At noon today, 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 had gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today's solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is celebrated, as you know, by the universal Church, but it is lived with joy especially by the Church of Rome, since in their testimony, marked by blood, this local church finds its foundations. Rome reserves special affection and gratitude for these two men of God, who came from a far-away land to proclaim the gospel of Christ at the cost of their own lives, a cause to which they were totally dedicated. The glorious legacy of these two Apostles is a source of spiritual pride for Rome and, at the same time, it calls us to live the Christian virtues, especially faith and charity: faith in Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God, who Peter professed for the first time and who Paul proclaimed to the gentiles; and charity, which this Church is called to serve for the sake of the whole world.
In the prayer of the Angelus, along with the memory of the Saints Peter and Paul, we also recall that of Mary, the living image of the Church, the spouse of Christ, who the two Apostles fertilized with their blood (Entrance antiphon for the Mass of the day). Peter personally knew Mary, and in conversation with her, especially during the days preceding Pentecost (cf Acts 1:14), he could deepen his appreciation for the mystery of Christ. Paul, in the accomplishment of the salvific plan in the fullness of time, did not fail to remember the woman of whom the Son of God was born in time (cf Gal 4:4). In the evangelization of the two Apostles here in Rome, we also find the roots of the profound and secular devotion of the Roman people to the Virgin, especially invoked under the title of Salus Populi Romani. Mary, Peter and Paul: are our companions on the journey in search of God; they are our guides along the path of faith and holiness; they draw us ever closer to Jesus, spurring us on to do whatever he might ask of us. Let us call upon their help, that our hearts might always be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and to the encounter with our brothers and sisters.
During the Eucharistic celebration which took place this morning in Saint Peter's Basilica, I blessed the Pallia for the Metropolitan Archbishops who were appointed during the past year, in various parts of the world. I renew my greetings and my good wishes for them, for their families and for all those who have accompanied them in this significant pilgrimage, and I hope that the Pallium, in addition to strengthening the bonds of communion with the See of Peter, may be a stimulus for an evermore generous attitude of service in the hearts of those who have been confided to their pastoral zeal. During this same liturgy, I had the pleasure to greet the members of the Delegation that was sent to Rome in the name of the Ecumenical Patriarch, my beloved brother Bartholomew I, to participate, as they do every year, in the celebrations of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This presence is also a sign of the existing fraternal bonds between our Churches. Let us pray together that our journey toward full unity will thus be strengthened.
Today, we pray above all for the city of Rome, for her spiritual and material wellbeing: may divine grace support all the people of Rome, so that we may know the fullness of Christian faith, witnessed through the intrepid zeal of Saints Peter and Paul. May the Holy Virgin, Queen of the Apostles, always intercede for us.
Following the proclamation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you all, families, parishes and associations from Italy and from many parts of the world; but above all today, I greet the faithful of Rome, on the feast of the Patron Saints of this city!
I greet the students from some of the Catholic schools in the United States of America and from Scotland.
I congratulate the artists who have created a large and beautiful floral display, and I thank the Pro Loco of Rome for having organized it. Thank you very much!
Best wishes also for the traditional fireworks display which will be held tonight at Castel Sant'Angelo, the proceeds of which will support charitable work in the Holy Land and in the countries of the Middle East.
Next week, from July 5 to 13, I will travel to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay. I ask you all to accompany me with your prayer, that the Lord may bless my travels to the Latin American continent which is so dear to me, as you can imagine. To the dear people of Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, I express my joyful anticipation of visiting with you and I ask you especially to pray for me and for this voyage, that the Virgin Mary may give us the grace to live this time under her maternal protection.
I wish you all a good day of celebration. Please don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today's solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is celebrated, as you know, by the universal Church, but it is lived with joy especially by the Church of Rome, since in their testimony, marked by blood, this local church finds its foundations. Rome reserves special affection and gratitude for these two men of God, who came from a far-away land to proclaim the gospel of Christ at the cost of their own lives, a cause to which they were totally dedicated. The glorious legacy of these two Apostles is a source of spiritual pride for Rome and, at the same time, it calls us to live the Christian virtues, especially faith and charity: faith in Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God, who Peter professed for the first time and who Paul proclaimed to the gentiles; and charity, which this Church is called to serve for the sake of the whole world.
In the prayer of the Angelus, along with the memory of the Saints Peter and Paul, we also recall that of Mary, the living image of the Church, the spouse of Christ, who the two Apostles fertilized with their blood (Entrance antiphon for the Mass of the day). Peter personally knew Mary, and in conversation with her, especially during the days preceding Pentecost (cf Acts 1:14), he could deepen his appreciation for the mystery of Christ. Paul, in the accomplishment of the salvific plan in the fullness of time, did not fail to remember the woman of whom the Son of God was born in time (cf Gal 4:4). In the evangelization of the two Apostles here in Rome, we also find the roots of the profound and secular devotion of the Roman people to the Virgin, especially invoked under the title of Salus Populi Romani. Mary, Peter and Paul: are our companions on the journey in search of God; they are our guides along the path of faith and holiness; they draw us ever closer to Jesus, spurring us on to do whatever he might ask of us. Let us call upon their help, that our hearts might always be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and to the encounter with our brothers and sisters.
During the Eucharistic celebration which took place this morning in Saint Peter's Basilica, I blessed the Pallia for the Metropolitan Archbishops who were appointed during the past year, in various parts of the world. I renew my greetings and my good wishes for them, for their families and for all those who have accompanied them in this significant pilgrimage, and I hope that the Pallium, in addition to strengthening the bonds of communion with the See of Peter, may be a stimulus for an evermore generous attitude of service in the hearts of those who have been confided to their pastoral zeal. During this same liturgy, I had the pleasure to greet the members of the Delegation that was sent to Rome in the name of the Ecumenical Patriarch, my beloved brother Bartholomew I, to participate, as they do every year, in the celebrations of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This presence is also a sign of the existing fraternal bonds between our Churches. Let us pray together that our journey toward full unity will thus be strengthened.
Today, we pray above all for the city of Rome, for her spiritual and material wellbeing: may divine grace support all the people of Rome, so that we may know the fullness of Christian faith, witnessed through the intrepid zeal of Saints Peter and Paul. May the Holy Virgin, Queen of the Apostles, always intercede for us.
Following the proclamation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you all, families, parishes and associations from Italy and from many parts of the world; but above all today, I greet the faithful of Rome, on the feast of the Patron Saints of this city!
I greet the students from some of the Catholic schools in the United States of America and from Scotland.
I congratulate the artists who have created a large and beautiful floral display, and I thank the Pro Loco of Rome for having organized it. Thank you very much!
Best wishes also for the traditional fireworks display which will be held tonight at Castel Sant'Angelo, the proceeds of which will support charitable work in the Holy Land and in the countries of the Middle East.
Next week, from July 5 to 13, I will travel to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay. I ask you all to accompany me with your prayer, that the Lord may bless my travels to the Latin American continent which is so dear to me, as you can imagine. To the dear people of Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, I express my joyful anticipation of visiting with you and I ask you especially to pray for me and for this voyage, that the Virgin Mary may give us the grace to live this time under her maternal protection.
I wish you all a good day of celebration. Please don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye.
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