At noon today (Rome time), 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 gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
On this final Sunday of the liturgical year, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King of the universe. His is a royalty of guidance, service and even a royalty that will end in judgement at the end of time. Today, we have before us the image of Christ as a king, a shepherd and a guide, one who shows us the criteria for belonging to the Kingdom of God. Here they are:
The gospel account begins with a grandiose vision. Jesus, speaking with his disciples, says: When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne of glory (Mt 25:31). It is a solemn introduction to the story of the final judgement. After having lived an earthly existence in humility and poverty, Jesus now presents himself in his divine glory, surrounded by angelic ranks. All of humanity is assembled before Him and He exercises his authority by separating one from another, as a shepherd separates sheep from goats.
To those who are at his right he says: Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me (Mt 25:34-36). The just will be surprised because they do not remember having ever welcomed Jesus, much less having helped him in this way; but He will declare: Everything that you have done for one of the least of these my brothers, you did it for me (Mt 25:40). This word never ceases to surprise us, because it reveals just to what extent God's love is offered to us: to the point of identifying itself with us, but not when we are well, when we are healthy and happy, no, but rather when we are in need. It is in this hidden way that he lets us encounter him, he holds out his hand like a beggar. This is the way in which Jesus reveals the final criteria for his justice, which is concrete love for our neighbour in need. This is how Jesus reveals the power of love, the royalty of God: in solidarity with those who are suffering in order to stir up attitudes and works of mercy everywhere.
The parable of judgement continues by presenting the king who drives away those who during their life did not concern themselves with the needs of others. In this case as well, they too are surprised, saying: Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not serve you? (Mt 25:44), as if to say: If we had seen you, we certainly would have helped you! But the king will respond: Everything that you did not do for even one of the least of these, you did not do it for me (Mt 25:45). At the end of our lives, we will be judged based on love, based on our tangible commitment to loving and serving Jesus in the least of our brothers and sisters in need. That beggar, that needy person who holds out his hand is Jesus; that sick person who I need to visit is Jesus; that one in prison is Jesus; that hungry person is Jesus. Let's think about this.
At the end of time, Jesus will see all of this and will judge all the nations, but he comes to us every day, in many different ways, and asks us to welcome him. The Virgin Mary helps us to encounter him and to receive him in his Word and in the Eucharist, and at the same time in our brothers and sisters who are suffering from hunger, sickness, oppression, injustice. May our hearts welcome him today, so that he in turn will welcome us into the eternity of the Kingdom of light and peace.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
We were greatly saddened on Friday evening when we heard the news of the attack that took place in a Mosque in northern Sinai, in Egypt. I continue to pray for the many victims, for the wounded and for that entire community which has been so severely affected. May God free them from such tragedies and support the efforts of all those who are working for peace, concord and sharing. At that moment, those people were praying; we too, in silence, we can pray for them.
Yesterday, in Córdoba (Argentina), Mother Catalina de María Rodríguez, founder of the Congregation of the Sister Slaves of the Heart of Jesus - the first female religious institute of Apostolic Life in Argentina - was Beatified. Catalina, who lived in the 19th century, was married and then widowed. She consecrated herself to God and dedicated herself to the spiritual and material care of the poorest and most vulnerable women. Let us praise the Lord for this passionate woman of the Heart of Jesus and of humanity.
I greet all of you, pilgrims from Italy and from other countries: families, parish groups, associations. In particular, I greet the Ukrainian community who are recalling the tragedy of Holodomor, the death of millions who starved under the Stalinist regime. I am praying for Ukraine, that the strength of faith may contribute to healing the wounds of the past and encourage every effort toward peace.
I greet the faithful from Cagliari, Matera, Potenza, Parma, Crotone and Rossano, as well as the Italian Association of Companions in Marian Shrines throughout the world.
This evening, I will begin my Apostolic voyage to Myanmar and Bangladesh. I ask you to accompany me with your prayer, that my presence among that people may be a sign of closeness and hope.
I wish you 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!
On this final Sunday of the liturgical year, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King of the universe. His is a royalty of guidance, service and even a royalty that will end in judgement at the end of time. Today, we have before us the image of Christ as a king, a shepherd and a guide, one who shows us the criteria for belonging to the Kingdom of God. Here they are:
The gospel account begins with a grandiose vision. Jesus, speaking with his disciples, says: When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne of glory (Mt 25:31). It is a solemn introduction to the story of the final judgement. After having lived an earthly existence in humility and poverty, Jesus now presents himself in his divine glory, surrounded by angelic ranks. All of humanity is assembled before Him and He exercises his authority by separating one from another, as a shepherd separates sheep from goats.
To those who are at his right he says: Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me (Mt 25:34-36). The just will be surprised because they do not remember having ever welcomed Jesus, much less having helped him in this way; but He will declare: Everything that you have done for one of the least of these my brothers, you did it for me (Mt 25:40). This word never ceases to surprise us, because it reveals just to what extent God's love is offered to us: to the point of identifying itself with us, but not when we are well, when we are healthy and happy, no, but rather when we are in need. It is in this hidden way that he lets us encounter him, he holds out his hand like a beggar. This is the way in which Jesus reveals the final criteria for his justice, which is concrete love for our neighbour in need. This is how Jesus reveals the power of love, the royalty of God: in solidarity with those who are suffering in order to stir up attitudes and works of mercy everywhere.
The parable of judgement continues by presenting the king who drives away those who during their life did not concern themselves with the needs of others. In this case as well, they too are surprised, saying: Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not serve you? (Mt 25:44), as if to say: If we had seen you, we certainly would have helped you! But the king will respond: Everything that you did not do for even one of the least of these, you did not do it for me (Mt 25:45). At the end of our lives, we will be judged based on love, based on our tangible commitment to loving and serving Jesus in the least of our brothers and sisters in need. That beggar, that needy person who holds out his hand is Jesus; that sick person who I need to visit is Jesus; that one in prison is Jesus; that hungry person is Jesus. Let's think about this.
At the end of time, Jesus will see all of this and will judge all the nations, but he comes to us every day, in many different ways, and asks us to welcome him. The Virgin Mary helps us to encounter him and to receive him in his Word and in the Eucharist, and at the same time in our brothers and sisters who are suffering from hunger, sickness, oppression, injustice. May our hearts welcome him today, so that he in turn will welcome us into the eternity of the Kingdom of light and peace.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
We were greatly saddened on Friday evening when we heard the news of the attack that took place in a Mosque in northern Sinai, in Egypt. I continue to pray for the many victims, for the wounded and for that entire community which has been so severely affected. May God free them from such tragedies and support the efforts of all those who are working for peace, concord and sharing. At that moment, those people were praying; we too, in silence, we can pray for them.
Yesterday, in Córdoba (Argentina), Mother Catalina de María Rodríguez, founder of the Congregation of the Sister Slaves of the Heart of Jesus - the first female religious institute of Apostolic Life in Argentina - was Beatified. Catalina, who lived in the 19th century, was married and then widowed. She consecrated herself to God and dedicated herself to the spiritual and material care of the poorest and most vulnerable women. Let us praise the Lord for this passionate woman of the Heart of Jesus and of humanity.
I greet all of you, pilgrims from Italy and from other countries: families, parish groups, associations. In particular, I greet the Ukrainian community who are recalling the tragedy of Holodomor, the death of millions who starved under the Stalinist regime. I am praying for Ukraine, that the strength of faith may contribute to healing the wounds of the past and encourage every effort toward peace.
I greet the faithful from Cagliari, Matera, Potenza, Parma, Crotone and Rossano, as well as the Italian Association of Companions in Marian Shrines throughout the world.
This evening, I will begin my Apostolic voyage to Myanmar and Bangladesh. I ask you to accompany me with your prayer, that my presence among that people may be a sign of closeness and hope.
I wish you a good Sunday. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
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