Sunday, April 13, 2014

Angelus for Palm Sunday

At the conclusion of the Mass for Palm Sunday, the Holy Father recited the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who were present today in Saint Peter's Square.


Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus

At the conclusion of this celebration, I wish especially to greet the 250 delegates - bishops, priests, religious and laity - who have participated in the gathering for World Youth Day, organized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity.  This is how we begin our preparations for the next world gathering, which will be held in July 2016 in Krakow and which will have the theme Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy (Mt 5:7).

In a moment the young people of Brazil will hand over the World Youth Day Cross to the young people of Poland. Thirty years ago Blessed John Paul II handed over the cross to young people. He asked them to carry it throughout the world as a sign of Christ’s love for humanity.

On April 27 we will all have the joy of celebrating the canonization of this Pope together with John XXIII. John Paul II, who started the World Youth Days, will become their great patron saint. In the communion of saints he will continue to be a father and friend to the young people of the world.

Let us ask the Lord that the Cross, together with the image of Mary Salus Populi Romani, be a sign of hope for all, revealing to the world the unconquerable love of Christ.

The Brazilians hand over the cross to the Polish.

I greet all the Romans and the pilgrims! I greet in particular the delegations from Rio de Janeiro and Krakow, led by their archbishops, Cardinals Orani João Tempesta e Stanisław Dziwisz.

In this context I have the joy to announce that, if it pleases God, on August 15 in Daejeon, in the Republic of Korea, I will meet with the young people of Asia during their great continental gathering.

And now, let us turn to the Virgin Mother that she might help us to always follow Jesus’ example with faith.  Angelus Domini ...

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