At the conclusion of the celebration of the Mass in the Vatican Basilica this morning during which he ordained 19 new priests, at noon today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace to recite the Regina Caeli with the faithful and with pilgrims who were gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the usual Sunday appointment.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The Fourth Sunday of Easter - this Sunday - known as Good Shepherd Sunday, invites us every year to rediscover with renewed wonder the definition that Jesus gives of himself, re-reading this passage in the light of his passion, his death and his resurrection. The Good Shepherd offers his life for sinners (Jn 10:11): these words were fulfilled when Jesus, freely obeying the will of the Father, offered himself on the Cross. In this action, he clarified the meaning of the reference that He is the good shepherd: he gives his life, he offered his life in sacrifice for all of us: for you, for you, for you, for me, for all of us! This is why he is the good shepherd!
Christ is the true shepherd who shows us the highest level of love for the flock: He freely offers his own life, no one takes it from him (cf Jn 10:18), but he gives it for the sake of the sheep (cf Jn 10:17). In open opposition to the false shepherds, Jesus presents himself as the only true shepherd of his people: the bad shepherd is concerned about himself and uses the sheep; the good shepherd is concerned about the sheep and gives of himself for their sakes. Unlike the hired hand, Christ leads and guides those who participate in the life of his flock, he seeks no other interests, he has no other desire than to guide, feed and protect the flock. All of this he does with the highest price attached, the price of sacrificing his own life.
In the figure of Jesus, the good shepherd, we can contemplate God's providence, his pastoral concern for each of us. He never leaves us alone! The result of this contemplation on the part of Jesus, the true and good shepherd is the exclamation of profound wonder that we find in the second reading for today's liturgy: See what great love the Father has lavished upon us ... (1 Jn 3:1). It is truly a surprising and mysterious love, for in giving us Jesus as a shepherd who gives his life for us, the Father has given us everything, the most valuable treasure that he could ever give us! It is the highest and purest love because it is not given out of any other necessity, there are no conditions attached, there is no one who wants anything in return for this love. In the face of this love, given by God, we experience an immense joy and we open our hearts to recognize how much we have truly received, without having to pay the price - it's completely freely given.
Contemplating this truth and giving thanks for it is not enough. We must also follow the Good Shepherd. Especially those who have the mission to guide the Church - priests, bishops, popes - are called to take on not a mentality of a manager but a mentality of service in imitation of Jesus who, stripping himself, has saved us with his mercy. The new priests for the Diocese of Rome who I have had the joy of ordaining this morning in Saint Peter's Basilica are also called to this style of pastoral life.
Two of them now wish to thank you for your prayers and to greet you ... (two of the newly-ordained priests appeared at the window, beside the Holy Father).
May Holy Mary obtain for me, for the bishops and for the priests throughout the world the grace to serve the holy people of God through joyous preaching of the gospel, the heart-felt celebration of the Sacraments and with patient and humble pastoral guidance.
After the recitation of the Regina Caeli, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I want to assure my closeness in prayer to the people who are suffering as a result of the strong earthquake in Nepal and in surrounding countries. I am praying for victims, for those who have been wounded and for all those who are suffering because of this calamity. You can count on the support of fraternal solidarity. Let us pray to Our Lady and ask her to be close to all of them: Hail Mary ...
Today in Canada, Maria Elisa Turgeon will be declared Blessed. She was the foundress of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and Saint Germain: an exemplary religious, dedicated to prayer, to teaching in the small towns of her diocese and to works of charity. Let us give thanks to the Lord for this woman, a model of a life consecrated to God and of generous commitment to serving others.
I greet most affectionately all the pilgrims who have come from Rome, from Italy and from various other countries, especially those who have come in such great numbers from Poland on the occasion of the first anniversary of the canonization of John Paul II. Beloved, his words will always resound in your hearts: Open wide the doors to Christ! - words that he spoke with that strong and holy voice he had. May the Lord bless you and your families and may Our Lady protect you.
I greet the faithful from Budapest, Madrid, Burgos, Bratislava, and Cairo; as well as those from Trieste, Giovinazzo, Gorga, Gorlago, Pesaro and Lamezia Terme. I greet the young people from Niscemi and Trezzano Rosa and the boys from the vicariate of Casalpusterlengo and Codogno, who are here to renew their profession of faith.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch. Good bye!
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Regina Caeli
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The Fourth Sunday of Easter - this Sunday - known as Good Shepherd Sunday, invites us every year to rediscover with renewed wonder the definition that Jesus gives of himself, re-reading this passage in the light of his passion, his death and his resurrection. The Good Shepherd offers his life for sinners (Jn 10:11): these words were fulfilled when Jesus, freely obeying the will of the Father, offered himself on the Cross. In this action, he clarified the meaning of the reference that He is the good shepherd: he gives his life, he offered his life in sacrifice for all of us: for you, for you, for you, for me, for all of us! This is why he is the good shepherd!
Christ is the true shepherd who shows us the highest level of love for the flock: He freely offers his own life, no one takes it from him (cf Jn 10:18), but he gives it for the sake of the sheep (cf Jn 10:17). In open opposition to the false shepherds, Jesus presents himself as the only true shepherd of his people: the bad shepherd is concerned about himself and uses the sheep; the good shepherd is concerned about the sheep and gives of himself for their sakes. Unlike the hired hand, Christ leads and guides those who participate in the life of his flock, he seeks no other interests, he has no other desire than to guide, feed and protect the flock. All of this he does with the highest price attached, the price of sacrificing his own life.
In the figure of Jesus, the good shepherd, we can contemplate God's providence, his pastoral concern for each of us. He never leaves us alone! The result of this contemplation on the part of Jesus, the true and good shepherd is the exclamation of profound wonder that we find in the second reading for today's liturgy: See what great love the Father has lavished upon us ... (1 Jn 3:1). It is truly a surprising and mysterious love, for in giving us Jesus as a shepherd who gives his life for us, the Father has given us everything, the most valuable treasure that he could ever give us! It is the highest and purest love because it is not given out of any other necessity, there are no conditions attached, there is no one who wants anything in return for this love. In the face of this love, given by God, we experience an immense joy and we open our hearts to recognize how much we have truly received, without having to pay the price - it's completely freely given.
Contemplating this truth and giving thanks for it is not enough. We must also follow the Good Shepherd. Especially those who have the mission to guide the Church - priests, bishops, popes - are called to take on not a mentality of a manager but a mentality of service in imitation of Jesus who, stripping himself, has saved us with his mercy. The new priests for the Diocese of Rome who I have had the joy of ordaining this morning in Saint Peter's Basilica are also called to this style of pastoral life.
Two of them now wish to thank you for your prayers and to greet you ... (two of the newly-ordained priests appeared at the window, beside the Holy Father).
May Holy Mary obtain for me, for the bishops and for the priests throughout the world the grace to serve the holy people of God through joyous preaching of the gospel, the heart-felt celebration of the Sacraments and with patient and humble pastoral guidance.
After the recitation of the Regina Caeli, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I want to assure my closeness in prayer to the people who are suffering as a result of the strong earthquake in Nepal and in surrounding countries. I am praying for victims, for those who have been wounded and for all those who are suffering because of this calamity. You can count on the support of fraternal solidarity. Let us pray to Our Lady and ask her to be close to all of them: Hail Mary ...
Today in Canada, Maria Elisa Turgeon will be declared Blessed. She was the foundress of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and Saint Germain: an exemplary religious, dedicated to prayer, to teaching in the small towns of her diocese and to works of charity. Let us give thanks to the Lord for this woman, a model of a life consecrated to God and of generous commitment to serving others.
I greet most affectionately all the pilgrims who have come from Rome, from Italy and from various other countries, especially those who have come in such great numbers from Poland on the occasion of the first anniversary of the canonization of John Paul II. Beloved, his words will always resound in your hearts: Open wide the doors to Christ! - words that he spoke with that strong and holy voice he had. May the Lord bless you and your families and may Our Lady protect you.
I greet the faithful from Budapest, Madrid, Burgos, Bratislava, and Cairo; as well as those from Trieste, Giovinazzo, Gorga, Gorlago, Pesaro and Lamezia Terme. I greet the young people from Niscemi and Trezzano Rosa and the boys from the vicariate of Casalpusterlengo and Codogno, who are here to renew their profession of faith.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch. Good bye!
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