At noon today in Rome, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who were gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today we celebrate the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, praising God for their preaching and their testimony. Upon the faith of these two Apostles the Church of Rome was founded, and these two have always been venerated as our patrons. However, it is the entire universal Church that looks to them with admiration, considering them as two columns and two great lights that shine not only in the skies above Rome but in the hearts of believers in the East and in the West.
In recounting the mission of the Apostles, the Gospel tells us that Jesus sent them out two by two (cf Mt 10:1; Lk 10:1). In a certain sense, Peter and Paul too were sent out from the Holy Land and came to Rome to preach the Gospel. They were two very different men: Peter was a humble fisherman, and Paul was a teacher and a doctor, as today's liturgy reminds us. But if we who are here in Rome know Jesus today, and if the Christian faith is a living part of the foundation and the spiritual inheritance of the culture of this land, it is because of the apostolic courage of these two sons of the Near East. For love of Christ, they left their homelands and, regardless of the difficulties of the long voyage and the risks and the suspicions that they would meet, they came to Rome. Here they became heralds and witnesses of the Gospel among the people, and sealed their mission of faith and charity with martyrdom.
Peter and Paul return today ideally through us, as we travel the streets of this city, knocking at the doors of our homes, but above all the doors of our hearts. They still want to bring us Jesus, his merciful love, his consolation, his peace. We need these gifts so much! Let us welcome their message! Let us treasure their testimony! May the firm and forthright faith of Peter, and the great and universal heart of Paul help us to be joyous Christians, faithful to the Gospel and open to encountering everyone.
During the Holy Mass celebrated in Saint Peter's Basilica this morning, I blessed the Pallia for the Metropolitan Archbishops who have been appointed during this past year in various countries throughout the world. I renew my greetings and my good wishes to them all, to their families and to all those who have accompanied them on this pilgrimage; and I encourage them to continue joyfully in their mission of service to the gospel, in communion with the entire Church, especially with the See of Peter, the sign of which is the Pallium that they will wear.
In this same celebration, I welcomed with joy and affection the members of the delegation that came to Rome in the name of the Ecumenical Patriarch, my beloved brother Bartholomew. This presence too is a sign of the fraternal bonds that exist between our Churches. Let us pray that we will be strengthened even more in the bonds of communion and in our common witness.
To the Virgin Mary, the Salvation of the People of Rome, I confide the entire world today, and in particular this city of Rome, that she may always find in the spiritual and moral values with which she is enriched, the foundation of her social life and her mission in Italy, in Europe and in the world.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Last night, in Istanbul, there was a heinous terrorist attack that left many people dead and wounded. Let us pray for the victims, for their families and for the beloved Turkish people. May the Lord convert the hearts of the violent and support their steps in the way of peace. Let us all pray for a moment in silence.
After a moment of silent prayer, the Holy Father continued: Hail Mary ...
Here in Rome, we have just concluded the International Conference on responsible investment and social impact entitled: To make the Year of Mercy a year of impact for the poor. May private investors, together with public ones, work together to overcome the poverty of so many people who are marginalized.
I extend a cordial greeting to all of you, families, parish groups, associations and individual faithful from Italy and from many other parts of the world, especially from Spain, from Ukraine and from China. I greet the students from the Catholic schools in London and from the United States of America, and the USMI Sisters from Lombardia.
Today, my greetings go out above all to the faithful of Rome, on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Patrons of this city! For this festival, the Pro Loco of Rome has sponsored the traditional floral display, assembled by various artists and volunteers from the Civil Service. Thank you for this initiative and for the beautiful floral display! I want to remind you too about the fireworks display that will be held this evening in the Piazza del Popolo, the proceeds of which will be used to support the Church's work in the Holy Land and in various other countries in the Middle East.
I wish you all a good feast day, the feast of the Roman Patrons. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch, and good bye!
Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today we celebrate the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, praising God for their preaching and their testimony. Upon the faith of these two Apostles the Church of Rome was founded, and these two have always been venerated as our patrons. However, it is the entire universal Church that looks to them with admiration, considering them as two columns and two great lights that shine not only in the skies above Rome but in the hearts of believers in the East and in the West.
In recounting the mission of the Apostles, the Gospel tells us that Jesus sent them out two by two (cf Mt 10:1; Lk 10:1). In a certain sense, Peter and Paul too were sent out from the Holy Land and came to Rome to preach the Gospel. They were two very different men: Peter was a humble fisherman, and Paul was a teacher and a doctor, as today's liturgy reminds us. But if we who are here in Rome know Jesus today, and if the Christian faith is a living part of the foundation and the spiritual inheritance of the culture of this land, it is because of the apostolic courage of these two sons of the Near East. For love of Christ, they left their homelands and, regardless of the difficulties of the long voyage and the risks and the suspicions that they would meet, they came to Rome. Here they became heralds and witnesses of the Gospel among the people, and sealed their mission of faith and charity with martyrdom.
Peter and Paul return today ideally through us, as we travel the streets of this city, knocking at the doors of our homes, but above all the doors of our hearts. They still want to bring us Jesus, his merciful love, his consolation, his peace. We need these gifts so much! Let us welcome their message! Let us treasure their testimony! May the firm and forthright faith of Peter, and the great and universal heart of Paul help us to be joyous Christians, faithful to the Gospel and open to encountering everyone.
During the Holy Mass celebrated in Saint Peter's Basilica this morning, I blessed the Pallia for the Metropolitan Archbishops who have been appointed during this past year in various countries throughout the world. I renew my greetings and my good wishes to them all, to their families and to all those who have accompanied them on this pilgrimage; and I encourage them to continue joyfully in their mission of service to the gospel, in communion with the entire Church, especially with the See of Peter, the sign of which is the Pallium that they will wear.
In this same celebration, I welcomed with joy and affection the members of the delegation that came to Rome in the name of the Ecumenical Patriarch, my beloved brother Bartholomew. This presence too is a sign of the fraternal bonds that exist between our Churches. Let us pray that we will be strengthened even more in the bonds of communion and in our common witness.
To the Virgin Mary, the Salvation of the People of Rome, I confide the entire world today, and in particular this city of Rome, that she may always find in the spiritual and moral values with which she is enriched, the foundation of her social life and her mission in Italy, in Europe and in the world.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Last night, in Istanbul, there was a heinous terrorist attack that left many people dead and wounded. Let us pray for the victims, for their families and for the beloved Turkish people. May the Lord convert the hearts of the violent and support their steps in the way of peace. Let us all pray for a moment in silence.
After a moment of silent prayer, the Holy Father continued: Hail Mary ...
Here in Rome, we have just concluded the International Conference on responsible investment and social impact entitled: To make the Year of Mercy a year of impact for the poor. May private investors, together with public ones, work together to overcome the poverty of so many people who are marginalized.
I extend a cordial greeting to all of you, families, parish groups, associations and individual faithful from Italy and from many other parts of the world, especially from Spain, from Ukraine and from China. I greet the students from the Catholic schools in London and from the United States of America, and the USMI Sisters from Lombardia.
Today, my greetings go out above all to the faithful of Rome, on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Patrons of this city! For this festival, the Pro Loco of Rome has sponsored the traditional floral display, assembled by various artists and volunteers from the Civil Service. Thank you for this initiative and for the beautiful floral display! I want to remind you too about the fireworks display that will be held this evening in the Piazza del Popolo, the proceeds of which will be used to support the Church's work in the Holy Land and in various other countries in the Middle East.
I wish you all a good feast day, the feast of the Roman Patrons. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch, and good bye!
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