Jubilee Audience on the works of mercy

This morning, at 10:00am local time, the eighth Jubilee Audience was held in Saint Peter's Square.  These special meetings were established by Pope Francis for pilgrims and the faithful who are visiting in Rome for the Jubilee of Mercy.

During his speech, the Pope added a meditation on the works of mercy (Mt 25:31-36) and on his recent Apostolic Visit to Armenia.

After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father addressed particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.

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

Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the Jubilee Audience

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

How many times, during these first months of the Jubilee, have we heard tell of the works of mercy!  Today, the Lord invites us to make a serious examination of conscience.  In fact, it is good never to forget that mercy is not an abstract word, but a style of life: a person can be merciful or can choose not to be merciful; it is a lifestyle.  I choose to live as a merciful person or to live as a person who is not merciful.  It is one thing to speak about mercy, and another thing to live mercy.  Paraphrasing the words of Saint John, the apostle (cf Jn 2:14-17), we can say: mercy without works is dead in and of itself.  That's the way it is!  The thing that makes mercy live is its constant dynamism to go out to meet the needs of others and the needs of those who are facing spiritual and material hardship.  Mercy has eyes to see, ears to hear, hands to help ...

Our daily lives permit us to touch many circumstances that concern the poor and those who are in need, and we are particularly asked to be attentive to that which leads us to perceive the state of suffering and of need in which so many of our brothers and sisters find themselves.  Sometimes, we pass by situations of dramatic poverty and it seems that we are unaffected; everything continues as if nothing had happened, in indifference that in the end makes us hypocrites and, without even realizing it, leads us to a form of spiritual lethargy that numbs our minds and makes our lives sterile.  The people who pass by, who continue in life without being aware of the needs of others, without seeing the many spiritual and material needs of others, are people who pass by without living, people who do not serve others.  Remember this well: those who do not live to serve are unable to be life giving.

There are many aspects of God's mercy toward us!  In the same way, there are many faces that turn to us for mercy.  Those who have experienced the Father's mercy in their lives cannot remain indifferent to the needs of our brothers and sisters.  Jesus' teaching which we have heard does not allow for escape routes: I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was naked, a refugee, sick, in prison and you helped me (cf Mt 25:35-36).  We cannot hesitate before a person who is hungry: we must give them something to eat.  Jesus tells us this!  The works of mercy are not theoretical issues but concrete witness.  We are obliged to roll up our sleeves in order to alleviate suffering.

As a result of the changes in our globalized world, some material and spiritual poverty has been multiplied: therefore we must give space to the creativity of charity to identify new ways of operating.  In this way, the path of mercy will become more and more concrete.  Therefore, we are asked to remain vigilant, like sentinels, in order that it should never happen that in the face of poverty produced by a culture of wellness, Christians' regard should weaken and become incapable of focusing on the essentials.  Focusing on essentials.  What does this mean?  Focusing on Jesus, seeing Jesus in those who are hungry, in those who are imprisoned, in those who are sick, in those who are naked, in those who have no work and must still provide for their families.  Focusing on Jesus in these, our brothers and sisters; focusing on Jesus in those who are alone, sad, in those who make mistakes, and need our advice, in those who need us to walk with them in silence so that they know that they are not alone.  These are the works that Jesus asks of us!  Focus on Jesus in them, in these people.  Why?  Because this is the way that Jesus focuses on me, focuses on us.



Now, let us turn to another subject.

In recent days, the Lord allowed me to visit Armenia, the first nation to have embraced Christianity, at the beginning of the fourth century.  A people who, during their long history, have borne witness to the Christian faith through martyrdom.  I give thanks to God for this trip, and I am truly grateful to the President of the Armenian Republic, to Catholicos Karekin II, to the Partiarch and to the Catholic Bishops, and to the entire Armenian people for having welcomed me as a pilgrim of fraternity and peace.

In three months time, I will undertake, God willing, another voyage to Georgia and to Azerbaijan, two other countries in the Caucasus region.  I have welcomed the invitation to visit these countries for two reasons: on one hand, to strengthen the Christian roots which are present in those lands - in a spirit of dialogue with other religions and cultures - and on the other hand, to encourage their hopes and paths to peace.  History teaches us that the path to peace requires great tenacity and continuous steps, beginning with small ones and gradually finding ways to help them grow, going from one encounter to another.  Precisely for this reason, I hope that everyone will contribute to peace and reconciliation.

As Christians, we are called to strengthen the bonds of fraternal communion among us, in order to bear witness to the Gospel of Christ and to be creators of a more just and united society.  For this reason, my entire visit was shared with the Supreme Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, who fraternally hosted me in his own home for three days.

I renew my embrace offered to the Bishops, the priests, the religious men and women, and to all the faithful of Armenia.  May the Virgin Mary, our Mother, help you to remain solid in your faith, open to encounter and generous in the works of mercy.  Thank you.

Angelus for Peter and Paul

At noon today in Rome, 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 Saints Peter and Paul, praising God for their preaching and their testimony.  Upon the faith of these two Apostles the Church of Rome was founded, and these two have always been venerated as our patrons.  However, it is the entire universal Church that looks to them with admiration, considering them as two columns and two great lights that shine not only in the skies above Rome but in the hearts of believers in the East and in the West.

In recounting the mission of the Apostles, the Gospel tells us that Jesus sent them out two by two (cf Mt 10:1; Lk 10:1).  In a certain sense, Peter and Paul too were sent out from the Holy Land and came to Rome to preach the Gospel.  They were two very different men: Peter was a humble fisherman, and Paul was a teacher and a doctor, as today's liturgy reminds us.  But if we who are here in Rome know Jesus today, and if the Christian faith is a living part of the foundation and the spiritual inheritance of the culture of this land, it is because of the apostolic courage of these two sons of the Near East.  For love of Christ, they left their homelands and, regardless of the difficulties of the long voyage and the risks and the suspicions that they would meet, they came to Rome.  Here they became heralds and witnesses of the Gospel among the people, and sealed their mission of faith and charity with martyrdom.

Peter and Paul return today ideally through us, as we travel the streets of this city, knocking at the doors of our homes, but above all the doors of our hearts.  They still want to bring us Jesus, his merciful love, his consolation, his peace.  We need these gifts so much!  Let us welcome their message!  Let us treasure their testimony!  May the firm and forthright faith of Peter, and the great and universal heart of Paul help us to be joyous Christians, faithful to the Gospel and open to encountering everyone.

During the Holy Mass celebrated in Saint Peter's Basilica this morning, I blessed the Pallia for the Metropolitan Archbishops who have been appointed during this past year in various countries throughout the world.  I renew my greetings and my good wishes to them all, to their families and to all those who have accompanied them on this pilgrimage; and I encourage them to continue joyfully in their mission of service to the gospel, in communion with the entire Church, especially with the See of Peter, the sign of which is the Pallium that they will wear.

In this same celebration, I welcomed with joy and affection the members of the delegation that came to Rome in the name of the Ecumenical Patriarch, my beloved brother Bartholomew.  This presence too is a sign of the fraternal bonds that exist between our Churches.  Let us pray that we will be strengthened even more in the bonds of communion and in our common witness.

To the Virgin Mary, the Salvation of the People of Rome, I confide the entire world today, and in particular this city of Rome, that she may always find in the spiritual and moral values with which she is enriched, the foundation of her social life and her mission in Italy, in Europe and in the world.



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

Dear brothers and sisters,

Last night, in Istanbul, there was a heinous terrorist attack that left many people dead and wounded.  Let us pray for the victims, for their families and for the beloved Turkish people.  May the Lord convert the hearts of the violent and support their steps in the way of peace.  Let us all pray for a moment in silence.

After a moment of silent prayer, the Holy Father continued: Hail Mary ...

Here in Rome, we have just concluded the International Conference on responsible investment and social impact entitled: To make the Year of Mercy a year of impact for the poor.  May private investors, together with public ones, work together to overcome the poverty of so many people who are marginalized.

I extend a cordial greeting to all of you, families, parish groups, associations and individual faithful from Italy and from many other parts of the world, especially from Spain, from Ukraine and from China.  I greet the students from the Catholic schools in London and from the United States of America, and the USMI Sisters from Lombardia.

Today, my greetings go out above all to the faithful of Rome, on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Patrons of this city!  For this festival, the Pro Loco of Rome has sponsored the traditional floral display, assembled by various artists and volunteers from the Civil Service.  Thank you for this initiative and for the beautiful floral display!  I want to remind you too about the fireworks display that will be held this evening in the Piazza del Popolo, the proceeds of which will be used to support the Church's work in the Holy Land and in various other countries in the Middle East.

I wish you all a good feast day, the feast of the Roman Patrons.  Please, don't forget to pray for me.  Enjoy your lunch, and good bye!

Celebrating Saints Peter and Paul

On the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, at 9:30am in the Vatican Basilica, near the Altar of the Confession of the Apostle Peter, the Holy Father, Pope Francis blessed the pallia which are to be presented to the Metropolitan Archbishops who have been appointed during the past year. The Metropolitan Archbishops will be invested with the pallia in their Metropolitan Sees by the Apostolic Nuncios of their respective countries.

Following the ritual of blessing the Pallia, the Pope presided over the Eucharistic celebration with the newly-appointed Metropolitan Archbishops.  As usual, for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Patrons of the City of Rome, there was also present at Mass a delegation sent from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople on behalf of His Holiness, Bartholomew I.  The delegation was led by His Eminence, Methodios, Metropolitan of Boston and included His Excellency, Job, Archbishop of Telmessos and the Reverend Patriarchal Deacon Nephon Tsimalis.

During the liturgy, following the proclamation of the Gospel, the Holy Father spoke the following homily.

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul

The word of God in today’s liturgy presents a clear central contrast between closing and opening. Together with this image we can consider the symbol of the keys that Jesus promises to Simon Peter so that he can open the entrance to the kingdom of heaven, and not close it before people, like some of the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees who Jesus reproached (cf Mt 23:13).

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 12:1-11) shows us three examples of closing: Peter is cast into prison; the community gathers behind closed doors in prayer; and – in the continuation of our reading – Peter knocks at the closed door of the house of Mary, the mother of John called Mark, after being set free.

In these three examples of closing, prayer appears as the main way out. It is a way out for the community, which risks closing in on itself out of persecution and fear. It is a way out for Peter who, at the very beginning of the mission given him by the Lord, is cast into prison by Herod and risks execution. And while Peter was in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him (Acts 12:5). The Lord responds to that prayer and sends his angel to liberate Peter, rescuing him from the hand of Herod (cf Acts 12:11). Prayer, as humble entrustment to God and his holy will, is always the way out of our becoming closed, as individuals and as a community. It is always the eminent way out of our becoming closed.

Paul too, writing to Timothy, speaks of his experience of liberation, of finding a way out of his own impending execution. He tells us that the Lord stood by him and gave him strength to carry out the work of evangelizing the nations (cf 2 Tim 4:17). But Paul speaks too of a much greater opening, towards an infinitely more vast horizon. It is the horizon of eternal life, which awaits him at the end of his earthly race. We can see the whole life of the Apostle in terms of going out in service to the Gospel. Paul’s life was utterly projected forward, in bringing Christ to those who did not know him, and then in rushing, as it were, into Christ’s arms, to be saved for his heavenly kingdom (2 Tim 4:18).

Let us return to Peter. The Gospel account (Mt 16:13-19) of his confession of faith and the mission entrusted to him by Jesus shows us that the life of Simon, the fishermen of Galilee – like the life of each of us – opens, opens up fully, when it receives from God the Father the grace of faith. Simon sets out on the journey – a long and difficult journey – that will lead him to go out of himself, leaving all his human supports behind, especially his pride tinged with courage and generous selflessness. In this, his process of liberation, the prayer of Jesus is decisive: I have prayed for you (Simon), that your own faith may not fail (Lk 22:32). Likewise decisive is the compassionate gaze of the Lord after Peter had denied him three times: a gaze that pierces the heart and brings tears of repentance (cf Lk 22:61-62). At that moment, Simon Peter was set free from the prison of his selfish pride and of his fear, and overcame the temptation of closing his heart to Jesus’s call to follow him along the way of the cross.

I mentioned that, in the continuation of the passage from the Acts of the Apostles, there is a detail worthy of consideration (cf Acts 12:12-17). When Peter finds himself miraculously freed from Herod’s prison, he goes to the home of the mother of John called Mark. He knocks on the closed door and a servant by the name of Rhoda comes. Recognizing Peter’s voice, in disbelief and joy, instead of opening the door, she runs to tell her mistress. The account, which can seem comical, and which could give rise to the Rhoda complex, makes us perceive the climate of fear that led the Christian community to stay behind closed doors, but also closed to God’s surprises. Peter knocks at the door. Behold! There is joy, there is fear … Do we open, do we not?... He is in danger, since the guards can come and take him. But fear paralyzes us, it always paralyzes us; it makes us close in on ourselves, closed to God’s surprises. This detail speaks to us of a constant temptation for the Church, that of closing in on herself in the face of danger. But we also see the small openings through which God can work. Saint Luke tells us that in that house many had gathered and were praying (Acts 12:12). Prayer enable grace to open a way out from closure to openness, from fear to courage, from sadness to joy. And we can add: from division to unity. Yes, we say this today with confidence, together with our brothers from the Delegation sent by the beloved Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to take part in the celebration of the Holy Patrons of Rome. Today is also a celebration of communion for the whole Church, as seen by the presence of the metropolitan archbishops who have come for the blessing of the pallia, which they will receive from my representatives in their respective sees.

May Saints Peter and Paul intercede for us, so that we can joyfully advance on this journey, experience the liberating action of God, and bear witness to it before the world.

65 Years of Priesthood

At noon today in Rome, in the Sala Clementina at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, there was a special celebration to commemorate the 65th anniversary of priestly ordination of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI held in his presence.

Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the 65th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination

of His Holiness, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI

Your Holiness,

Today, we celebrate the history of a call that began sixty-five years ago with your priestly Ordination, which took place in the Cathedral of Freising on 29 June 1951.  But what is the base note that has been present throughout this long history and that from that first beginning has dominated until today?

One of the very beautiful pages that you dedicated to the priesthood highlights how, at the time of the definitive call issued to Simon, Jesus, looking at him, basically asked only one thing: Do you love me?  How beautiful and true this is!  For it is here, you tell us, in that Do you love me? that the Lord began to feed us, because only if we loved the Lord, can we in turn could be nourished: Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you (cf Jn 21:15-19).  This is the note that dominates an entire life dedicated to priestly service and theology, which you, not by chance defined as a search for the beloved; this is what you have always testified, and what you continue to bear witness to even today: that the definitive character in our days - whether they be sunny or filled with rain - the only thing from which all else flows, is that the Lord is truly present, that we desire his presence, that within us, we are close to Him, that we love Him, that we truly and profoundly believe in Him and that he truly loves us.  It is this love that truly fills our hearts, believing this is what makes it possible for us to walk safely and securely on the water, even in the midst of the storm, just as Peter did.  This love and this belief is what allows us to look to the future not with fear or nostalgia, but with joy, even as we are now advanced in our years of life.

This is what we are experiencing and witnessing today in a truly intense and luminous way, this truly decisive truth - to have our gaze and our hearts focused on God - You, Holiness, continue to serve the Church, never ceasing to truly contribute with vigour and wisdom to her growth; and you do this from the small Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican which in this way is revealed as anything but a forgotten corner into which today's throw away culture tends to relegate people when, with advancing age, their strength is lessened.  This is very much the contrary.  This is what allows me, your Successor, who has chosen the name Francis, to speak.  The spiritual call of Francis began at San Damiano, but the true place of love, the pulsing heart of his Call, which he heard in his heart, and the place where he finally gave his life to God was the Porziuncola, the little portion, the corner near to the Mother of the Church; near to Mary, who through her firm faith and through her interior life of love and because of her love for the Lord, all generations have called her blessed.  So it is that Providence has willed that You, dear Confrere, have come to a place which is, so to speak, Franciscan, from which tranquility emanates, as well as peace, strength, trust, maturity, faith, dedication and loyalty which is so good for me and gives me and the entire Church much strength.  Let me also say that you also have a healthy and joyous sense of humour.

Therefore, the hope with which I wish to conclude is an exhortation that I address to you, on behalf of all of us and of the whole Church, that Your Holiness may continue to feel the hand of the merciful God who sustains you, and that you might experience and bear witness to the love of God; that, with Peter and Paul, you may continue to exalt with great joy as you journey toward the goal of our faith (cf 1 Peter 1:8-9; 2 Timothy 4:6-8)!

Speech of His Eminence, Gerhardt Cardinal Müller

Curator of the Works of Joseph Ratziner

Holy Father,

It is a great honour to be able to participate in this moment of joy which you desired for the joyful occasion of the sixty-five years of priestly ordination of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.  A few weeks ago, for the Jubilee of Priests and Seminarians, you yourself placed at the centre of your reflection, the essence of the priestly mission: to allow ourselves to re-create the merciful heart of God, in order that we ourselves might help others to allow themselves to be shaped by His heart.

You quoted the great French writer George Bernanos, who in his novel The Diary of a Country Priest, spoke of joy as the great gift which the Church is called to offer to the world: first of all, the joy of the proclamation that our sins are already waiting for God's forgiveness! Proclamation and joy are words which are at the heart of the Gospel, and they are also two points which figure prominently in your magesterial teaching as well as that of your predecessor.

Dear Pope Emeritus,

For many years, you have reminded us - both with your words and with your life - that this joy comes first of all from trusting abandonment to the mysterious and good will that the Risen Jesus wishes to accomplish in each of us.  The joy of the gospel is above all His joy, and a gift of the Lord, flowing from His heart, which takes pity on our lowliness and loves us; it recreates us in his everlasting love.

It is this gift of love that finds direct reference in the title of the book, published in various languages, which we have the honour of offering you on this joyful occasion: Die Liebe Gottes Lehren und Lernen - To teach and to learn the Love of the Lord.  In these words, everything is said: we are called to teach that which we in turn have learned from the Love of God.

You were entrusted to this Love sixty-five years ago through the priestly seal, together with your brother Georg, on the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.  In the words of Saint Irenaeus, who we commemorate today, these two princes of the Apostles are the apostolic foundation of the Roman Church.  This Feast of the two Apostles already prefigures, so to speak, the essential features of their mission: to proclaim the Word of God (Paul) and to confirm the brothers in their Faith (Peter).  Time subsequently revealed in an admirable way that which began and was mysteriously pre-contained in them.

Dear Pope Emeritus, we are grateful for having been able to follow for many years, together with you, that which the Lord has brought to fruition through your priestly action.  Now, we ask, with all our hearts, that He may bring to fulfillment what He has begun in you and which has already borne so much fruit among us.  Thank you again for everything, Your Holiness, and thank you with all our hearts.

Speech of His Eminence, Angelo Cardinal Sodano

Dean of the College of Cardinals

Venerated and dear Pope Francis, today, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Your beloved Predecessor, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, You wished to present a fitting tribute in the name of the entire Church, which has enjoyed his pastoral ministry for the past 65 years, first as a Priest and subsequently as a Bishop in the See of München and Freising and then as Bishop of Rome mater et caput omium ecclesiarum (mother and head of the entire Church).

Holy Father, permit me too at this time to present to our beloved guest of honour the homage of his confrere Cardinals, with the words of Psalm 133 that flow from our hearts: Ecce quam bonum et guam jucundum habitare fratres in unum - Behold, how good and pleasant it is to live together in unity (Psalm 133)!  Yes, at this moment, we are enjoying an atmosphere of great spiritual happiness and intense fraternity, in the common bond of service to the Holy Church of Christ.

Dear and venerable Pope emeritus, on the 29th of June of that long distant year of 1951, on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, You received presbyteral Ordination at the hands of the late Cardinal Faulhaber, together with Your dear brother Georg and 42 other companions.  It was a great feast for your entire beloved Bavarian Archdiocese.

You desired to tell us about the sentiments you experienced on that day when you returned as the Successor of Peter to your beloved Archdiocese, in September 2006.  While celebrating Holy Mass in the Cathedral of Freising, where your ordination took place, you relived in the presence of numerous priests who were present, the sentiments that still filled your heart.  I too was present beneath the vaults of that magnificent Cathedral and remember well the emotion with which you spoke to the priests who were present.

In recent days, I re-read your Homily from that day, and I seemed to hear again the words that came at that moment from your heart.  The Italian translation says: When I was here, prostrate on the floor and enveloped by the Litany of the Saints, I realized that we are not alone as we travel this road, rather the great multitude of saints walk with us, that that the saints who are still alive,  including the faithful of today and tomorrow, support us and accompany us.  Then there was the laying on of hands, and when Cardinal Faulhaber said: Jam non dico vos servos, sed amicos (I do not call you servants, but friends), at that moment I understood priestly ordination as an initiation into the community of the friends of Jesus, who are called to remain with Him and to proclaim his message (L'Osservatore Romano, 16 September 2006).

You then described the nature of this message that priests are called to spread throughout the world, summarizing it in two words: the priest must take the Light of God and the Love of God to the men of our times, or exactly, to use your own German words, the priest should take Gottes Licht und Gottes Liebe to all people.

In addition to your Homily, You added an urgent appeal to the priests who were present, namely an invitation to take the Light and the Love of Christ to all the world with the same feeling as Jesus, or to use your own words: Gesinnung Jesu Christi.  This was the concept expressed by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians (Phil 2:5-8).  This feeling that Christ had should result in a great love for those who have been distanced, toward the poor, the sick, the elderly and children.

Re-reading your words today, they seem to give us a foretaste of Pope Francis' Magesterium, which seems to invite us to reach out to those who are suffering most, sharing with them our fraternal love.  This is the key to the message of the great Jubilee of Mercy that we are currently celebrating.

Venerated and dear Pope emeritus, on the happy anniversary of that day that took place 65 years ago, the College of Cardinals together with Pope Francis gathers around you to thank you for your long and generous service to the Church.

At the same time, we want to ask you to continue, although in a different form, your long ministry, as you had promised us on February 24, 2013, after having announced your decision to leave in new hands the guidance of the barque of Peter.  At that time, you specifically told us: The Lord is calling me to climb the mountain, to dedicate myself even more to prayer and to meditation.  But this does not mean that I am abandoning the Church, rather, if God is asking this of me, it is so that I can continue to serve with the same dedication and the same love with which I have sought to serve so far, but in a way that is more suitable for my age and my strength (Teachings of Benedict XVI, Vol. IX, page 263).

We are happy with your promise, sure that You will always be close with Your prayer and with Your affection.  Finally, we say to You, in the words of a typical greeting from your Bavarian land: Behüt's Sie Gott!  May God keep you!

Meanwhile, the Church of Rome, under the guidance of Pope Francis, the venerable Successor that Divine Providence has given to us, will continue with renewed vigour the journey through history, in service to the Christian community and all of humanity.

Congratulations!

Words of gratitude of His Holiness, Benedict XVI

for the celebration of his 65th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination

Holy Father,
Dear brothers,

Sixty-five years ago, a brother who was ordained with me decided to write on the prayer card presented at his first Mass, nothing except his name, the date and one word in Greek: Eucharistomen, convinced that with this word, in all its dimensions, everything that can be said in this moment has already been said.  Eucharistomen relates a human thank you, thank you to all of you.  Thank you above all to You, Holy Father!  Your goodness, from the first moment of your election, in every moment of my life here, it strikes me, touches me within.  More than the Vatican gardens, with all their beauty, your goodness is the place where I live: I feel protected.  Thank you also for the words of gratitude, for everything.  We hope that you will be able to continue with us along the path of Divine Mercy, showing us the way to Jesus, toward Jesus, toward God.

Thank you also to you, Your Eminence (Cardinal Sodano), for your words which have truly touched my heart: Cor ad cor loquitur - Speaking heart to heart.  You brought us back to the moment of my priestly ordination, and also to my visit to Freising in 2006, when I relived that moment.  I can only say that with your words, you have understood the essential of my vision of priesthood, of my work.  I am grateful to you for the ties of friendship that even at until now have continued for a long time, roof to roof (referring to their homes which are located close to one another): present and tangible.

Thank you, Cardinal Müller, for the work you are doing to present my books on the priesthood, in which I try to help our confreres to enter always anew into the mystery in which the Lord gives himself into our hands.

Eucharistomen: at that time, beloved Berger wanted to place the emphasis not only on the dimension of human gratitude, but naturally on the most profound word that is hidden, that appears in the Liturgy, in Scripture, in the words gratias agens benedixit fregit deditque - Giving thanks, he blessed it, broke it and gave it.  Eucharistomen reminds us of the reality of thanksgiving, of the new dimension that Christ gives to this act.  He transformed gratitude, and therefore blessed the cross, suffering, all forms of evil in the world.  Thus, basically he transubstantiated life and the world and gave himself, and gives himself every day in the Bread of true life, which exceeds the world thanks to the strength of His love.

Finally, I want to add ourselves to this thank you offered to the Lord, and thus truly receive the newness of life and help for the transubstantiation of the world: a world not of death but of life; a world in which love has triumphed over death.

Thank you to all of you.  May the Lord bless us all.

Thank you, Holy Father.

Greetings for the Feast day of Peter and Paul

This morning at the Vatican, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the members of a delegation sent by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His Holiness, Bartholomew I.  Following an established tradition, the Patriarch and the Pope exchange greetings and send delegations (or visit personally) to celebrate the feast days of the apostles: Saints Peter and Paul - on June 29 (in Rome) and Saint Andrew - on September 30 (in Constantinople).

The delegation sent to Rome this year presented Pope Francis with a letter containing greetings from His Holiness, Bartholomew I.

Letter of His Holiness, Bartholomew I

Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople

addressed to His Holiness, Pope Francis

To His Holiness, Pope Francis of Elder Rome: rejoice in the Lord.

In concelebrating with You the venerable memory of the Chief among the Apostles Peter and the Apostle to the Gentiles Paul, who were martyred in Your See and honored greatly by the Elder as well as the New Rome, we adhere to the blessed tradition of exchanging official visits through Delegations of our Churches on the occasion of our respective Thronal Feasts. Wherefore, we address You fraternally with a festive greeting, embracing Your Holiness with a sacred kiss and praying that the Lord of glory may strengthen You for the good of the Church and the unity of Christians as well as for the benefit of a humankind so troubled.

We recall with warm sentiments and profound gratitude our recent encounter on the blessed island of Lesbos in order to extend support to the refugees and migrants, encouraging them and offering them hope, but also jointly to declare with His Beatitude, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece the need to secure a peaceful resolution to the greatest humanitarian crisis since the end of the Second World War, victims of which have been countless people, among them also native Christian populations of the East. Our Churches hear the cry of those who labor and are burdened (cf Mt 11.28), the victims of violence and fanaticism, discrimination and persecution, social injustice and poverty and hunger; and we boldly place the lantern on the bushel (Mt 5.15) before the tragic rejection of respect for the sacredness of the human person.

The contemporary crisis of refugees and migrants has demonstrated the need for European nations to address this problem on the basis of the ancient Christian principles of fraternity and social justice. We recognize that the European civilization cannot be understood without reference to its Christian roots and that its future cannot be as a society entirely secularized or subjected to economism and various forms of fundamentalism. The culture of solidarity nurtured by Christianity is not preserved through the progress of standards of living, the Internet and globalization.

No one honors humankind created in the image and likeness of God as much as the Church of Christ, who was revealed as God with us (Mt 1.23) and as God for us (Rom. 8.32). This is why the word of the Church is and shall remain to the ages an intervention for the sake of humanity and its divinely-granted freedom. Life in the Church incorporates, along with the Holy Eucharist, the splendid worship and life of prayer, the ascetic and internal struggle against the passions, as well as the resistance against social evil and the struggle for the prevailing of justice and peace.

We are convinced that our common efforts and initiatives with regard to the global challenges of our time will continue because they constitute a good witness for the Church of Christ, serving humankind and the world, while at the same time manifesting and strengthening our spiritual responsibility before the challenges of our time for the benefit of the Christian world and humanity as a whole.

We express our joy and pleasure for the fact that Your Encyclical Laudato Si’, which made kind reference to the ecological initiatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as well as to our own emphasis of the spiritual and moral roots of the ecological crisis, together with the need for repentance, a radical conversion of attitude and conduct for its resolution, was widely appreciated and demonstrated the social dimensions and consequences of the ecological problem. Whosoever loves God with one’s whole heart, soul and strength (cf Mark 12.30) also loves humanity and cares for God’s creation as the blessed home of humankind. The dual great commandment of love, upon which the entire law and the prophets are grounded (cf Mt 22.37, 40-41), also embraces care for the creation.

Your Holiness and dear brother, we have been blessed as guardians of invaluable traditions of divine love and human charity, heirs also of vital truths pertaining to human beings as citizens of the world and citizens of heaven, which we are obliged to preserve in their integrity, remaining faithful to the Lord who came not to be served, but to serve (Mt 20.28) as well as to the venerable founders of the Churches of Rome and Constantinople, the brothers Peter and Andrew, who sealed their witness to His truth on the cross in a manner worthy of Christ. Our endeavors are nurtured by this endless source for the advancement of the journey toward the desired unity of our Churches. The dialogue that continues between the Orthodox Church and the most holy Church of Rome is a domain that produces theological knowledge, ecumenical experience and mutual enrichment. The texts of this dialogue of truth confirm our common Christian models and express our faith that the Truth of the Church is a person – namely, the incarnate, suffering and risen Word of God. Dialogue in Truth implies speaking the truth in love (cf Eph 4.15), and abiding in love (cf John 15.9) as the bond of perfection (Col. 3.15).

These sentiments and fraternal wishes of congratulations on the occasion of the glorious feast of the Church in Rome will be brought and expressed in person to Your Holiness by our Patriarchal Delegation led by His Eminence, Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, accompanied by His Excellency, Archbishop Job of Telmessos and the Very Reverend Patriarchal Deacon Nephon Tsimalis.

Having arrived, with the good will of the beneficent God, at the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, we ask Your Holiness to pray for the fruitful yield of its deliberations in the Holy Spirit for the glory of the triune and undivided Divinity, and remain with profound love and particular esteem in the Lord.

June 29, 2016
Your venerable Holiness’
beloved brother in Christ

Meeting with the Patriarch's delegation

At 11:00am this morning in Rome, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience a delegation sent by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, which has come to Rome for the traditional visit marking the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

The Delegation sent by His Holiness, Bartholomew I was led by His Eminence, Methodios, Metropolitan of Boston who was accompanied by His Excellency, Job, Archbishop of Telmessos and by Reverend Patriarchal Deacon Nephon Tsimalis.

At the end of the meeting, the Pope invited the Delegation to lunch.

Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

to the delegation sent by

the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople

With joy and affection I offer you a heartfelt welcome on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Holy Patrons of the Church of Rome, the Apostles Peter and Paul. I thank you for your presence and I ask you to convey my deep gratitude to His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and to the Holy Synod for sending a distinguished Delegation to share our joy on this Solemnity.

This year’s meeting takes place in the context of the Catholic Church’s celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. I desired to proclaim the Jubilee as a favourable time for contemplating the mystery of the Father’s infinite love revealed in Christ, and for strengthening and rendering more effective our witness to this mystery (cf Bull Misericordiae Vultus, 2-3). In their own lives and in rather different ways, Saints Peter and Paul both experienced great sin and, subsequently, the power of God’s mercy. As a result of this experience, Peter, who had denied his Master, and Paul, who persecuted the nascent Church, became tireless evangelizers and fearless witnesses to the salvation offered by God in Christ to every man and woman. Following the example of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and the other Apostles, the Church, made up of sinners redeemed through Baptism, has continued in every age to proclaim that same message of divine mercy.

In celebrating the Solemnity of the Apostles, we call to mind the experience of forgiveness and grace uniting all those who believe in Christ. From the earliest centuries, there have been many differences between the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople, in the liturgical sphere, in ecclesiastical discipline and also in the manner of formulating the one revealed truth. However, beyond the concrete shapes that our Churches have taken on over time, there has always been the same experience of God’s infinite love for our smallness and frailty, and the same calling to bear witness to this love before the world. Acknowledging that the experience of God’s mercy is the bond uniting us means that we must increasingly make mercy the criterion and measure of our relationship. If, as Catholics and Orthodox, we wish to proclaim together the marvels of God’s mercy to the whole world, we cannot continue to harbour sentiments and attitudes of rivalry, mistrust and rancour. For divine mercy frees us of the burden of past conflicts and lets us be open to the future to which the Spirit is guiding us.

One contribution to surmounting the obstacles to our recovery of the unity we shared in the first millennium – a unity that was never uniformity but always communion with respect for legitimate diversities – is provided by theological dialogue. Dear Metropolitan Methodius, I wish to express to you my appreciation for the fruitful work accomplished by the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation of which Your Eminence is Co-President. Instituted more than fifty years ago, this Consultation has proposed significant reflections on central theological issues for our Churches, thus fostering the development of excellent relations between Catholics and Orthodox on that continent. In this regard, I rejoice that this coming September the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church will meet once again. The task of this Commission is indeed precious; let us pray to the Lord for the fruitfulness of its work. I also offer a special remembrance in my prayers for you, dear Archbishop Job, appointed the Orthodox Co-President of the Commission, and I express my profound gratitude to Metropolitan Ioannis of Pergamum, who has long carried out this delicate task with dedication and competence.

I thank the Lord that this past April I was able to meet my beloved brother Bartholomew when, together with the Archbishop of Athens and of All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos II, we visited the Isle of Lesvos, to be with the refugees and migrants. Seeing the despair on the faces of men, women and children uncertain of their future, listening helplessly as they related their experiences, and praying on the shore of the sea that has claimed the lives of so many innocent persons, was a tremendously moving experience. It made clear how much still needs to be done to ensure dignity and justice for so many of our brothers and sisters. A great consolation in that sad experience was the powerful spiritual and human closeness that I shared with Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos. Led by the Holy Spirit, we are coming to realize ever more clearly that we, Catholics and Orthodox, have a shared responsibility towards those in need, based on our obedience to the one Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord. Taking up this task together is a duty linked to the very credibility of our Christian identity. Consequently, I encourage every form of cooperation between Catholics and Orthodox in concrete undertakings in service to suffering humanity.

Your Eminence, dear brothers, the celebration of the Pan-Orthodox Council has recently concluded at Crete. Together with many of our Catholic brothers and sisters, and other Christians, I accompanied with my prayers the immediate preparation and the unfolding of the Council. Cardinal Koch and Bishop Farrell, who participated in the historic event as fraternal observers of the Catholic Church, have just returned from Crete; they will be able to inform me about the Council and the resolutions it adopted. May the Holy Spirit bring forth from this event abundant fruits for the good of the Church.

At the conclusion of this meeting, I renew my heartfelt gratitude to you for your presence and I assure you of my fraternal love and respect for the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Let us entrust our prayers and intentions to the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Saints Peter and Paul, and Saint Andrew, the brother of Peter. And I ask you, please, to pray for me and for my ministry.

A witness of gospel joy

In this life, she was fed by her faith in Jesus, and by the special food that he provided in his body and blood.  She in turn fed countless others with the joy of her faith, and now she is rewarded for her unfailing trust.

Funeral homily for Anna Crea

The gospel passage chosen for today’s liturgy begins with some advice that was offered by Jesus to his disciples: Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks (Lk 12:35-36).

Siamo radunati in questa chiesa per pregare per la nostra sorella Anna, e per raccomandare la sua anima eterna alle braccia amorose del nostro Dio.  Le parole di Gesù, regalate ai suoi discepoli risuonano anche alle nostre orecchie perché 'é esattamente ciò che Anna ha cercato di vivere ogni giorno della sua vita terrena - ad essere vestito per l'azione, pronto ad accogliere gli ospiti e la sua famiglia; prendersi cura di loro, per nutrire i loro corpi con il cibo e il loro spirito con la speranza che anche lei aveva scoperto - cioè il premio della sua fede.
We have assembled here in this church this morning to pray for our sister Anna, and to commend her eternal soul into the loving arms of our God.  As we do, Jesus’ words spoken to his disciples ring in our ears too because this is exactly what Anna tried to do every day of her life – to be dressed for action, ready to welcome visitors and family members; to care for them, to feed their bodies with really good food and their spirits with the hope that she too had discovered as the reward for her faith.

Throughout the many years that she spent, first in her beloved homeland and then here in North Bay, Anna’s faith was at the centre of everything she did.  The life of the church was intertwined with the life that unfolded in her family home, and in the many different friendships and encounters she had with so many others.  She always remembered her roots, and this is the first lesson that she has left with us: always remember the past.  Our individual histories give us a sense of identity and our common history of faith provides us with a constant source of support in the times when we are struggling as well as the joy of sharing our successes with those who are also sharing the journey with us.

Today, our hearts are saddened because our sister Anna will no longer live among us, but at the same time, we give thanks to God for the many years that were granted to her, for the many opportunities that we have had to create good memories with her, and we entrust her now to our God who will prepare a feast of rich food (Is 25:6) for all his people.  Anna cherished her heritage, but she always insisted on living the present moment, and this is the second nugget of wisdom that we must never forget: sit willingly at every table to which you are invited, enter into the conversation and never be afraid to share the good news of the gospel with those you encounter.  Tell them about Jesus, tell them that he is the Lord, the one for whom we are waiting, and we are glad and rejoice in the promise of his salvation (cf Is 25:9).

This is the good news that has been told throughout the centuries, by prophets and priests, by men and women of faith.  Anna was a woman of deep faith.  If she were here among us today, she would probably still be trying to encourage us to look to the future with hope, to go out into the world that lies beyond the walls of this church and to joyfully tell everyone we meet that we have received a great gift.  We have been baptized into Christ Jesus … therefore … just as Christ was raised from the dead, we believe that we will also live with him (Rom 6:3, 8).

This is the simple truth of our faith that Anna shared with all those she met: in schools, in neighbourhoods, in the market or around her own table.  This is the simple truth that we too must continue to share with others wherever we should meet them.

Telegrams on the way

During the flight from Yerevan to Rome, while passing over Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and finally re-entering into Italy, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent the following telegrams to each of the respective Heads of State.






While flying over Turkey
His Excellency, Recep Tayyip Erdogan
President of the Republic of Turkey
Ankara

As my return flight carries me over Turkey, I renew to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens my good wishes, and I invoke the Almighty's blessing upon your land.

Frnaciscus

While flying over Bulgaria
His Excellency, Rosen Plevneliev
President of the Republic of Bulgaria
Sofia

Flying over Bulgaria, returning from my visit to Armenia, I renew my best wishes to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens, with the assurance of my prayers for your nation.

Franciscus

While flying over Serbia
His Excellency, Tomislav Nikolić
President of the Republic of Serbia
Belgrade

Flying over Serbia, on the return journey from my pastoral visit to Armenia, I wish to renew my best wishes to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens, and upon all the nation, I invoke the blessing of Almighty God.

Franciscus

While flying over Montenegro
His Excellency, Filip Vujanović
President of Montenegro
Podgorica

As I fly over Montenegro on returning from Armenia, I extend once again my good wishes to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens and the assurance of my prayers.

Franciscus

While flying over Bosnia-Herzegovina
His Excellency, Bakir Izetbegović
President of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo

As my return flight to Rome carries me over Bosnia and Herzegovina, I renew to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens my good wishes and the assurance of my prayers.

Franciscus

While flying over Croatia
Her Excellency, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović
President of the Republic of Croatia
Zagreb

Flying over Croatia on the return from my journey to Armenia, I renew to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens my best wishes and the assurance of my prayers for the Croatian people.

Franciscus

Re-entry into Italy
To His Excellency
The Honourable Sergio Mattarella
President of the Italian Republic
Palazzo del Quirinale, 00187, Rome

Upon my re-entry from my pastoral visit to Armenia, where I was able to meet various groups of the people and to express my esteemed affection to that Christian Community which is filled with history, and to urge them all to continue on the path of dialogue and concord, I extend to you, Mister President and to the beloved Italian nation, my best wishes and greetings, along with my hope for continued growth in favour of the needs of the people, especially of the family, the foundation of our shared existence and a remedy against the degrading of society.

Franciscus

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father back from his Apostolic Journey to Armenia landed at Rome's Ciampino airport shortly after 8:30pm, following a four-hour flight.

Before returning to the Vatican, Pope Francis went, as usual, to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to thank Our Lady, the Salvation of the Roman People, for the successful outcome of his Apostolic Journey.

Departing from Armenia

Pope Francis' departure ceremony, at the end of his visit to Armenia, took place at the Zvartnots International Airport.

Upon his arrival at the airport, the Pope and the Catholicos were welcomed by the President of the Republic of Armenia, His Excellency, Serzh Sargsyan and his wife.

Following a private meeting which took place in the presidential terminal, the National Anthems were played and the members of the official delegations greeted one another.  Then Pope Francis boarded the Alitalia A321 which departed at 6:48pm local time (10:48am EDT) bound for Rome.



Immediately after the departure of the aircraft from the airport in Yerevan, Pope Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Armenia:

His Excellency, Serzh Sargsyan
President of the Republic of Armenia
Yerevan

As I depart Armenia on my return flight to Rome, I express my deep gratitude to Your Excellency and the beloved Armenian people for your warm welcome and gracious hospitality during my stay.  Upon all of you, I invoke God's abundant blessings, as I renew my fervent prayers for peace and well being in Armenia.

Frnaciscus

At prayer in the Monastery

At 5:00pm this afternoon, the Holy Father, Pope Francis and His Holiness, the Catholicos Karekin II visited the Monastery of Khor Virap, one of the sacred places of the Armenian Church, only feet from Mount Ararat.

Welcomed by the Superior of the Monastery, the Pope and the Catholicos were led in procession to the Well Room, where Saint Gregory the Illuminator lived, imprisoned for 13 years.  They lit a candle in that room and carried it to the nearby Chapel, where they alternated in offering a prayer in Armenian and in Italian, and then exchanged parting words.  The Our Father was recited in choir style by all those who were in attendance - each person speaking in his own language - and the Holy Father imparted the final blessing.

Pope Francis and His Holiness, Karekin II then left the chapel in procession and from the lookout terrace, they released two doves toward Mount Ararat as a prayer for peace.

Finally, the Holy Father and the Catholicos then traveled by car to the Yerevan airport for the departure ceremony and the departure of the Pope's aircraft for the return flight to Rome.

A Joint Declaration at Holy Etchmiadzin

This afternoon, the Holy Father, Pope Francis greeted the personnel who welcomed him during his stay at Holy Etchmiadzin.  Immediately afterward, he also met with a large group of representatives and benefactors of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

At 4:05pm local time, in the Etchmiadzin Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis and the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenia, His Holiness, Karekin II signed a Joint Declaration.

Common Declaration

of His Holiness, Pope Francis

and His Holiness, Karekin II

at Holy Etchmiadzin, Republic of Armenia

Today in Holy Etchmiadzin, spiritual centre of All Armenians, we, Pope Francis and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II raise our minds and hearts in thanksgiving to the Almighty for the continuing and growing closeness in faith and love between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church in their common witness to the Gospel message of salvation in a world torn by strife and yearning for comfort and hope. We praise the Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for enabling us to come together in the biblical land of Ararat, which stands as a reminder that God will ever be our protection and salvation. We are spiritually gratified to remember that in 2001, on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the religion of Armenia, Saint John Paul II visited Armenia and was a witness to a new page in warm and fraternal relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church. We are grateful that we had the grace of being together, at a solemn liturgy in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome on 12 April 2015, where we pledged our will to oppose every form of discrimination and violence, and commemorated the victims of what the Common Declaration of His Holiness John-Paul II and His Holiness Karekin II spoke of as the extermination of a million and a half Armenian Christians, in what is generally referred to as the first genocide of the twentieth century (27 September 2001).

We praise the Lord that today, the Christian faith is again a vibrant reality in Armenia, and that the Armenian Church carries on her mission with a spirit of fraternal collaboration between the Churches, sustaining the faithful in building a world of solidarity, justice and peace.

Sadly, though, we are witnessing an immense tragedy unfolding before our eyes, of countless innocent people being killed, displaced or forced into a painful and uncertain exile by continuing conflicts on ethnic, economic, political and religious grounds in the Middle East and other parts of the world. As a result, religious and ethnic minorities have become the target of persecution and cruel treatment, to the point that suffering for one’s religious belief has become a daily reality. The martyrs belong to all the Churches and their suffering is an ecumenism of blood which transcends the historical divisions between Christians, calling us all to promote the visible unity of Christ’s disciples. Together we pray, through the intercession of the holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, for a change of heart in all those who commit such crimes and those who are in a position to stop the violence. We implore the leaders of nations to listen to the plea of millions of human beings who long for peace and justice in the world, who demand respect for their God-given rights, who have urgent need of bread, not guns. Sadly, we are witnessing a presentation of religion and religious values in a fundamentalist way, which is used to justify the spread of hatred, discrimination and violence. The justification of such crimes on the basis of religious ideas is unacceptable, for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (I Corinthians 14:33). Moreover, respect for religious difference is the necessary condition for the peaceful cohabitation of different ethnic and religious communities. Precisely because we are Christians, we are called to seek and implement paths towards reconciliation and peace. In this regard we also express our hope for a peaceful resolution of the issues surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.

Mindful of what Jesus taught his disciples when he said: I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me (Matthew 25: 35-36), we ask the faithful of our Churches to open their hearts and hands to the victims of war and terrorism, to refugees and their families. At issue is the very sense of our humanity, our solidarity, compassion and generosity, which can only be properly expressed in an immediate practical commitment of resources. We acknowledge all that is already being done, but we insist that much more is needed on the part of political leaders and the international community in order to ensure the right of all to live in peace and security, to uphold the rule of law, to protect religious and ethnic minorities, to combat human trafficking and smuggling.

The secularization of large sectors of society, its alienation from the spiritual and divine, leads inevitably to a desacralized and materialistic vision of man and the human family. In this respect we are concerned about the crisis of the family in many countries. The Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church share the same vision of the family, based on marriage, an act of freely given and faithful love between man and woman.

We gladly confirm that despite continuing divisions among Christians, we have come to realize more clearly that what unites us is much more than what divides us. This is the solid basis upon which the unity of Christ’s Church will be made manifest, in accordance with the Lord’s words, that they all may be one (John 17.21). Over the past decades the relationship between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church has successfully entered a new phase, strengthened by our mutual prayers and joint efforts in overcoming contemporary challenges. Today we are convinced of the crucial importance of furthering this relationship, engaging in deeper and more decisive collaboration not only in the area of theology, but also in prayer and active cooperation on the level of the local communities, with a view to sharing full communion and concrete expressions of unity. We urge our faithful to work in harmony for the promotion in society of the Christian values which effectively contribute to building a civilization of justice, peace and human solidarity. The path of reconciliation and brotherhood lies open before us. May the Holy Spirit, who guides us into all truth (cf John 16:13), sustain every genuine effort to build bridges of love and communion between us.

From Holy Etchmiadzin we call on all our faithful to join us in prayer, in the words of Saint Nerses the Gracious: Glorified Lord, accept the supplications of Your servants, and graciously fulfil our petitions, through the intercession of the Holy Mother of God, John the Baptist, the first martyr Saint Stephen, Saint Gregory our Illuminator, the Holy Apostles, Prophets, Divines, Martyrs, Patriarchs, Hermits, Virgins and all Your saints in Heaven and on Earth. And unto You, O indivisible Holy Trinity, be glory and worship forever and ever. Amen”.

Holy Etchmiadzin, 26 June 2016
His Holiness Francis
His Holiness Karekin II

Following the signing of the Joint Declaration, Pope Francis and Catholicos Karekin II travelled by car to the Monastery of Khor Virap.