Sunday, May 21, 2017

Regina Coeli about the Advocate

At noon today (Rome time), the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Regina Coeli with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square.


Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Regina Coeli

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today's gospel (cf Jn 14:15-21), the continuation of last Sunday's gospel, recounts the moving and dramatic moment when Jesus was at the Last Supper with his disciples.  The evangelist John collects from the mouth of the Lord the final teachings he shared before his passion and death.  Jesus promises his friends, at that sad, dark moment, that after his departure, they will receive another Advocate (Jn 4:16).  This word translates as another Lawyer, another Defender, another Consoler: the Spirit of truth (Jn 4:17); and he adds: I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you (Jn 14:18).
These words convey the joy of a new coming of Christ: He, the risen and glorified Christ, dwells with the Father, and at the same time, comes to us in the person of the Holy Spirit.  In this new coming, he reveals our union with Him and with the Father: You know that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you (Jn 14:20).

Meditating on these words of Jesus, today we can perceive with a sense of faith that we are God's people in communion with the Father and with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  In this mystery of communion, the Church finds the inexhaustible source of her own mission, which is brought about in love.  Jesus says in today's gospel: Whoever receives my commandments and keeps them, this is the one who loves me (Jn 14:21).  It is love that introduces us to knowing Jesus, through the action of this Advocate that Jesus has sent, the Holy Spirit.  Love for God and for our neighbour, this is the greatest of the gospel's commandments.  Today, the Lord calls us to generously act in accordance with the gospel call to love, pondering God at the centre of our lives and dedicating ourselves to serving our brothers and sisters, especially those who are in need of support and consolation.

If there is an attitude that is never easy, never assumed - even for a Christian community, it is that of knowing how to love, of loving according to the example of the Lord and with his grace.  Sometimes the opposite - pride, envy, divisions - also leave their mark on the beautiful face of the Church.  A community of Christians should live in Christ's care, but instead, it is sometimes in those very places that the evil one sets his snare and we sometimes allow ourselves to be deceived.  And those who fall victim to such temptations find themselves to be spiritually weakened.  How many of them - and you know some such people - how many of them have distanced themselves because they no longer feel welcome, no longer feel that they are understood, no longer feel that they are loved?  How many people feel that they have been distanced, for example by some parishes or communities because of gossip, jealousy or the envious environment that they have encountered there?  Even for Christians, knowing how to love is never something that we learn once and for all times; every day, we need to begin again, we need to practice because only in this way will our love for the brothers and sisters we meet be able to mature and be purified of our human limitations or the sins that make our love only partially offered, self-centred, sterile or unfaithful.  Every day, we need to learn the art of loving.  Do you hear this: every day, we need to learn the art of loving, every day we need to patiently follow the school of Christ, every day we need to forgive and to look to Jesus, and we need to do this with the help of the Advocate, Consoler that Jesus has sent to us, the Holy Spirit.

May the Virgin Mary, the perfect disciple of her Son and Lord, help us to always be more docile to the presence of the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, in order to learn every day how to love others as Jesus has loved them.



Following the recitation of the Regina Coeli, the Holy Father continued:

Dear brothers and sisters,

Unfortunately we are receiving disturbing news from the Central African Republic, news that I carry in my heart, especially after my visit to that nation in November 2015.  Armed clashes have resulted in many victims and displaced many others, and all this is a threat to the peace process.  I am close to the people and to the bishops and to all those who are working for the good of the people and toward a peaceful coexistence.  I am praying for those who have died and for those who are wounded, and I wish to renew my call for an end to armed conflict and prevail upon the good will of the people for dialogue in order that the country may once again enjoy peace and development.

Later this week, on May 24, we will unite ourselves spiritually with all the Catholics in China who will keep the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, who is venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai.  To all the Catholics in China, I say: let us raise our gaze to Mary, our Mother, for she helps us to discern the will of God concerning the concrete steps that the Church in China must take and she supports us and helps us to generously welcome her Son's loving plan.  May Mary encourage us to offer our personal contributions for the good of the community of believers and for the building up of harmony throughout society.  Let us not forget the witness of faith that is given through our prayer and our love, while we remain open to encounter and to dialogue, always.

I cordially welcome all of you, faithful of Rome and pilgrims.  In particular the Choir from the Cathedral in Pamplona (Spain); the group from the Colégio São Tomás in Lisbon; the faithful from the Chapel of Saint-Charles dell’Ospedale de la Croix Saint-Simon from Paris; those from Torrent (Valencia, Spain), from Canada and from the United States of America, among which are those from the island of Guam.

A special greeting to the young people who have recently been Confirmed from the Diocese of Genoa; with the help of God, I hope to visit your city next Saturday.  As well, I welcome the members of the Coccinelle from Frosinone and the faithful from the Parish of Saint Maria Goretti in Rome.


Dear brothers and sisters,

I wish to announce that on Wednesday, June 28, I will hold a Consistory for the naming of five new Cardinals.  They are from various parts of the world, and this demonstrates the catholicity of the Church which is spread throughout the world.  The provision of titles for them as deacons within this city demonstrates the membership of all the Cardinals as part of the Diocese of Rome which, according to the well-known expression of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, presides in charity over the entire Church.  Also, on Thursday, June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, we will concelebrate Holy Mass with the new Cardinals, with the College of Cardinals, with the new Bishops, Metropolitans, other Bishops and priests.

Here are the names of the newly-created Cardinals:

  • His Eminence, Jean Zerbo, Archbishop of Bamako, Mali;
  • His Eminence, Juan José Onella, Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain;
  • His Eminence, Anders Arborelius, Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden;
  • His Eminence, Luis Marie-Ling Mangkhanekhoun, Titular Bishop of Acque Nuove di Proconsolare, Apostolic Vicar of Paksé, Laos;
  • His Eminence, Gregorio Rosa Chávez, Titular Bishop of Mulli, Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of San Salvador, El Salvador.
Let us entrust the new Cardinals to the protection of Saints Peter and Paul, that through the intercession of the Princes of the Apostles, they may be authentic servants of ecclesial communion and as Apostles to the Gentiles, joyously proclaiming the gospel to the entire world through their words and their lived example, and supporting me more intensely in my service as Bishop of Rome and Pastor of the universal Church.


I wish you all a good Sunday.  Please, don't forget to pray for me.  Enjoy your lunch and good bye!

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