appeared to the apostles twice while they were closed in the Cenacle: the first on the very evening of the Resurrection; on that occasion Thomas was not present, the one who said if I do not see and do not touch , I do not believe. The second time, eight days later, Thomas was present (with the others). Jesus went first to him, invited him to examine his wounds, to touch them, and Thomas exclaimed: My Lord and my God! (Jn 20:28) Then Jesus said, Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed (v. 29). And who were those who believed without seeing? Other disciples, other men and women of Jerusalem who, even without having met the Risen Jesus, believed the testimony of the Apostles and of the women. This is a very imporant word of faith: we can call it the beatitude of faith. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed: this is the beatitude of faith! In every time and in every place, blessed are those who, through the word of God proclaimed in the Church and witnessed by Christians, believe that Jesus Christ is the incarnate love of God, Mercy incarnate. And that goes for all of us!
Along with the gift of his peace, Jesus gave the Apostles the Holy Spirit so that they could share the forgiveness of sins with all the world, the forgiveness that only God can give, the forgiveness that cost the Blood of the Son (cf Jn 20:21-23). The Church is mandated by the Risen Christ to transmit the forgiveness of sins to all men, and in so doing, strengthen the Kingdom of love, sowing peace in all hearts, peace that is affirmed also in relationships, in society and in institutions. And the Spirit of the Risen Christ casts out fear from the hearts of the Apostles and compels them to leave the Cenacle in order to announce the Gospel. We also have more courage to witness to faith in the Risen Christ. We must never be afraid to be Christians and to live as Christians! We must have the courage to go and announce the Risen Christ, for He is our peace, He made peace with his love, with his forgiveness, with his blood and with his mercy.
Dear friends, this afternoon I will celebrate the Eucharist in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. Together, let us ask the Virgin Mary to help us, Bishop and people, to walk in faith and charity, trusting always in the mercy of the Lord: He always waits for us, loves us, has forgiven us with his blood and forgives us every time we go to Him and ask for forgiveness. We trust in his mercy!
Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia!
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleulua!
REsurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia!
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia!
Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia!
Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia!
Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui,
Domini nostri Iesu Christi,
mundum laetificare dignatus es:
praesta, quaesumus,ut per eius Genitricem Vigrinem Mariam,
perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae.
Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, Alleluia!
For he whom you deserved to bear in your womb, Alleluia!
Has risen, as he promised, Alleluia!
Pray for us to God, Alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!
For the Lord has truly risen, Alleluia!
O God, who through the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
gave rejoicing to the world,
grant, we pray, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joy of everlasting life,
through Christ our Lord, Amen.
I cordially greet the pilgrims who participated in the Holy Mass presided over by the Cardinal Vicar of Rome in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sassia, centre of devotion to Divine Mercy. Dear brothers and sisters, be heralds and witnesses of the mercy of God!
I am also pleased to greet the many members of Movements and Associations present for this our moment of prayer, especially the Neocatechumenal communities of Rome who are beginning today a special mission which will take place in the city squares. I invite you all to carry the Good News to every walk of life with gentleness and respect (1 Pt 3:16)! Go into the squares and announce Jesus Christ, our Saviour!
I greet all the children and young people who are here, especially the students from the Collège St-Jean-de-Passy in Paris and from the Scuola Giuseppi Mazzini from Marsala, as well as the group of administrators from Taranto.
I greet the choir from the Basilica of Collemaggio from l'Aquila; the faithful from Campoverde from Aprilia, Verolanuova and Valentano, and the White Scarf Scout community.
May the Lord bless you. Have a good lunch.
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