Giving thanks for the year

At 5:00pm today, in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided at the first Vespers for the Solemnity of Blessed Mary, the Mother of God, which was followed by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the chanting of the traditional Te Deum of thanksgiving at the conclusion of the calendar year, and the Eucharistic Blessing.

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

during the celebration of Vespers

How meaningful it is that we are gathered here to give praise to the Lord at the end of this year!

On many occasions, the Church is joyful and is right to sing to God with these words of praise which, since the fourth century, have accompanied her prayer at every important moment of her earthly pilgrimage.  It is the joy of thanksgiving that almost spontaneously springs from our prayer, in recognition of the loving presence of God in the various moments of our history.  As often happens though, I feel that the use of our voices are not enough to offer our prayer.  It needs to be reinforced with those of all the people of God, who in unison make their song of thanksgiving heard.  This is the reason why, in the Te Deum, we ask for the help of the Angels, the Prophets and all of creation to give praise to the Lord.  With this hymn, we re-live the history of salvation where, through the mysterious design of God, the various experiences of our lives during this past year also find a place.

During this Jubilee year, the final words of the Church's hymn take on a special resonance: May your loving mercy be always with us, O Lord: in you we find our hope.  The accompanying presence of mercy is light to help us better understand that which we have lived, and it also accompanies us at the beginning of a new year.

Retracing the days of the year that has passed can be done either as a memory of facts and events that correspond to moments of joy and suffering, or in search of understanding whether we perceived the presence of God who makes all things new and supports us with his help.  We are challenged to discern whether the events of this world take place according to the will of God, or whether we have listened primarily to the hopes of men, often weighed down with private interests, an insatiable thirst for power and gratuitous violence.

And yet, today our eyes need to focus especially on the signs that God has given us, to touch with our hands the strength of his merciful love.  We cannot forget that many days were marked with violence, death, unspeakable suffering by many innocents, refugees forced to leave their country, men, women and children with no fixed address, food or sustenance.  Yet, how many great acts of goodness, of love and of solidarity have filled the days of this year, even though they may never have been reported on the televised news.  Good things never make the news.  These signs of love cannot and should not be obscured by the arrogance of evil.  Good always wins, even if at some times it can appear weak or hidden.

Our city of Rome is no stranger to this condition being experienced throughout the world.  My wish is that a sincere invitation to go beyond the difficulties of the present moment may be extended to all her inhabitants.  Efforts to recuperate the fundamental values of service, honesty and solidarity can overcome the grave uncertainties that have dominated during this past year, symptoms of a low sense of dedication to the common good.  Never neglect any opportunity for the positive witness of Christianity to be seen in Rome, according to her ongoing history, and through the maternal intercession of Mary, Salus Populi Romani (Help of the Roman People), to be privileged examples of faith, welcome, fraternity and peace.

We praise you, O God ... You are our hope.  We will not be confused forever.

At the conclusion of the celebration of Vespers in the Basilica, the Holy Father paid a brief visit to the crib which is set up near the obelisk in Saint Peter's Square.

With the children's choirs

At 11:00am today (local time in Rome), in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience a group of people participating in the 40th International Congress of Pueri Canotres - an international gathering of child choristers taking place in Rome from December 28, 2015 to January 1, 2016.

Transcription of the dialogue between His Holiness, Pope Francis

and the choristers in attendance for the Pueri Cantores Congress

First question
What do you think of our singing?  Do you like to sing?

Pope Francis
What do you think of our singing?  Do you like to sing? .. I would love to hear you sing some more!  I only heard one song, I hope that you will sing others ... I like to hear singing, but if I were to sing, I would make a fool of myself because I don't know how to sing.  Yet I can speak well, even though I have a speech defect, in phonetics ... but I love to hear singing.  Let me tell you a story.  Since I was a baby - we are five brothers in my family - since we were children, our mother, on Saturdays, at 2:00pm, made us sit down in front of the radio to listen.  What were we listening to?  Every Saturday, there was a programme of operatic music, and our mother would teach us about opera, explaining: Listen to how they do that ... Since I was a child, I have had the pleasure of listening to people sing, but I have never been able to sing.  However, one of my grandparents, who was a carpenter, would always sing while he worked, always.  The pleasure of hearing people sing has been part of my life from childhood.  Music and singing make me so happy.  What do I think about your singing?  I hope to be able to hear some more.  Ok?  Is that possible?

I will tell you one thing: singing teaches the soul, singing does the soul good.  For example, when a mother wants to put her child to sleep, she doesn't say: One, two, three, four ... She sings a lullaby, sings; it's good for the soul; the child becomes quiet and goes to sleep.  Saint Augustine used a very beautiful phrase.  Every one of you should learn it in your own language.  While speaking about Christian life, about the joy of Christian life, he says: Sing and walk.  The Christian life is a journey, but it is not a sad journey, it is a joyful journey.  For this reason, you should sing.  Sing and walk, don't forget!  Everyone can say it in your own language: sing and walk! (the children repeat: Sing and walk!)  I can't hear you ... (Sing and walk!)  There.  Remember this well: sing and walk.  Your soul will rejoice in the joy of the gospel.

Second question
How do you manage to always be so good?  Do you ever get angry?  What is your advice for the new year?

Pope Francis
Once there was a young man who came close to Jesus and said something very similar to what you just said: Jesus, good master.  And Jesus looked at him and said: No, only God is good.  Only God is good, Jesus said.  And we?  Are we wicked?  No, half and half, we have a little bit of everything within us ... We always have within us the woundedness of original sin which tempts us not to always be good ... but always remember: only God is good, and if you want to find goodness, go to the Lord, He is all goodness, all love, all mercy, and do you know what I do to be a little good?  I stay close to the Lord, and I ask the Lord: Lord, help me not to be a sinner, help me not to be very demanding, help me not to be too hard on anyone, help me not to be jealous, envious or to get roped into other things ... and there are so many other things ... All those things.  Ask for the grace to be good, because only God is good.  Even this we should learn.  Can we say it all together?  Everyone in his own language: Only God is good. (the children repeat: only God is good.  One more time.  (Only God is good). Remember the advice from Saint Augustine that we repeated together.  What was it? (the children respond: Sing and walk!)  Only God is good.  Remember this well.

But there are some good people, yes, who are close to the Lord, saints!  So many hidden saints in daily life, in our lives, many people who suffer and offer their sufferings for the conversion of sinners.  Many, many people who are so close to the goodness of God, they are saints.  But, who is the only one who is all good?  (the children respond: God).  Only God is good.

The other question: Do you ever get angry?  Yes, I get angry but I don't bite!  Sometimes I get angry, when someone does something that is not good, I get a bit angry ... but it helps me to stop and to think about the times when I have made others angry.  I think and I ask myself: Have I ever made someone else angry?  Ah yes, many times.  So, you don't have a right to be angry.  But this one has done ... Yes, but if he has done that thing that is bad, that is not good, call him and speak to him as a brother, speak like brothers and sisters, speak, speak.  But without any anger, because anger is poisonous, it poisons the soul.  Many times I have seen children and young people who are frightened.  Why?  Because their parents, or at school, they are scolded.  And when someone is angry and scolds, it hurts, it really hurts: scolding someone is like stabbing at the soul, it is not good.  Have you understood this?

I get angry, yes, sometimes I get angry, but it helps me to think about the times when I made other people angry, this helps me to calm down a bit, it makes me a bit more quiet.  Getting angry is one thing that hurts not only the other person, it also hurts us, poisons us.  There are people, who I am certain that you know, who have sour souls, who are always bitter, who live with anger.  It seems that every morning, they brush their teeth with acid in order to be so angry!  People who are like that ...: it's a sickness.  Of course, if there is something I don't like, I get a bit angry.  But this, the habit of getting angry, the habit of shouting, the habit of scolding others, this is poison!  I ask you, and everyone in his or her language, respond: how can you describe Jesus' soul, sweet or bitter?  (they respond: Sweet!).  Why was it sweet?  Because when he got angry, his anger never affected his soul, it was only to correct someone, and then peace would return to him.

What is your advice for the new year?  I did one good thing in these days, when I took some time to make a spiritual retreat: to pray awhile.  Because I realized that bishops and priests - I am a bishop - should lead the people of God first of all with prayer: it is the first service that we can give them.  I will tell you a story.  At the beginning of Christianity there was so much work because many people were converting and the apostles didn't have time.  Some of them came to complain because they were not taking good care of widows and orphans.  It was true, but there was no time to do everything.  They held a council among themselves and they decided to entrust some men solely to the service of the people.  This was the time when deacons were created.  Deacons were born this way.  You can see this in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles.  And what did Peter say, Saint Peter, the first Pope?  What did he say?  They will do this, and we, the apostles, only two things: prayer and the proclamation of the gospel, preaching.  Therefore, for a bishop, the first task is prayer, the first task: you can't be a bishop in the Church without having prayer as your first priority.  Then comes the proclamation of the gospel.  In these days, in response to your question, I thought that a good resolution for the new year would be to pray a bit more.  Ok?  I also ask you: do you think that this would be a good thing also for you to do?  (they respond: Yes).  Pray a bit more, because the Church goes forward with the prayer of the saints.  Pray for the Church!

Third question
When you were young, what did you dream of becoming?  In the evenings, when I watch television with my family, I see many sad and dramatic stories: will the world always be like this, even when I grow up?

Pope Francis
If I told you the truth about your first question, I would make you laugh ... I will tell you the truth.  The question was: When you were young, what did you dream of becoming?  When I was a child, I would often go with my grandmother, but also with my mother, to the market to shop.  At that time, there were no supermarkets, there was no television, there was nothing of the sort ... The market was on the street and there were places for greens, for fruit, for meat, for fish and people could buy everything.  One day at home, at table, I was asked: what would you like to do when you grow up?  Do you know what I said?  A butcher.  Why?  Because there were butchers in the market - there were 3 or 4 places where we could buy meat - they would take the knife, cut pieces ... it's an art, and I liked to watch them, to look at them.  Now, I changed my mind, obviously; but, in response to your question, when I was small, I thought about becoming a butcher.  I would have been happy.

Then, the second question - this is serious! - At night, while I am at dinner with my family, watching television, I always hear sad and dramatic news ... but the world, when I grow up, will it always be like this?  What you say is true.  There are so many people who are suffering in the world today.  There are wars.  How many wars are there?  In Africa, think about how many wars there are.  The Middle East, where Jesus was born, is at war.  Ukraine, war.  In many places.  In Latin America, there is war.  These are terrible things!  What does war accomplish?  It causes poverty, suffering, evil.  Always only sad things ... Think about the children.  You, young boys and girls, children, have the gift of God to be able to sing, to be happy, to live the Christian life as Saint Augustine said - what did Saint Augustine say? (they respond: Sing and walk!) -, but there are children in our world who don't have food; there are children who can't go to school, because there is war, poverty, and there are no schools; there are children who, when they are sick, can't go to the hospital.  Pray for these children.  Pray!  Will the world always be like this?  The world can get better, but there is something that we don't like to talk about, but which we must talk about: in the world, there is a struggle between good and evil - philosophers say - the struggle between the devil and God.  This still exists.  When anyone of us is tempted to something bad, this little bad thing is inspired by the devil, who, through the weakness that is left within us as a result of original sin, inspires such thoughts within us.  Evil exists in small things as well as in bigger things; in wars like - for example - a young boy or a young girl who tells a lie: this is a war against the truth of God, against the truth of life, against joy.  This struggle between the devil and God, the bible tells us that it will go on until the end.  This is clear, no?  Have you understood this?  It's clear.  We all have within us a field of battle.  We fight between good and evil, all of us.  We have graces and temptations, and we must speak with our parish priests, our catechists about these things in order to know them well.  This is the first thing.  The second: there are many good things in the world, and I ask myself: why are these good things never published?  Because it seems that people only like to see bad things or to hear terrible news.  Let us think about Africa: many bad things, many wars - as I said - but there are missionaries, priests, sisters who have spent their entire lives there, preaching the gospel, in poverty ... Last month when I went to Africa, I found nuns ... I remember one who was 83 years old, she was Italian, and she told me: I have been here since I was 26 years old.  And there are so many holy families, many parents who teach their children well.  Why do we never see families on television who teach well, who teach their children well?  We don't ever see such things!  Because we have an attraction for evil: it seems that we get more enjoyment from watching evil things than good things, great and beautiful things.  The devil does his part - that's true - but also God is at work: there are many holy people!  Not only in the missions, but throughout the world, in our workplaces, in families; many parents, many grandmothers and grandfathers who help those who are sick, who have problems; and this is never seen on television.  Why?  Because these things don't rate, they don't make good publicity ... Here in Italy, I have discovered many associations, men and women who give of their time to help, to accompany, to care for the sick.  This is good.  But this is never seen in advertisements.  Is this true or not?  If you want ratings - either in newspapers, or on television, or whatever - only tell about terrible things; people get bored with good things.  Or else, perhaps they don't know how to present things well, to tell stories about good things well.

When you (speaking to the child who had asked the question) watch television, at home, remember these two things: there is a struggle in the world between good and evil, many children are suffering, there are wars, there are terrible things, because the struggle is between God and the devil; but also think about the many people, many holy people, many people who give their lives to help others, to pray for others.  Why is it that we never see cloistered monks on television who spend their lives praying for everyone?  This doesn't interest anyone ... Maybe they are more interested in the jewelry from an important firm, who wants to be seen ... things that lead to vanity.  Let us not be fooled!  In the world, there are terrible things, terrible, terrible, and this is the work of the devil against God; but there are holy things, holy things, great things which are the work of God.  There are hidden saints.  Don't forget this word: hidden saints, those who we don't see.  Ok?

I want to thank you for all of this, but I want to hear another song before I tell you if I like how you sing or not ... And another thing: I want to hear you tell me again what Saint Augustine said about the Christian life.  How should we live our lives?  (they respond: Sing and walk!).  Sing and walk!  Second: who is good? (Only God is good)

Good.  Now, I'm waiting for a beautiful song ... Thank you!

(the children sing a song)



Pope Francis
Now I can reply: you sing very well!  Thank you!

I will give you my blessing, and also my greetings for the new year.  And tomorrow, we will see each other in the Basilica, it will be a pleasure.

Let us pray to Our Lady, everyone in your own language.
Hail Mary ....

(Blessing)

General Audience on the Child Jesus

This morning's General Audience - the final one for 2015 - began at 10:00am (EST+6) in Saint Peter's Square, where the Holy Father met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from every corner of the world.

In his speech, the Pope focused his meditation on the Child Jesus.

After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Pope addressed particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.  Then, he asked for prayers for the victims of natural disasters that have taken place in the United States, in Great Britain and in South America.

The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.

Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the General Audience

Brothers and sisters, good morning!

In this Christmas season, we find ourselves before the Child Jesus.  I am sure that in our homes, still many families have set up a crib, continuing this beautiful tradition that dates back to Saint Francis of Assisi and that keeps the mystery of God who became man alive in our hearts.

Devotion to the Child Jesus is widespread.  Many saints cultivated this devotion in their daily prayer, and wanted to model their lives on the life of the Child Jesus.  I think especially of Saint Teresa of Lisieux, who as a contemplative Carmelite took the name of Teresa of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.  She - who is also a Doctor of the Church - lived and bore witness to spiritual infancy which teaches us to be humble like God who made himself small for our sakes, through meditation at the school of the Virgin Mary.  This is a great mystery, God is humble!  We who are proud, filled with vanity and believe ourselves to be great, are nothing!  He, the great one, is humble and made himself a child.  This is truly a mystery!  God is humble.  This is beautiful!

There was a time when, in the divine-human person of Christ, God was a child, and this should have a special meaning for our faith.  It's true that his death on a cross and his resurrection are the greatest expression of his redemptive love, but don't forget that his entire earthly life was revealing and a source of teaching.  During the Christmas season, we remember his infancy.  In order to grow in our faith, we need to contemplate especially the Child Jesus.  Sure, we do not know any details about this period in his life.  The rare indications that we have refer to the giving of his name eight days after his birth, at the presentation in the Temple (cf Lk 2:21-28); and to the visit of the Magi with the resulting flight into Egypt (cf Mt 2:1-23).  Then there is a big jump to the age of twelve years, when Mary and Joseph go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover, and instead of returning with his parents, he remains in the Temple, speaking with the teachers of the law.

As you can see, we know very little about the Child Jesus, but we can learn a lot from Him if we look at the life of children.  It is a good thing for parents and grandparents to have - looking at their children, at what they do.

First, we discover that children want our attention.  Why do they want us to focus on them?  Because they are proud?  No!  Because they need to feel protected.  We also need to keep Jesus at the centre of our lives and to know, although it seems paradoxical, that we have a responsibility to protect him.  He wants to be held in our arms, he wants to be cared for and to be able to fix his gaze on our gaze.  It also brings a smile to the Child Jesus to be able to demonstrate our love and our joy to him because he is among us.  His smile is a sign of love that gives us the certainty of being loved.  Children, in fact, love to play, but to allow a child to play means that we must abandon our own logic and enter into their logic.  If we want to have fun, we need to understand what they like, and not be egotistical and make them do the things that we ourselves like to do.  This is a lesson for us.  Before Jesus, we are called to abandon our own pretexts of autonomy - and this is the heart of the problem: our pretext of autonomy - in order to welcome the true form of freedom which is the knowledge of the person whose presence we share and to be able to serve him.  This child is the Son of God who comes to save us.  He came among us to show us the Father's face which is rich in love and mercy.  Let us therefore hold the Child Jesus in our arms, putting ourselves at his service: he is the source of love and of serenity.  This is a good thing for us to do today, when we go back home, to stand beside the crib and to kiss the Child Jesus and say: Jesus, I want to be humble like you, humble like God is, and to ask him for this grace.

At the conclusion of his catechesis, the Holy Father's teaching was summarized and presented in various languages and he himself offered greetings to each group of the faithful that was present.  To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, including the pilgrimage groups from Norway, the Philippines and the United States of America. I thank the choirs for their praise of God in song. With prayerful good wishes that the the Church’s celebration of the Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment of grace and spiritual renewal for all, I invoke upon you and your families an abundance of joy and peace in the Lord. Happy New Year!

Having concluded his greetings to the faithful, the Holy Father then asked for special prayers to be offered for victims of disasters in various parts of the world:

I invite you to pray for the victims of disasters which in recent days have taken place in the United States, in Great Britain and in South America, especially in Paraguay, resulting in unfortunate victims, many of whom have been displaced due to extensive damage.  May the Lord comfort those peoples, and may fraternal assistance come to their aid in their time of need.

Angelus for the Holy Family

At the conclusion of the Mass celebrated in the Vatican Basilica for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, 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 for the usual Sunday appointment on the occasion of the Jubilee of Families.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

These young people sing very well.  Bravo!

In the joy of Christmas, we celebrate this Sunday the feast of the Holy Family.  I remember the great meeting that was held in Philadelphia last September; and I think about the many families I met on my apostolic voyages; and those from all over the world.  I want to greet all of them with affection and gratitude, especially in our current times, in which families are subjected to incomprehensible difficulties of various sorts that weaken them.

Today's gospel invites families to welcome the light of hope that comes from the home in Nazareth, in which Jesus joyfully spent his childhood.  Saint Luke says that he grew in wisdom, age and grace in the eyes of the Lord and of mankind (Lk 2:52).  The nuclear family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is for every believer, and especially for the family, an authentic school of the gospel.  Here we admire the fulfillment of the divine plan to make the family a special community of life and love.  Here, we learn that every Christian nuclear family is called to be a domestic church, in order to radiate evangelical virtue and to become a leaven for good in society.  The typical traits of the Holy Family are: meditation and prayer; mutual understanding and respect; and a spirit of sacrifice, work and solidarity.

In the example and the witness of the Holy Family, every family can find precious guidance for its kind of life and lifestyle choices, and can draw strength and inspiration for its everyday journey.  Our Lady and Saint Joseph teach us to welcome children as a gift from God, to bring them up and to educate them: cooperating in a wonderful way with the work of the Creator and in this way giving the world a new smile in the person of every child.  In united families, children's existence can mature as they are exposed to meaningful and effective experiences of love, tenderness and mutual respect, mutual understanding, forgiveness and joy, all freely given.

Above all, I want to concentrate on joy.  True joy that we experienced in a family is not something casual or a matter of luck.  It is a fruitful joy found in the profound harmony existing between people which justifies the beauty of being together, of supporting one another along the journey of life.  But the basis of joy is always the presence of God, his love that is welcoming, merciful and patient in every case and for every person.  If we do not open the door of the family to the presence of God and to his love, the family loses the gift of harmony, a sense of individualism prevails and all joy is gone.  On the other hand, the family that lives and experiences joy, the joy of life, the joy of faith will communicate it spontaneously, being salt for the earth and light for the world, leaven for the whole of society.

May Jesus, Mary and Joseph bless and protect all the families of the world so that in them, serenity and joy, justice and peace may reign: the gifts which the newborn Christ brought for all humanity.

Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:

My thoughts at this moment are focused on the numerous Cuban migrants who find themselves in trouble in Central America, many of them are victims of human trafficking.  I invite the countries of that region to generously renew all necessary efforts in order to find a timely solution to this humanitarian tragedy.

Today, I extend a warm greeting to all the families who are present in the Square, to all of you!  Thank you for your witness.  May the Lord accompany you with his grace and support you on your daily journey.

I greet you all, pilgrims who have come from every corner of the world, especially the young people from the Diocese of Bergamo who have recently been Confirmed.  I also thank all the youth and the children who have sung so well; continue singing ... A Christmas song in honour of the family.

I wish you all a good Sunday.  Thank you again for your greetings and for your prayers, and please continue to pray for me.  Enjoy your lunch and good bye!

A message to Valencia

The Cardinal Secretary of State, His Eminence, Pietro Parolin has sent a message in the name of the Holy Father addressed to youth who are gathered in Valencia (Spain) for an encounter of prayer organized by the Taizé community.

Message sent on behalf of His Holiness, Pope Francis

for the Taizé gathering in Valencia (Spain)

Dear young people,

In the thousands, you have gathered in Valencia, in Spain for the 38th European meeting led by the Taizé community.  The theme of mercy that gathers you and that you will reflect upon throughout the year 2016 makes Pope Francis especially close to you since the Jubilee of Mercy which he has proposed, began on December 8.  It is his hope that the Christian people will reflect during the Jubilee on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy (Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy).  The Holy Father thanks you with all his heart for contributing your creative energies and the imagination of your youth to this work.

You also hope that mercy might be manifested in all its dimensions, including social ones.  The Pope encourages you to continue this path, to have the courage of mercy that will lead you not only to receive it for yourselves, in your personal lives, but also to help you draw closer to people who are in distress.  You know, the Church is present to help all people and wherever there are Christians, others should be able to find an oasis of mercy.  This is what your communities can become.

This applies especially to the numerous migrants who so desperately need your welcome.  The Pope recently wrote to Brother Alois, on the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of the founder of the Taizé community: Brother Roger loved the poor, the disadvantaged, those who, apparently, don't matter.  He demonstrated through his existence and by that of his brothers that prayer goes hand in hand with human solidarity.  Through your practice of solidarity and of mercy, may you experience the demanding happiness, so rich in meaning, to which the gospel calls you.

The Holy Father hopes that at the heart of these beautiful days during which you are gathered in Valencia, praying and sharing among you, you may discover Christ even better: the face of the Father's mercy.  He has already spoken through the prophet Hosea, when he passed on the Lord's message to his people: It is mercy that I want, not sacrifice.

With all his heart, Pope Francis imparts his blessing: to all of you young people participating in the gathering, to the Brothers of Taizé and to all those who welcome you to Valencia and its surrounding regions.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State of His Holiness

A Message to Nigeria

Having heard of a tragic explosion which took place at a gas plant in Nigeria, the Cardinal Secretary of State, His Eminence, Pietro Parolin has sent a message on behalf of the Holy Father.

Message sent on behalf of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

to those affected by gas plant explosions in Nigeria

The Holy Father was deeply saddened to learn of the senseless killing of innocent people in Mindanao, and he sends condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. His Holiness prays that security and safety will be established for all people in the region, so that dialogue, tolerance and peace may enable each person to live free from fear. He asks all believers to reject violence in the name of God who is love, and invokes abundant divine gifts of consolation, mercy and strength upon those affected by this tragedy.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State

A message to Mindanao

Having received news of attacks that have taken place on the island of Mindanao, the Cardinal Secretary of State, His Eminence, Pietro Parolin has sent the following message on behalf of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Message sent on behalf of His Holiness, Pope Francis

to the people of Mindanao

The Holy Father was deeply saddened to learn of the senseless killing of innocent people in Mindanao, and he sends condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. His Holiness prays that security and safety will be established for all people in the region, so that dialogue, tolerance and peace may enable each person to live free from fear. He asks all believers to reject violence in the name of God who is love, and invokes abundant divine gifts of consolation, mercy and strength upon those affected by this tragedy.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State

Mass for Holy Family Sunday

At 10:00am today (local time in Rome), the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the Vatican Basilica.

During the Eucharistic Celebration with Roman families and pilgrims who had come to Rome for the Jubilee of Families, following the proclamation of the gospel, the Pope shared the following homily:

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the Feast of the Holy Family

The biblical readings which we just heard presented us with the image of two families on pilgrimage to the house of God. Elkanah and Hannah bring their son Samuel to the Temple of Shiloh and consecrate him to the Lord (cf 1 Sam 1:20-22, 24-28). In the same way, Joseph and Mary, in the company of Jesus, go as pilgrims to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover (cf Lk 2:41-52).

We often see pilgrims journeying to shrines and places dear to popular piety.  These days, many of them are making their way to the Holy Door opened in all the cathedrals of the world and in many shrines. But the most beautiful thing which emerges from the word of God today is that the whole family goes on pilgrimage. Fathers, mothers and children together go to the house of the Lord, in order to sanctify the holy day with prayer. It is an important teaching, which is meant for our own families as well. Indeed, we could say that family life is a series of pilgrimages, both small and big.

For example, how comforting it is for us to reflect on Mary and Joseph teaching Jesus how to pray! This is a sort of pilgrimage, the pilgrimage of education in prayer. And it is comforting also to know that throughout the day they would pray together, and then go each Sabbath to the synagogue to listen to readings from the Law and the Prophets, and to praise the Lord with the assembly. Certainly, during their pilgrimage to Jerusalem, they prayed by singing the Psalm: I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’ Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem (Ps 122:1-2).

How important it is for our families to journey together towards a single goal! We know that we have a road to travel together; a road along which we encounter difficulties but also enjoy moments of joy and consolation. And on this pilgrimage of life we also share in moments of prayer. What can be more beautiful than for a father and mother to bless their children at the beginning and end of each day, to trace on their forehead the sign of the cross, as they did on the day of their baptism? Is this not the simplest prayer which parents can offer for their children? To bless them, that is, to entrust them to the Lord, just like Elkanah and Anna, Joseph and Mary, so that he can be their protection and support throughout the day. In the same way, it is important for families to join in a brief prayer before meals, in order to thank the Lord for these gifts and to learn how to share what we have received with those in greater need. These are all little gestures, yet they point to the great formative role played by the family in the pilgrimage of every day life.

At the end of that pilgrimage, Jesus returned to Nazareth and was obedient to his parents (cf Lk 2:51). This image also contains a beautiful teaching about our families. A pilgrimage does not end when we arrive at our destination, but when we return home and resume our everyday lives, putting into practice the spiritual fruits of our experience. We know what Jesus did on that occasion. Instead of returning home with his family, he stayed in Jerusalem, in the Temple, causing great distress to Mary and Joseph who were unable to find him. For this little escapade, Jesus probably had to beg forgiveness of his parents. The Gospel doesn’t say this, but I believe that we can presume it. Mary’s question, moreover, contains a certain reproach, revealing the concern and anguish which she and Joseph felt. Returning home, Jesus surely remained close to them, as a sign of his complete affection and obedience. Moments like these become part of the pilgrimage of each family; the Lord transforms the moments into opportunities to grow, to ask for and to receive forgiveness, to show love and obedience.

In the Year of Mercy, every Christian family can become a privileged place on this pilgrimage for experiencing the joy of forgiveness. Forgiveness is the essence of the love which can understand mistakes and mend them. How miserable we would be if God did not forgive us! Within the family we learn how to forgive, because we are certain that we are understood and supported, whatever the mistakes we make.

Let us not lose confidence in the family! It is beautiful when we can always open our hearts to one another, and hide nothing. Where there is love, there is also understanding and forgiveness. To all of you, dear families, I entrust this most important mission - the domestic pilgrimage of daily family life - which the world and the Church need, now more than ever.

Angelus for Saint Stephen's day

At noon today, the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr, 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.

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 Saint Stephen.  The memory of the first martyr follows immediately after the Solemnity of Christmas.  Yesterday, we contemplated the merciful love of God, who took on flesh for us; today we see the consistent response of the disciple of Jesus who gives his life.  Yesterday, the Lord was born on the earth; today his faithful witness is born in heaven.  Yesterday and today, the darkness of the denial of life appears, but the light of love shines ever more brightly, overcoming hatred and inaugurating a new world.

There is a specific aspect in today's passage from the Acts of the Apostles that drew Saint Stephen closer to the Lord: it was the source of his forgiveness before he died from stoning.  Nailed to the cross, Jesus said: Father, forgive them for they know not what they do (Lk 23:34); in a similar fashion, Stephen fell to his knees and cried out 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them' (Acts 7:60).  Stephen was therefore martyred, which means that he bore witness, for he did like Jesus did; he was in fact true witnesses are those who act like Him: they pray, they love, they give, but above all they forgive because forgiveness, like the word itself says, is the greatest expression of the gift.

We can ask ourselves - what is the usefulness of forgiveness?  Is it only a good thing to do or does it actually bear results?  We find a response especially in Stephen's martyrdom.  Among those who have implored forgiveness, there was a young man named Saul, who once persecuted the Church and tried to destroy it (cf Acts 8:3).  Shortly after that, Saul became Paul, the great saint, the apostle to the gentiles.  He received Stephen's forgiveness.  WE can say that Paul was born from God's grace and from Stephen's forgiveness.

We too are born of God's forgiveness.  Not only of Baptism, but every time that we are forgiven, our hearts are reborn, become regenerated.  Every step forward in our life of faith is marked with an early sign of divine mercy.  Only when we are loved can we in turn love others.  Let us always remember it, it will do us good: if we want to grow in faith, before anything else, we must receive God's forgiveness; me must meet the Lord, who is always ready to forgive everyone, and who by forgiving, heals our hearts and revives us in love.  We must never grow tired of asking for divine forgiveness, for only when we are forgiven, can we in turn forgive.

However, it's not so easy to forgive, it is always very difficult.  How can we imitate Jesus?  Where do we begin to forgive the small and the great wrongs that we experience every day?  First of all, we begin in prayer, like Saint Stephen did.  It all begins in our hearts: in prayer, we can face every resentment that we might experience, confiding those who have done us wrong to the mercy of God: Lord, I ask your mercy for him, for her.  Then it turns out that this inner struggle to forgive purifies us from evil, and prayer and love sets us free from the chains of interior resentment.  It is very difficult to live with resentment!  Every day, we have opportunities to learn how to forgive, to live this highest of gestures that draws mankind closer to God.  Like our heavenly Father, we too become merciful, for through forgiveness, we overcome evil with good, we transform hatred into love and therefore make the world a cleaner place.

We entrust many people to the Virgin Mary - and unfortunately there are many - who like Saint Stephen, are undergoing persecution in the name of faith, our many modern-day martyrs; may our prayers be directed toward receiving and granting forgiveness: receiving and granting forgiveness.

Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:

Dear brothers and sisters,

I greet all you pilgrims who have come from Italy and from other countries.  I repeat to all of you my wishes that contemplating of the Child Jesus, with Mary and Joseph by his side, may inspire us to be merciful and to love one another in our families, in our parish and religious communities, in our movements and associations, in all the faithful and in people of good will.

In recent weeks, I have received many congratulatory messages from Rome and from other places.  It is not possible for me to respond to each one.  Therefore, today I want to say thank you to all of you, especially for the gift of your prayer.

Happy feast of Saint Stephen, and please don't forget to pray for me.  Enjoy your lunch and good bye!

To the city and to the world

At noon today in Rome, the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, from the Central Loggia (Balcony) above the doors of the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father, Pope Francis spoke his traditional Christmas message to the faithful who were present in Saint Peter's Square and to those who were listening on the radio and on television throughout the world, before imparting his Urbi et Orbi blessing (to the city of Rome and to the world).

Address of His Holiness, Pope Francis

to the city and to the world

Urbi et Orbi

Dear brothers and sisters,
Happy Christmas!

Christ is born for us, let us rejoice in the day of our salvation!

Let us open our hearts to receive the grace of this day, which is Christ himself. Jesus is the radiant day which has dawned on the horizon of humanity. A day of mercy, in which God our Father has revealed his great tenderness to the entire world. A day of light, which dispels the darkness of fear and anxiety. A day of peace, which makes for encounter, dialogue and, above all, reconciliation. A day of joy: a great joy for the poor, the lowly and for all the people (cf Lk 2:10).

On this day, Jesus, the Saviour is born of the Virgin Mary. The Crib makes us see the sign which God has given us: a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger (Lk 2:12). Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, may we too set out to see this sign, this event which is renewed yearly in the Church. Christmas is an event which is renewed in every family, parish and community which receives the love of God made incarnate in Jesus Christ. Like Mary, the Church shows to everyone the sign of God: the Child whom she bore in her womb and to whom she gave birth, yet who is the Son of the Most High, since he is of the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:20). He is truly the Saviour, for he is the Lamb of God who takes upon himself the sin of the world (cf Jn 1:29). With the shepherds, let us bow down before the Lamb, let us worship God’s goodness made flesh, and let us allow tears of repentance to fill our eyes and cleanse our hearts. This is something we all need!

He alone, he alone can save us. Only God’s mercy can free humanity from the many forms of evil, at times monstrous evil, which selfishness spawns in our midst. The grace of God can convert hearts and offer mankind a way out of humanly insoluble situations.

Where God is born, hope is born. He brings hope. Where God is born, peace is born. And where peace is born, there is no longer room for hatred and for war. Yet precisely where the incarnate Son of God came into the world, tensions and violence persist, and peace remains a gift to be implored and built. May Israelis and Palestinians resume direct dialogue and reach an agreement which will enable the two peoples to live together in harmony, ending a conflict which has long set them at odds, with grave repercussions for the entire region.

We pray to the Lord that the agreement reached in the United Nations may succeed in halting as quickly as possible the clash of arms in Syria and in remedying the extremely grave humanitarian situation of its suffering people. It is likewise urgent that the agreement on Libya be supported by all, so as to overcome the grave divisions and violence afflicting the country. May the attention of the international community be unanimously directed to ending the atrocities which in those countries, as well as in Iraq, Libya, Yemen and sub-Saharan Africa, even now reap numerous victims, cause immense suffering and do not even spare the historical and cultural patrimony of entire peoples. My thoughts also turn to those affected by brutal acts of terrorism, particularly the recent massacres which took place in Egyptian airspace, in Beirut, Paris, Bamako and Tunis.

To our brothers and sisters who in many parts of the world are being persecuted for their faith, may the Child Jesus grant consolation and strength. They are our martyrs of today.

We also pray for peace and concord among the peoples of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and South Sudan, that dialogue may lead to a strengthened common commitment to the building of civil societies animated by a sincere spirit of reconciliation and of mutual understanding.

May Christmas also bring true peace to Ukraine, offer comfort to those suffering from the effects of the conflict, and inspire willingness to carry out the agreements made to restore concord in the entire country.

May the joy of this day illuminate the efforts of the Colombian people so that, inspired by hope, they may continue their commitment to working for the desired peace.

Where God is born, hope is born; and where hope is born, persons regain their dignity. Yet even today great numbers of men and woman are deprived of their human dignity and, like the child Jesus, suffer cold, poverty, and rejection. May our closeness today be felt by those who are most vulnerable, especially child soldiers, women who suffer violence, and the victims of human trafficking and the drug trade.

Nor may our encouragement be lacking to all those fleeing extreme poverty or war, travelling all too often in inhumane conditions and not infrequently at the risk of their lives. May God repay all those, both individuals and states, who generously work to provide assistance and welcome to the numerous migrants and refugees, helping them to build a dignified future for themselves and for their dear ones, and to be integrated in the societies which receive them.

On this festal day may the Lord grant renewed hope to all those who lack employment – and they are so many!; may he sustain the commitment of those with public responsibilities in political and economic life, that they may work to pursue the common good and to protect the dignity of every human life.

Where God is born, mercy flourishes. Mercy is the most precious gift which God gives us, especially during this Jubilee year in which we are called to discover that tender love of our heavenly Father for each of us. May the Lord enable prisoners in particular to experience his merciful love, which heals wounds and triumphs over evil.

Today, then, let us together rejoice in the day of our salvation. As we contemplate the Crib, let us gaze on the open arms of Jesus, which show us the merciful embrace of God, as we hear the cries of the Child who whispers to us: for my brethren and companions’ sake, I will say: Peace be within you (Ps 121:8).

Lessons for Christmas

At 9:30pm last evening, inside the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided at the celebration of the Mass during the Night for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the Mass during the Night

commemorating the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord

Tonight a great light shines forth (Is 9:1); the light of Jesus’ birth shines all about us. How true and timely are the words of the prophet Isaiah which we have just heard: You have brought abundant joy and great rejoicing (9:2)! Our heart was already joyful in awaiting this moment; now that joy abounds and overflows, for the promise has been at last fulfilled. Joy and gladness are a sure sign that the message contained in the mystery of this night is truly from God. There is no room for doubt; let us leave that to the skeptics who, by looking to reason alone, never find the truth. There is no room for the indifference which reigns in the hearts of those unable to love for fear of losing something. All sadness has been banished, for the Child Jesus brings true comfort to every heart.

Today, the Son of God is born, and everything changes. The Saviour of the world comes to partake of our human nature; no longer are we alone and forsaken. The Virgin offers us her Son as the beginning of a new life. The true light has come to illumine our lives so often beset by the darkness of sin. Today we once more discover who we are! Tonight we have been shown the way to reach the journey’s end. Now must we put away all fear and dread, for the light shows us the path to Bethlehem. We must not be laggards; we are not permitted to stand idle. We must set out to see our Saviour lying in a manger. This is the reason for our joy and gladness: this Child has been born to us; he was given to us, as Isaiah proclaims (cf. 9:5). The people who for for two thousand years has traversed all the pathways of the world in order to allow every man and woman to share in this joy is now given the mission of making known the Prince of peace and becoming his effective servant in the midst of the nations.

So when we hear tell of the birth of Christ, let us be silent and let the Child speak. Let us take his words to heart in rapt contemplation of his face. If we take him in our arms and let ourselves be embraced by him, he will bring us unending peace of heart. This Child teaches us what is truly essential in our lives. He was born into the poverty of this world; there was no room in the inn for him and his family. He found shelter and support in a stable and was laid in a manger for animals. And yet, from this nothingness, the light of God’s glory shines forth. From now on, the way of authentic liberation and perennial redemption is open to every man and woman who is simple of heart. This Child, whose face radiates the goodness, mercy and love of God the Father, trains us, his disciples, as Saint Paul says, to reject godless ways and the richness of the world, in order to live temperately, justly and devoutly (Tit 2:12).

In a society so often intoxicated by consumerism and hedonism, wealth and extravagance, appearances and narcissism, this Child calls us to act soberly, in other words, in a way that is simple, balanced, consistent, capable of seeing and doing what is essential. In a world which all too often is merciless to the sinner and lenient to the sin, we need to cultivate a strong sense of justice, to discern and to do God’s will. Amid a culture of indifference which not infrequently turns ruthless, our style of life should instead be devout, filled with empathy, compassion and mercy, drawn daily from the wellspring of prayer.

Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, may we too, with eyes full of amazement and wonder, gaze upon the Child Jesus, the Son of God. And in his presence may our hearts burst forth in prayer: Show us, Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation (Ps 85:8).

Welcome home

During this year of the Jubilee of Mercy, the image of a child, born to parents who were driven from their homes compels us all to open our hearts to the One who calls us home again.  Here is the text of the reflection I offered to those who came to celebrate Christmas with us.

Away from home

Earlier this week, various news sources reported that the official number of refugees who have entered into Europe during the year 2015 has already surpassed one million!  One million people who have had to leave everything behind: their possessions, their livelihoods, their dreams – and leaving their homes behind, there is no guarantee of safety, or surety about where their journey will end.  In the last few months, efforts in Canada have resulted in the arrival of relatively few of these refugees on these shores, the beginning of a new life for some of the most lucky ones.

If we could somehow speak with some of those who have been displaced from the security of their homes and their lifestyles, their stories would not be too different, I think, from the story that is recounted in today’s gospel.  As the Roman empire was being established, its first Emperor, Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken, so that he could know how many people lived in the territory that belonged to the Romans, and where they all were.  As a result, Joseph and Mary went from the town of Nazareth - their home - in Galilee to Judea to the city of David called Bethlehem (Lk 2:4) a journey of more than 100 kilometres travelled on foot and on the back of a donkey, in order to be registered, and it was while they were there, that the time came for her to deliver her child (Lk 2:6).

Both Mary and Joseph knew that this was no ordinary child, but I wonder what they must have thought of the fact that there was no room for them in the inn (Lk 2:7).  The angel had told Mary that the child she bore was holy, to be called the Son of the Most High (Lk 1:32-35), yet she was no queen, and Joseph was a humble carpenter, descended from the house of David, but so far distanced from the affluence of royalty as to almost have forgotten his dignified roots.  Like all parents though, they loved this newborn child and cared for him with tenderness: wrapping him in swaddling clothes and laying him in a manger in order to keep him warm.

Today, like the shepherds who had heard of Jesus’ birth and came with haste to find him (cf Lk 1:16), we too come in search of the one who promises the gift of God’s peace.  The story that is told is the fulfillment of the prophesy of Isaiah.  In that little child, lying in the manger, the people who once walked in darkness have seen a great light (Is 9:2): the light of faith, the living presence of our loving God who came to dwell among his people.

During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, this Christmas day allows us an especially poignant moment to appreciate the fact that the grace of God appeared (cf Ti 2:11) in the form of a helpless infant, totally dependent upon his parents for love, for attention and for protection.  They fell in love with him instantly – how could they not – and in time, he would teach them the great power of God’s love, a love that led him to give himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity (Ti 2:14).

God left his homeland in heaven and came to live among us, so that we in turn could learn how to love as he loves, how to forgive as he forgives, and how to take care of one another as he cares for us.  On this Christmas day, let us remember and pray for all refugees: those who have been forced to leave their homelands for all kinds of reasons, and set out on a road that is often filled with questions and doubts.

Let us ask the Lord to protect them, and let us also ask for the grace to recognize the great gift of love that was offered for us when our God took on human flesh and came to live among us.  Let us not be afraid to welcome him into our hearts so that he can show us how to build bridges of peace and reconciliation.  Then this Christmas, celebrated during the Jubilee of Mercy will indeed be an occasion for the long-awaited greeting to be voiced: Welcome home!

An auxiliary bishop for Saint-Jean-Longueuil

This morning in Rome, the Holy Father has named a new Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil (Canada) - Reverend Father Claude Hamelin, who until now has been serving as Vicar General of that diocese.  The Holy Father has assigned the titular see of Apollonia to Canada's newly-appointed Bishop.

In his new position, Bishop Hamelin will assist the Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil, His Excellency, Lionel Gendron, PSS with the pastoral governance of the diocese.

Meet His Excellency, Claude Hamelin

Titular Bishop-elect of Apollonia

Father Claude Hamelin was born in Sherington, in the Diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil (Quebec) on July 10, 1952.  He completed his theological studies at the University of Montréal where he attained a Bacheloriate in Theology and a Master's degree in Pastoral Theology before being ordained a priest on December 3, 1977.

From 1977 until 1980, he served as Chaplain at a secondary school and as part-time Associate Pastor.  He later obtained a Licence in Moral Theology from the Pontifical Alfonsianum University in Rome.

Following his return to the diocese, he served as Chaplain in a private school and as Associate Pastor until 1990.  From 1991 until 2000, he served as Pastor of Saint Mark parish in Candiac.  From 2000 until 2010, he served as Episcopal Vicar for the Central, Northern and Western Regions of the diocese and also responsible for the Diocesan Office for Clergy.  Finally, in 2010, he was named Vicar General.

Christmas Greetings for employees and families

At 11:50 this morning, in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father, Pope Francis met the employees of the Holy See and the Vatican City State, along with the members of their families, to present his Christmas greetings.

Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the meeting with Vatican employees

Dear brothers and sisters, welcome!

The approaching Christmas time offers us a beautiful occasion to meet and to exchange greetings.

First of all, I want to thank you for your work, for the commitment that you devote to doing things well, always, even when no one notices: many times one does something well and is not recognized for doing it ... I especially want to thank those of you who for many years have been doing the same kind of work, a work that is especially hidden, and who seek to do things the right way.  We know that this is normal, and that we are only doing what we ought to do; but we also know that for us human beings, this is not easy, we are not machines - thank God! - and sometimes we need some incentive, or a little change ... I congratulate you, because you take pride in making normal everyday things special.  Thank you!  Let us continue, in various fields of work, working together, with patience, seeking to help and to be close to others.

While I thank you, I also want to ask your forgiveness for the scandals that have affected the Vatican.   My wish is that you and I might have the attitude, especially in these days, of prayer, prayer for people involved in these scandals, that those who have done wrong will repent and get back on track.

There is one more thing that I want to tell you, perhaps the most important thing: I encourage you to take care of your marriages and of your children.  Take care not to neglect them: play with your children, with your sons and daughters.  Marriage is like a plant.  It is not like a closet that you put there in a room and ignore except to dust it.  A plant is living, it needs daily care: you need to check on it, you need to water it and so on.  Marriage is a living reality: the life of a couple should never be taken for granted, at any stage of a family's journey.  Let us remember that the most precious gift for our children is not a thing, but the love of parents ... and I mean not only the love that parents have for their children, but also the love that parents have for each other, in their marital relationship.  This is so good for you and for your children!  Do not neglect your family!

So, first of all, cultivate the plant of marriage, the fact that you are married, and at the same time, care for the relationships with your children, even here, focusing more on human relationships than on things.  Speak with your children, listen to them, ask them what they think.  This dialogue between parents and children is so good!  It makes children grow in maturity.  We rely on mercy, in day to day relationships, between husband and wife, between parents and children, between brothers and sisters; and let us take care of our grandmothers: grandmothers are very important for families.  Grandmothers keep our memories, they have wisdom.  Don't push your grandmothers aside.  They are very important.  A young woman once said to me, a woman who had a child that was seven years old, and her ninety-year old grandmother also lived with them: things were not going well and she had been advised to move her grandmother into an old age home.  This wise woman, who had never studied at university, replied to those who had suggested that she put her grandmother in a nursing home: No, I want my children to grow up with my grandmother!  She knew how good it is for grandmothers to be close to their grandchildren.  Keep peace in the family: there are always fights in families, we all know it.  When there are no fights in a marriage, it seems abnormal.  The important thing is that a day should never end without making peace.  Are there brothers or sisters who fight with each other?  Always!  But be sure to make peace.  And parents, when your children have fought, before they go to bed, tell them: Make peace, shake hands, hug one another. We must learn the wisdom of making peace.  Did you fight during the day?  Is the war still going on?  Don't let the war get cold because a 'cold war' from yesterday is more dangerous than an 'active war'.  Do you understand?  Make peace at the end of the day, always!

The Jubilee can also be lived in the domestic church, not only through great events!  Indeed, God loves those who practice mercy in ordinary circumstances.  This is my wish for you: to experience the joy of mercy, beginning within your families.

Thank you for your work, forgive the scandals and lets go on.  Let's continue in this community and share my greetings and my wishes with those you love, with the elderly and the sick ... and continue, please, to pray for me.  Thank you again and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Greetings for the Staff

At 10:30 this morning, in the Sala Clementina at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the Cardinals and Superiors of the Roman Curia for the presentation of Christmas greetings.

During the meeting, following a greeting offered by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, His Eminence, Angelo Sodano, the Pope shared the following speech with those who were in attendance.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the Roman Curia

Dear brothers and sisters,

Forgive me for not standing up as I speak to you, but for some days I’ve been suffering from a cold and not feeling too well. With your permission, I’ll speak to you sitting down.

I am pleased to offer heartfelt good wishes for a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year to you and your co-workers, to the Papal Representatives, and in particular to those who in the past year have completed their service and retired. Let us also remember all those who have gone home to God. My thoughts and my gratitude go to you and to the members of your families.

In our meeting in 2013, I wanted to stress two important and inseparable aspects of the work of the Curia: professionalism and service, and I offered Saint Joseph as a model to be imitated. Then, last year, as a preparation for the sacrament of Reconciliation, we spoke of certain temptations or maladies – the catalogue of curial diseases; today instead I would like to speak about curial antibiotics – which could affect any Christian, curia, community, congregation, parish or ecclesial movement. Diseases which call for prevention, vigilance, care and, sadly, in some cases, painful and prolonged interventions.

Some of these diseases became evident in the course of the past year, causing no small pain to the entire body and harming many souls, even by scandal.

It seems necessary to state what has been – and ever shall be – the object of sincere reflection and decisive provisions. The reform will move forward with determination, clarity and firm resolve, since Ecclesia semper reformanda (the Church is constantly reforming herself).

Nonetheless, diseases and even scandals cannot obscure the efficiency of the services rendered to the Pope and to the entire Church by the Roman Curia, with great effort, responsibility, commitment and dedication, and this is a real source of consolation. Saint Ignatius taught that “it is typical of the evil spirit to instil remorse, sadness and difficulties, and to cause needless worry so as to prevent us from going forward; instead, it is typical of the good spirit to instil courage and energy, consolations and tears, inspirations and serenity, and to lessen and remove every difficulty so as to make us advance on the path of goodness (Spiritual Exercises, 315).

It would be a grave injustice not to express heartfelt gratitude and needed encouragement to all those good and honest men and women in the Curia who work with dedication, devotion, fidelity and professionalism, offering to the Church and the Successor of Peter the assurance of their solidarity and obedience, as well as their constant prayers.

Moreover, cases of resistance, difficulties and failures on the part of individuals and ministers are so many lessons and opportunities for growth, and never for discouragement. They are opportunities for returning to the essentials, which means being ever more conscious of ourselves, of God and our neighbours, of the sensus Ecclesiae (the sense of the Church) and the sensus fidei (the sense of the faithful).

It is about this return to essentials that I wish to speak today, just a few days after the Church’s inauguration of the pilgrimage of the Holy Year of Mercy, a Year which represents for her and for all of us a pressing summons to gratitude, conversion, renewal, penance and reconciliation.

Christmas is truly the feast of God’s infinite mercy, as Saint Augustine of Hippo tells us: “Could there have been any greater mercy shown to us unhappy men than that which led the Creator of the heavens to come down among us, and the Creator of the earth to take on our mortal body? That same mercy led the Lord of the world to assume the nature of a servant, so that, being himself bread, he would suffer hunger; being himself satiety, he would thirst; being himself power, he would know weakness; being himself salvation, he would experience our woundedness, and being himself life, he would die. All this he did to assuage our hunger, alleviate our longing, strengthen our weaknesses, wipe out our sins and enkindle our charity (Sermon 207, 1 (PL38, 1042)).

Consequently, in the context of this Year of Mercy and our own preparation for the coming celebration of Christmas, I would like to present a practical aid for fruitfully experiencing this season of grace. It is by no means an exhaustive catalogue of needed virtues for those who serve in the Curia and for all those who would like to make their consecration or service to the Church more fruitful.

I would ask the Heads of Dicasteries and other superiors to ponder this, to add to it and to complete it. It is a list based on an acrostic analysis of the word Misericordia – Father Ricci did this in China – with the aim of having it serve as our guide and beacon:

1. Missionary and pastoral spirit: missionary spirit is what makes the Curia evidently fertile and fruitful; it is proof of the effectiveness, efficiency and authenticity of our activity. Faith is a gift, yet the measure of our faith is also seen by the extent to which we communicate it (Message for World Mission Day 2013, 2). All baptized persons are missionaries of the Good News, above all by their lives, their work and their witness of joy and conviction. A sound pastoral spirit is an indispensable virtue for the priest in particular. It is shown in his daily effort to follow the Good Shepherd who cares for the flock and gives his life to save the lives of others. It is the yardstick for our curial and priestly work. Without these two wings we could never take flight, or even enjoy the happiness of the faithful servant (Mt 25:14-30).

2. Idoneity and sagacity: idoneity, or suitability, entails personal effort aimed at acquiring the necessary requisites for exercising as best we can our tasks and duties with intelligence and insight. It does not countenance recommendations and payoffs. Sagacity is the readiness to grasp and confront situations with shrewdness and creativity. Idoneity and sagacity also represent our human response to divine grace, when we let ourselves follow the famous dictum: Do everything as if God did not exist and then put it all in God’s hands as if you did not exist. It is the approach of the disciple who prays to the Lord every day in the words of the beautiful Universal Prayer attributed to Pope Clement XI: Vouchsafe to conduct me by your wisdom, to restrain me by your justice, to comfort me by your mercy, to defend me by your power. To thee I desire to consecrate all my thoughts, words, actions and sufferings; that henceforth I may think only of you, speak of you, refer all my actions to your greater glory, and suffer willingly whatever you appoint (Roman Missal 2002).

3. Spirituality and humanity: spirituality is the backbone of all service in the Church and in the Christian life. It is what nourishes all our activity, sustaining and protecting it from human frailty and daily temptation. Humanity is what embodies the truthfulness of our faith; those who renounce their humanity renounce everything. Humanity is what makes us different from machines and robots which feel nothing and are never moved. Once we find it hard to weep seriously or to laugh heartily – these are just two signs – we have begun our decline and the process of turning from humans into something else. Humanity is knowing how to show tenderness and fidelity and courtesy to all (cf Phil 4:5). Spirituality and humanity, while innate qualities, are a potential needing to be activated fully, attained completely and demonstrated daily.

4. Example and fidelity: Blessed Paul VI reminded the Curia – in 1963 – of “its calling to set an example” (Paul VI, Address to the Roman Curia, 21 September 1963, AAS 55, 793-800). An example of avoiding scandals which harm souls and impair the credibility of our witness. Fidelity to our consecration, to our vocation, always mindful of the words of Christ, Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much (Lk 16:10) and If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes (Mt 18:6-7).

5. Reasonableness and gentleness: reasonableness helps avoid emotional excesses, while gentleness helps avoid an excess of bureaucracy, programmes and planning. These qualities are necessary for a balanced personality: The enemy – and forgive me for quoting Saint Ignatius once again – pays careful heed to whether a soul is coarse or delicate; if it is delicate, he finds a way to make it overly delicate, in order to cause it greater distress and confusion (Spiritual Exercises, 349). Every excess is a symptom of some imbalance, be it an excess of reasoning or of delicateness.

6. Innocuousness and determination: innocuousness makes us cautious in our judgments and capable of refraining from impulsive and hasty actions. It is the ability to bring out the best in ourselves, in others and in all kinds of situations by acting carefully and attentively. It consists of doing unto others what we would have them do to us (cf Mt 7:12 and Lk 6:31). Determination is acting with a resolute will, clear vision, obedience to God and solely for the supreme law of the salus animarum - the salvation of souls (cf CIC canon 1725).

7. Charity and truth: two inseparable virtues of the Christian life, speaking the truth in charity and practising charity in truth (cf Eph 4:15) (cf Caritas in Veritate, 1 and 2) to the point where charity without truth becomes a destructive ideology of complaisance and truth without charity becomes myopic legalism.

8. Openness and maturity: openness is honesty and rectitude, consistency and absolute sincerity with regard both to ourselves and to God. An honest and open person does not act virtuously only when he or she is being watched; honest persons have no fear of being caught, since they never betray the trust of others. An honest person is never domineering like the wicked servant (cf Mt 24:48-51), with regard to the persons or matters entrusted to his or her care. Honesty is the foundation on which all other qualities rest. Maturity is the quest to achieve balance and harmony in our physical, mental and spiritual gifts. It is the goal and outcome of a never-ending process of development which has nothing to do with age.

9. Respectfulness and humility: respectfulness is an endowment of those noble and tactful souls who always try to show genuine respect for others, for their own work, for their superiors and subordinates, for dossiers and papers, for confidentiality and privacy, who can listen carefully and speak politely. Humility is the virtue of the saints and those godly persons who become all the more important as they come to realize that they are nothing, and can do nothing, apart from God’s grace (cf Jn 15:8).

10. Diligence and attentiveness: the more we trust in God and his providence, the more we grow in diligence and readiness to give of ourselves, in the knowledge that the more we give the more we receive. What good would it do to open all the Holy Doors of all the basilicas in the world if the doors of our own heart are closed to love, if our hands are closed to giving, if our homes are closed to hospitality and our churches to welcome and acceptance. Attentiveness is concern for the little things, for doing our best and never yielding to our vices and failings. Saint Vincent de Paul used to pray: Lord, help me to be always aware of those around me, those who are worried or dismayed, those suffering in silence, and those who feel alone and abandoned.

11. Intrepidness and alertness: being intrepid means fearlessness in the face of troubles, like Daniel in the den of lions, or David before Goliath. It means acting with boldness, determination and resolve, as a good soldier (2 Tim 2:3-4). It means being immediately ready to take the first step, like Abraham, or Mary. Alertness, on the other hand, is the ability to act freely and easily, without being attached to fleeting material things. The Psalm says: if riches increase, set not your heart on them (Ps 61:10). To be alert means to be always on the go, and never being burdened by the accumulation of needless things, caught up in our own concerns and driven by ambition.

12. Accountability and sobriety, finally: accountable and trustworthy persons are those who honour their commitments with seriousness and responsibility when they are being observed, but above all when they are alone; they radiate a sense of tranquillity because they never betray a trust. Sobriety – the last virtue on this list, but not because it is least important – is the ability to renounce what is superfluous and to resist the dominant consumerist mentality. Sobriety is prudence, simplicity, straightforwardness, balance and temperance. Sobriety is seeing the world through God’s eyes and from the side of the poor. Sobriety is a style of life8 which points to the primacy of others as a hierarchical principle and is shown in a life of concern and service towards others. The sober person is consistent and straightforward in all things, because he or she can reduce, recover, recycle, repair, and live a life of moderation.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Mercy is no fleeting sentiment, but rather the synthesis of the joyful Good News, a choice and decision on the part of all who desire to put on the Heart of Jesus (Saint John Paul II, Angelus, 9 July 1989) and to be serious followers of the Lord who has asked us to be merciful even as your heavenly Father is merciful (Mt 5:48; Lk 6:36). In the words of Father Ermes Ronchi, Mercy is a scandal for justice, a folly for intelligence, a consolation for us who are debtors. The debt for being alive, the debt for being loved is only repayable by mercy.

And so may mercy guide our steps, inspire our reforms and enlighten our decisions. May it be the basis of all our efforts. May it teach us when to move forward and when to step back. May it also enable us to understand the littleness of all that we do in God’s greater plan of salvation and his majestic and mysterious working.

To help us better grasp this, let us savour the magnificent prayer, commonly attributed to Blessed Oscar Arnulfo Romero, but pronounced for the first time by Cardinal John Dearden:

Every now and then it helps us to take a step back
and to see things from a distance.
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is also beyond our visions.
In our lives, we manage to achieve only a small part
of the marvellous plan that is God’s work.
Nothing that we do is complete,
which is to say that the Kingdom is greater than ourselves.
No statement says everything that can be said.
No prayer completely expresses the faith.
No Creed brings perfection.
No pastoral visit solves every problem.
No programme fully accomplishes the mission of the Church.
No goal or purpose ever reaches completion.
This is what it is about:
We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that others will watch over them.
We lay the foundations of something that will develop.
We add the yeast which will multiply our possibilities.
We cannot do everything,
yet it is liberating to begin.
This gives us the strength to do something and to do it well.
It may remain incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way.
It is an opportunity for the grace of God to enter
and to do the rest.
It may be that we will never see its completion,
but that is the difference between the master and the labourer.
We are labourers, not master builders,
servants, not the Messiah.
We are prophets of a future that does not belong to us.

And with these thoughts and sentiments, I wish you a happy and holy Christmas, and I ask you to pray for me. Thank you.