At noon today, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the usual Sunday appointment.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, on the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, the gospel of Saint John presents us with a part of the long farewell discourse that was spoken by Jesus shortly before he suffered his passion. In this speech, He explained to the disciples the deeper truths concerning him, including an explanation of the relationship between Jesus, the Father and the Spirit. Jesus knew that he would soon fulfill the Father's plan, which would be accomplished with his death and resurrection; for this reason he wanted to assure his disciples that he would never abandon them and that his mission would be carried on by the Holy Spirit. That the Spirit would carry on Jesus' mission and guide the Church
Jesus reveals the meaning of this mission. First of all, the Spirit guides us and helps us to understand the many things that Jesus himself has already said (cf Jn 16:12). It is not a new or a special doctrine, but a full comprehension of all that the Son has heard from the Father and that he has made known to the disciples (cf Jn 16:15). The Spirit guides us in new existential situations and helps us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, while at the same time, open to the events of our times and to the future. He helps us to journey through history, firmly rooted in the gospel and also with dynamic faithfulness to our traditions and customs.
But the mystery of the Trinity also includes us, our relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In fact, through Baptism, the Holy Spirit has placed us at the very heart of the life of God himself which is expressed in communion and in love. God is a family of three Persons who love each other so much that they are one. This divine family is not closed in upon itself, but open; it expresses itself in creation and in history, and entered into the world of mankind in order to call us all to become part of it. The trinitarian aspect of communion includes all of us and it motivates us to live in love and in fraternity, convinced that where there is love, God is present.
We are all created in the image and likeness of God who is communion, and we are called to understand ourselves as beings-in-relationship and to experience interpersonal relationships in solidarity with and out of love for one another. These relationships are lived out, first of all, in our ecclesial communities, so that the image of the Church, the icon of the Trinity, becomes inreasingly clear. But these relationships also exist in many other social relationships: in families, in friendships and in places of work: all these are concrete occasions to build more humanly enriching relationships, capable of mutual respecting and selfless love.
The feast of the Most Holy Trinity invites us to involve ourselves in daily activities in order to be the leaven of communion, of consolation and mercy. In this mission, we are supported by the strength of the Holy Spirit, cares for the body of humanity, wounded by injustice, oppression, hatred and greed. In her humility, the Virgin Mary welcomed the will of the Father and conceived a Son through the Holy Spirit. May she, the mirror of the Trinity, help us to strengthen our faith in the trinitarian mystery and to embody it with choices and attitudes of love and unity.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters!
Yesterday, in Cosenza, Francesco Maria Greco, a diocesan priest who founded the Little Sisters, Workers of Sacred Hearts, was beatified. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, he was involved in the religious and the social life of his city, Acri, where he exercised his fruitful ministry. Let us give thanks to God for this exemplary priest. Our applause is also offered for all the good priests who live right here in our midst, in Italy!
Tomorrow in Istanbul, in Turkey, the First World Humanitarian Summit will begin, in hopes of reflecting on the measures that must be undertaken in order to respond to the dramatic humanitarian situations caused by conflicts, environmental problems and extreme poverty. Let us accompany all those who are participating in this meeting with our prayers, asking that they will be able to fully commit themselves to this humanitarian goal: to save the life of every human being, with no exceptions, especially the innocent and the defenceless. The Holy See will take part in this humanitarian summit, and therefore, the Secretary of State, Cardinal Petro Parolin is travelling today in order to represent the Holy See.
On Tuesday, May 24, let us be spiritually united to the Catholic faithful in China, who on that day will celebrate with particular devotion, the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, venerated at the shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. Let us ask Mary to give her children in China the ability to discern in every circumstance, the signs of God's loving presence, for he always welcomes and always forgives. During this Year of Mercy, may the Catholics in China, together with those who follow other noble religious traditions, become concrete signs of charity and reconciliation. In this way, they will promote an authentic culture of encounter and harmony throughout all of society, the harmony that the Chinese spirit loves so much.
I greet you all, Romans and pilgrims! In particular, I am pleased to welcome the Orthodox faithful from the Metropolitan of Berat (Albania) and I thank them for their ecumenical witness.
I greet the children from the School of the Salesian Sisters of Krakow; the students from Pamplona; the faithful from Madrid, Bilbao and Gran Canaria in Spain; Meudon and Strasbourg in France; Laeken in Belgium; and the group of health workers from Slovenia.
I greet the Chinese Catholic community of Rome, the Cagliari and Molfetta Confraternities, the youth from the Diocese of Cefalù, the ministers from Vall'Alta, the members of diocesan Catholic Action from Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea, and the choirs from Desenzano sul Garda, Ca'di David and Lungavilla.
I wish you all a good Sunday. 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, on the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, the gospel of Saint John presents us with a part of the long farewell discourse that was spoken by Jesus shortly before he suffered his passion. In this speech, He explained to the disciples the deeper truths concerning him, including an explanation of the relationship between Jesus, the Father and the Spirit. Jesus knew that he would soon fulfill the Father's plan, which would be accomplished with his death and resurrection; for this reason he wanted to assure his disciples that he would never abandon them and that his mission would be carried on by the Holy Spirit. That the Spirit would carry on Jesus' mission and guide the Church
Jesus reveals the meaning of this mission. First of all, the Spirit guides us and helps us to understand the many things that Jesus himself has already said (cf Jn 16:12). It is not a new or a special doctrine, but a full comprehension of all that the Son has heard from the Father and that he has made known to the disciples (cf Jn 16:15). The Spirit guides us in new existential situations and helps us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, while at the same time, open to the events of our times and to the future. He helps us to journey through history, firmly rooted in the gospel and also with dynamic faithfulness to our traditions and customs.
But the mystery of the Trinity also includes us, our relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In fact, through Baptism, the Holy Spirit has placed us at the very heart of the life of God himself which is expressed in communion and in love. God is a family of three Persons who love each other so much that they are one. This divine family is not closed in upon itself, but open; it expresses itself in creation and in history, and entered into the world of mankind in order to call us all to become part of it. The trinitarian aspect of communion includes all of us and it motivates us to live in love and in fraternity, convinced that where there is love, God is present.
We are all created in the image and likeness of God who is communion, and we are called to understand ourselves as beings-in-relationship and to experience interpersonal relationships in solidarity with and out of love for one another. These relationships are lived out, first of all, in our ecclesial communities, so that the image of the Church, the icon of the Trinity, becomes inreasingly clear. But these relationships also exist in many other social relationships: in families, in friendships and in places of work: all these are concrete occasions to build more humanly enriching relationships, capable of mutual respecting and selfless love.
The feast of the Most Holy Trinity invites us to involve ourselves in daily activities in order to be the leaven of communion, of consolation and mercy. In this mission, we are supported by the strength of the Holy Spirit, cares for the body of humanity, wounded by injustice, oppression, hatred and greed. In her humility, the Virgin Mary welcomed the will of the Father and conceived a Son through the Holy Spirit. May she, the mirror of the Trinity, help us to strengthen our faith in the trinitarian mystery and to embody it with choices and attitudes of love and unity.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters!
Yesterday, in Cosenza, Francesco Maria Greco, a diocesan priest who founded the Little Sisters, Workers of Sacred Hearts, was beatified. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, he was involved in the religious and the social life of his city, Acri, where he exercised his fruitful ministry. Let us give thanks to God for this exemplary priest. Our applause is also offered for all the good priests who live right here in our midst, in Italy!
Tomorrow in Istanbul, in Turkey, the First World Humanitarian Summit will begin, in hopes of reflecting on the measures that must be undertaken in order to respond to the dramatic humanitarian situations caused by conflicts, environmental problems and extreme poverty. Let us accompany all those who are participating in this meeting with our prayers, asking that they will be able to fully commit themselves to this humanitarian goal: to save the life of every human being, with no exceptions, especially the innocent and the defenceless. The Holy See will take part in this humanitarian summit, and therefore, the Secretary of State, Cardinal Petro Parolin is travelling today in order to represent the Holy See.
On Tuesday, May 24, let us be spiritually united to the Catholic faithful in China, who on that day will celebrate with particular devotion, the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, venerated at the shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. Let us ask Mary to give her children in China the ability to discern in every circumstance, the signs of God's loving presence, for he always welcomes and always forgives. During this Year of Mercy, may the Catholics in China, together with those who follow other noble religious traditions, become concrete signs of charity and reconciliation. In this way, they will promote an authentic culture of encounter and harmony throughout all of society, the harmony that the Chinese spirit loves so much.
I greet you all, Romans and pilgrims! In particular, I am pleased to welcome the Orthodox faithful from the Metropolitan of Berat (Albania) and I thank them for their ecumenical witness.
I greet the children from the School of the Salesian Sisters of Krakow; the students from Pamplona; the faithful from Madrid, Bilbao and Gran Canaria in Spain; Meudon and Strasbourg in France; Laeken in Belgium; and the group of health workers from Slovenia.
I greet the Chinese Catholic community of Rome, the Cagliari and Molfetta Confraternities, the youth from the Diocese of Cefalù, the ministers from Vall'Alta, the members of diocesan Catholic Action from Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea, and the choirs from Desenzano sul Garda, Ca'di David and Lungavilla.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
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