Vespers in thanksgiving

At 5:00pm today (local time in Rome), in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over the celebration of First Vespers for the Solemnity of Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God which was followed by a period of exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the singing of the Te Deum in thanksgiving at the conclusion of the calendar year, and the Eucharistic Benediction.

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

shared during First Vespers for the

Solemnity of Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God

When the fullness of time came, God sent his Son (Gal 4:4). This celebration of Vespers breathes the atmosphere of the fullness of time. It’s not because we are on the last evening of the solar year, far from it, but because faith makes us contemplate and feel that Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, gave fullness to time, both of the world and of human history.

«Born as a woman» (Gal 4:4). The first person to experience the sense of fullness given by Jesus’ presence was precisely the woman from whom He was born. The Mother of the Incarnate Son, Theotokos, the Mother of God. Through her, so to speak, the fullness of time has flowed: through her humble heart, so full of faith, and through her whole flesh saturated with the Holy Spirit.

From her the Church has inherited and continuously inherits this inner perception of fullness, which nourishes a sense of gratitude, as the only human response worthy of the immense gift of God. An overflowing gratitude, which, starting from the contemplation of that Child wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger, extends to everything and everyone, throughout the whole world. It is a thank you that reflects Grace; it comes not from us but from Him; it comes not from the self, but from God, and involves both the self and the community.

In this atmosphere created by the Holy Spirit, we lift up to God our thanksgiving for the year that draws to a close, recognizing that all good is God’s gift. Even the year 2017, which God gave us whole and healthy, we human beings have in many ways wasted and wounded it with works of death, with lies and injustices. Wars are the flagrant sign of this backsliding and absurd pride. But so are all the small and great offences against life, truth, and solidarity, which cause multiple forms of human, social and environmental degradation. We desire to and must assume fully, before God, our brothers and Creation, our own responsibility.

But tonight the Grace of Jesus prevails and his reflection in Mary. Therefore, gratitude prevails, which, as Bishop of Rome, I feel in my soul, thinking of people who live with an open heart in this city.

I feel a sense of warmness and gratitude for all those people who contribute every day with small but precious and concrete actions to the good of Rome: they try to do their duty as best as possible; they confront its traffic with care and prudence; they respect public places and they point out things that are wrong; they pay attention to the elderly or those in difficulty, and so on. These and a thousand other behaviours express concretely their love for the city of Rome. Without speeches, without grandiosity, but with a type of civic education practiced in everyday life. And so they silently cooperate in the common good.

I also feel a great esteem for parents, teachers and all educators who, in this same manner, try to train children and young people in a civic sense and an ethic of responsibility, educating them to belong, to take care of themselves, and to take an interest in the reality that surrounds them.

These people, even if they do not make the news, are the majority of the people who live in Rome. And among them, many are in difficult economic conditions; yet they do not cry uselessly, nor do they harbour resentment and grudges, but they strive to do their part every day to improve things a little. Today, in thanksgiving to God, I invite you to also express gratitude for these craftsmen of the common good, who love their city not only with words but with deeds.

Lessons from the elderly

Here is the text of the homily I prepared for the Feast of the Holy Family: lessons for all of us to learn about the way we value the presence of others in our lives.

Lurking in the shadows

Today’s feast of the Holy Family seems to hide in the shadows.  Celebrated only days after Christmas, society pays little attention to this Feast, and if we’re not careful, we too might miss its significance.

Saint Luke speaks today of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem.  He shows us four adult figures who play a role in the life of this new-born child.  His parents were dutifully carrying out the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male shall be designated as holy to the Lord (Lk 2:23).  While they were in the temple, they met Simeon and Anna, two elderly Jews who only appear this once in the scriptures.

Simeon’s encounter with Jesus seems to be the fulfillment of a long-awaited promise.  Taking the child in his hands, the elderly man breaks into joyous praise.  Life may have been very difficult for him, and he may very well have found the years slow to pass and filled with emptiness, but seeing the child Jesus, it seems as though he has once again discovered the meaning and purpose for his life (cf Lk 2:29-32).  Anna too seems to discover a new level of fulfillment in her encounter with Mary’s child.  Luke says that she began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (Lk 2:38).

Simeon and Anna were both respected elders, well-known to those who frequented the Temple in Jerusalem.  This brief encounter that they had with Jesus teaches us a very valuable lesson for our own lives.  Pope Francis has spoken on many occasions about the importance of spending time with the elderly.  He says that they are the keepers of memory and it is their privilege to pass on the stories that are part of our heritage to younger generations.  Respect for the role of elders is perhaps the reason why the writer of the Book of Sirach cautions us to honour our fathers and to confirm our mothers’ rights (Sir 3:2).

Mary and Joseph were well aware of the profound responsibility that had been entrusted to them.  Like all parents, they must have looked to the future with at least some degree of concern.  They would also have looked to Simeon and Anna to provide them with wisdom and guidance.  I wonder if they were shocked by Simeon’s prediction: This child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel ... and a sword will pierce your own soul too (Lk 2:34-35).  Like many other pieces of advice, Mary and Joseph probably treasured these words too and pondered them in their hearts.

What lessons can we learn from our encounter with these five figures in the scriptures?  I would venture to guess that those of us who take the time to get to know them, to pray with them might be surprised at the wisdom that they can teach.  Let us ask Simeon, Anna, Joseph and Mary to help us to treasure the relationships we have with our own parents, our grandparents and other wisdom people who are part of our lives.  May the child Jesus teach us more and more each day how to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience (Col 3:12) and to follow in his footsteps.

Caché dans l’ombre

La fête de la Sainte Famille que nous soulignons aujourd’hui semble se cacher dans l’ombre.  Célébrée seulement quelques jours après Noël, notre société accorde peu d’attention à cette fête, et si nous ne sommes pas attentifs, nous aussi, nous pourrions manquer sa signification.

Saint Luc nous explique le moment de la Présentation de Jésus au Temple de Jérusalem.  Il nous présente quatre personnages adultes qui jouent un rôle dans la vie de ce nouveau-né.  Ses parents exécutaient consciencieusement la Loi du Seigneur: Tout premier-né de sexe masculin sera consacré au Seigneur (Lc 2,23).  Pendant qu’ils étaient dans le temple, ils ont rencontré Siméon et Anne, deux Juifs âgés qui n’apparaissent qu’une seule fois dans les Écritures.

La rencontre de Siméon avec Jésus semble être l’accomplissement d’une promesse tant attendue.  Prenant l’enfant dans ses bras, le vieil homme commence à chanter les louanges pleines de joie.  Peut-être que la vie a été très difficile pour lui; peut-être qu’il a trouvé le temps long, mais en voyant l’enfant Jésus il semble qu’il a découvert de nouveau le sens et le but de sa vie (cf Lc 2,29-32).  Anne semble aussi découvrir un nouveau niveau d’épanouissement dans sa rencontre avec l’enfant.  Luc nous explique: elle proclamait les louanges de Dieu et parlait de l’enfant à tout ceux qui attendaient la délivrance de Jérusalem (Lc 2,38).

Siméon et Anne étaient tous deux des personnes respectées, bien connus de ceux qui fréquentaient le Temple de Jérusalem.  Cette brève rencontre qu’ils ont eu avec Jésus nous accorde une leçon très importante pour nos propres vies.  Le Pape François a parlé à plusieurs reprises de l’importance pour chacun de nous de passer du temps avec les personnes âgées.  Selon lui, ils sont les gardiens de la mémoire et ils ont le privilège de transmettre aux jeunes générations les histoires qui font partie de notre patrimoine.  Le respect du rôle des anciens et peut-être la raison pour laquelle l’auteur du livre de Ben Sirach le Sage nous met en garde d’honorer nos pères et de confirmer les droits de nos mères (Sir 3,2).

Marie et Joseph étaient bien conscient de la responsabilité qui leur avait été confiée.  Comme tous les parents, ils doivent avoir regarder l’avenir avec un certain degré d’inquiétude.  Ils aurait également accueilli la sagesse et des conseils fournis par Siméon et Anne.  Je me demande s’ils ont été choqués par la prédiction de Siméon: Voici que cet enfant provoquera la chute et le relèvement de beaucoup en Israël ... et toi, ton âme sera traversée d’un glaive (Lc 2,34-35).  Comme c’était le cas avec beaucoup d’autres conseils, Marie et Joseph ont sans doute apprécié ces paroles et les ont médités dans leurs coeurs.

Quelles leçons pouvons-nous apprendre de notre rencontre avec ces cinq personnages?  J’oserais deviner que ceux d’entre nous qui prennent le temps de les connaître et de prier avec eux pourraient être surpris de la sagesse qu’ils ont à nous offrir.  Demandons à Siméon, à Anne, à Joseph et à Marie de nous aider à apprécier les relations que nous tenons avec nos propres parents, nos grands-parents et avec d’autres personnes sages qui font partie de nos vies.  Que l’enfant Jésus nous enseigne de plus en plus chaque jour à nous revêtir de sentiments de compassion, de bonté, d’humilité, de douceur et de patience (Col 3,12) et de marcher à sa suite.

Angelus for Holy Family Sunday

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.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

On this Sunday that follows Christmas, we celebrate the Holy Family of Nazareth, and the gospel invites us to reflect on the experience that Mary, Joseph and Jesus had while they grew together as family in mutual love and placing their trust in God.  Trust is expressed through the rite that is carried out by Mary and Joseph as they offer their son Jesus to God.  The gospel says: They brought the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (Lk 2:22), as the law of Moses required.  Jesus' parents went to the temple to witness to the fact that their son belonged to God and that they were the custodians, not the owners of his life.  This makes us reflect.  All parents are custodians of their children's lives, not owners, and they should help them to grow, to mature.

This gesture underscores the truth that only God is the Lord of individual or family history; everything comes from Him.  Every family is called to recognize this primacy, to protect it and to teach their children to open themselves to God as the source of their very lives.  This is the point from which comes the secret to interior youth, paradoxically witnessed in the gospel by two elderly people, Simeon and Anna.  The elderly Simeon especially, inspired by the Holy Spirit says of the child Jesus: He is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign of contradiction ... so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed (Lk 2:34-35).

These prophetic words reveal the truth that Jesus came to bring down the false images that we have of God and of ourselves; in order to contradict the worldly security that we like to believe is our source of support; to raise us up to a truly authentic human and Christian journey, founded on gospel values.  There is no family situation that can be excluded from this new journey of rebirth and of resurrection.  Every time that families - even those who are wounded and marked by fragility, failure and difficulty, return to the source of the Christian experience, new paths and unimagined possibilities open.

Today's gospel account tells us that Mary and Joseph, when they had fulfilled all things according to the Law, returned to Galilee, to their city of Nazareth.  The child grew - the gospel says - and was strengthened, full of wisdom and the grace of God was upon him (Lk 2:39-40).  One of the greatest joys for a family is to watch their children grow; we all know this.  They are destined to develop and to strengthen themselves, to acquire wisdom and to receive grace from God, just as it was for Jesus.  He is truly one of us; the Son of God becomes a child, agrees to grow, to be strengthened, and the fullness of God's wisdom and grace is upon Him.  Mary and Joseph have the joy of seeing all this in their son; and this is the mission to which all families are destined: to create favourable conditions for the harmonious and full growth of their children, so that they can live good lives, worthy of God and contributing to the betterment of the world.

This is the wish I offer to all families today, along with the invocation of Mary, the Queen of all families.



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

Dear brothers and sisters,

I express my closeness to the Coptic Orthodox faithful in Egypt, who have been wounded by two attacks: one of which took place in a church and the other in a shop on the outskirts of Cairo.  May the Lord welcome the souls of those who have died, support those who have been wounded, their families and the entire community ... and convert the hearts of those who have perpetrated this violence.

Today, I send a special greeting to all families who are present here, and also to those who are participating from home.  May the Holy Family bless you and guide you along your journey.

I greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims; in particular, the parish groups, associations and young people.  Don't forget to thank God for the year that is drawing to a close and for every blessing that you have received.  And it would be good - for each of us - to take a little time to think about the good things that we have received from the Lord during this past year, and to thank Him for them.  And if there have been trials, difficulties, let us thank him also for those, for he has helped us to survive them.  Today is a day for giving thanks.

I wish you all a good Sunday and a peaceful end to the calendar year.  I thank you once again for your good wishes and your prayers; and please continue to pray for me.  Enjoy your lunch and good bye!

Greetings to members of the Italian Theological Association

At 11:50am today (Rome time), in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the members of the Italian Theological Association who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their Association.

Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

addressed to members of the Italian Theological Association

Dear brothers and sisters,

I welcome you and I thank your President for his words.  In these days, we are immersed in the joyous contemplation of the mystery of our God, who has become so involved and even compromised with our human poverty that he sent his Son to take on our fragile flesh.  Every Christian theological thought must begin from this point, in a reflection that will never exhaust the living source of divine Love, which allowed himself to be filled, looked upon and savoured in the creche in Bethlehem.

In 2017, the Italian Theological Association reached the age of half a century.  I am happy to unite myself with you in giving thanks to the Lord for those who, fifty years ago, had the courage to take the initiative to give life to the Italian Theological Association; for those who are part of it at this time, offering their presence, their intelligence and the effort of a freely given but responsible reflection; and above all, I give thanks for the contribution that your Association has given to the Church, with research that has always been proposed - with the critical effort that it possesses - to be in harmony with the fundamental stages and the challenges of ecclesial life in Italy.

It is worth noting the fact that the Italian Theological Association was born - as is outlined in the first article of your Statutes: in the spirit of service and of communion indicated in the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council.  The Church should always refer to that event, with which she began a new stage of evangelization (Bulla Misericordiae vultus, 4) and with which she assumed the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel in a new, more consonant way to a world and a culture that is profoundly changed.  It is evident that this effort requires the whole Church, and theologians in particular, to be receptive to creative faithfulness: aware that throughout these 50 years, there have been further changes and trusting that the gospel will continue to touch the men and women of today.  For this reason, I ask you to continue remaining faithful and anchored, in your theological work, to the Council and to the capacity that the Church has demonstrated to allow herself to be watered and fed by the constant newness of the gospel of Christ; as you have done in these former decades, as evidenced by the themes you have chosen and discussed in Congresses and in Refresher courses, as well as in recent powerful commentaries on all the documents of Vatican II.

In particular, it is a cherished fruit of the Council and a treasure to not disperse the fact that you have felt and continue to feel the need to do theology together, as an Association which includes more than 330 theologians.  This aspect is a matter of style which already expresses something essential to the Truth at whose service theology arises.  We cannot think, in fact, of serving the Truth of a God who is Love, eternal communion with the Father, Son and Spirit and whose salvific plan is to establish communion between Himself and all men, and between all human beings, doing this in an individual or pluralistic manner, or worse yet in a competitive way.  A theologian's search can only be personal; but a search for people who are as much as possible immersed in a theological community, a community of which they feel a part and truly are, including bonds of authentic solidarity and friendship.  This is not a secondary aspect of theological ministry!

A ministry for which there continues to be a great need in the Church.  In fact it is true that to be authentic believers, it is not necessary to have conducted academic courses in theology.  There is a sense of the realities of faith that belongs to all the people of God, even those who have no particular intellectual means to express it, and yet who ask to be met and listened to - I am thinking about the famous infallibility in believing: we should go there from time to time - and there are also very simple people who know how to sharpen their eyes of faith.  It is in this living faith of the holy and faithful people of God that every theologian must feel immersed and which he (or she) must also know how to  support, carry and embrace.  However, this does not always mean that there is a need for this specific theological work through which, as the holy doctor Bonaventure said, we can arrive at a credible ut intelligibile, as to what is believed and what is understood.  It is a requirement of the full humanity of the believers themselves, above all, because our belief is fully human and does not escape the thirst for conscience and understanding, most profoundly and fully as pertains to what we believe.  And it is a requirement of communicating faith, so that always and everywhere it should appear that faith does not mutilate that which is human, but always presents itself as an appeal to people's freedom.

And above all,  the desire and the perspective of a Church on a missionary journey which has a resulting theological mission in this moment in history is most important.  In fact, a Church that remains thus preoccupied, as I said in Evangelii gaudium, with making evident to women and men the essential truths that are fundamental to the gospel, or the beauty of the salvific love of God manifested in Jesus Christ who died and rose again (EG, 36).  Such an essential task, in an age of complexity and scientific and technical development without precedent and in a culture that, in the past was permeated by Christianity but in which today we can find distorted visions of the very heart of the gospel, make the great work of theology all the more indispensable.  In order for the Church to continue proclaiming the central message of the gospel to men and women today, in order that the gospel may truly reach the people personally and in order that this message may permeate society in all its dimensions, the task of theology is indispensable, with your efforts to rethink the great themes of Christian faith within a culture that has been profoundly changed.

We need a theology that helps all Christians to proclaim and to demonstrate, above all, the salvific face of God, the merciful God, especially in the face of some unprecedented challenges involving humanity today: such as the ecological crisis, the crisis of development of neurosciences or of technologies that can change humans; like that of the ever-greater social inequalities or migrations of entire peoples; like theoretical relativism but also practical relativism.  This is why there is a need for theology that, in keeping with the best traditions of the Italian Theological Association, is provided by Christians who are not only considering talking among themselves, but who know that they are at the service of various particular Churches and of the universal Church; and theology that is provided by those who are also willing to take on the task of rethinking the Church so that she can conform to the gospel that she must proclaim.

I am pleased to know that many times and in various ways, even in recent times, you have already done this: explicitly addressing the theme of proclaiming the gospel and the forma Ecclesiae, of synodality, of the ecclesial presence in the context of the laity and democracy, and power within the Church.  Therefore, I hope that your research may nourish and enrich all the people of God.  And I want to add a few thoughts that came to me while you were speaking.  Do not lose the capacity for wonder; do theology within the context of wonder.  Wonder that leads us to Christ, the encounter with Christ.  It is like air in which our reflection can be more fruitful.  And I also repeat another thing that I have said to you: the theologian is one who studies, thinks, reflects, but he does this on his knees.  Do theology on your knees, like the great Fathers of the Church.  The great Fathers who used to think, pray, adore, praise: strong theology, which is fundamental to all Christian theological development.  And I also repeat a third thing that I have said here, but I want to repeat it because it is important: do theology in the Church, which is to say within the faithful people of God who have - I will say it with a non-theological word - who have a nose for faith.  I remember, once, in confession, a dialogue that I had with an elderly Portuguese woman who was accusing herself of sins that do not exist, but she was such a deep believer!  I asked her a few questions and she replied well; in the end, I wanted to say: But, tell me madam: have you studied at the Gregorian university?  She was truly a simple woman, simple, but she had a nose, she had the sensus fidei, that part of faith that can never be wrong.

With all my heart, I grant you my blessing, and please, don't forget to pray for me.

Greetings to the Taizé community of Europe

Pope Francis has sent a Message, signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, to the young people taking part in the 40th European Taizé gathering of young adults.  This meeting is taking place in Basel (Switzerland) until January 1, 2018.

Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

addressed to the European Taizé Community

Dear young people,

You have come in great numbers from all over Europe and also from other continents to Basel - the Swiss neighbourhood - from France and from Germany in order to experience the 40th meeting organized and led by the Taizé Community.  And you have been brought here in order to explore together the sources of true joy.  This is the theme that will guide your reflections and focus your prayer. 

In this perspective, Pope Francis wishes to assure you of his extreme spiritual closeness.  In fact, as he wrote in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, the joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew (EG, 1).  Also, the Holy Father rejoices at the knowledge that you have chosen to participate in this encounter in order to welcome and to deepen the message of Jesus that is the source of joy for all those who open their hearts to him.  His Holiness thanks you for having responded to the call of the Lord who gathers you in the joy of his love.

The Pope encourages you to allow this joy to live in your heart, a joy that is born out of friendship that is experienced with Jesus and which never closes us off to the needs of others, nor to the needs of the world.  He invites you to remain connected to the Lord, through prayer and listening to his Word, in order that he may help you to use your talents to promote a culture of mercy, founded on the rediscovery of encountering others: a culture in which no one looks at another with indifference or looks away when he sees the sufferings of his brothers (Apostolic Letter, Misericordia et misera, 20).

Throughout the year that is drawing to a close, we have kept the memory of the 500th anniversary of the Reform.  In addition, the Pope is asking the Holy Spirit to help you, young protestants, Catholics and Orthodox, to rejoice and to enrich yourselves with the diversity of gifts that have been given to all of Christ's disciples, in order to demonstrate the fact that the joy of the gospel unites us in spite of al our wounds and divisions.  The Holy Father encourages you to not be afraid to travel the paths of fraternity in order that your gathering in Basel may make visible the joyous communion that flows from the source of hearts that are overflowing with the Lord.

Confiding you to the Lord in order that you may sing with the Virgin Mary the marvels of his love which is the source of our joy, the Holy Father willingly imparts his blessing to you young people taking part in this gathering, to the Brothers of Taizé, and to all the people of Switzerland, France and Germany who have welcomed you.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State of His Holiness

General Audience on the Nativity of the Lord

This morning's General Audience began at 9:25am in the Paul VI Hall where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from all corners of the world.

In his speech, the Pope focused his mediation on the significance of the Lord Jesus' Nativity.

After having summarized His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group that was present.

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

Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the General Audience

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today, I want to focus with you on the significance of the Lord Jesus' Nativity, which we are living in faith and celebrating during these days.

The construction of the manger scene is, above all a liturgy, with its biblical readings and traditional songs, which have helped us to re-live here the day on which a Saviour is born for us, who is Jesus Christ the Lord (Lk 2:11).

In our times, especially in Europe, we are witnessing a sort of distortion of Christmas: in the name of false respect which is not Christian, which often hides a will to hide a desire to marginalize the faith and to stop any reference in today's feast to the birth of Jesus.  But in reality, this is the only true meaning of Christmas!  Without Jesus, there can be no Christmas; there can be another celebration, but not Christmas.  And if He is at the centre, then everything else that surrounds him, including the lights, the sounds, various local traditions including typical foods, all combine to create a party atmosphere, but with Jesus as our focus.  If we take Him away, the light goes out and everything else loses its meaning.

Through the proclamation of the Church, we, like the shepherds in the gospel (cf Lk 2:9), are drawn to search for and to find the true light, the light of Jesus who having made mankind like us, shows himself in a surprising way: born to a poor unknown girl, who brought him into the world within a stall, with the help of her husband ... The world around them did not notice anything but in heaven, the angels who knew about it rejoiced!  This is how the Son of God is presented to us even today: as the gift of God for a humanity that is immersed in the night and lethargic - as though they are sleeping (cf Is 9:1).  Even today we witness the fact that humanity often prefers darkness, because we know that light would reveal all those actions and thoughts that would make our consciences blush or leave them tarnished.  Therefore we prefer to stay in the darkness and not disturb our bad habits.

Therefore we can also ask ourselves what it means to welcome the gift of God that is Jesus.  As He himself taught us through his life, it means day by day to become a free gift for those who we meet as we travel our own paths.  This is the reason why at Christmas we exchange gifts.  The true gift for us is Jesus, and like Him, we want to be gifts for others.  It is as though we want to be gifts for others, so we exchange gifts, as signs, to signal to ourselves and to others this attitude that Jesus teaches us: He who was sent by the Father, was a gift for us, and we are gifts for one another.

The apostle Paul offers us a key to help us understand this, when he writes - this passage that Paul wrote is beautiful - The grace of God appeared, bringing salvation for all mankind and teaching us to live in the world with sobriety, justice and piety (Titus 2:11-12).  The grace of God has appeared in Jesus, the face of God, which the Virgin Mary brought into the light like every child in this world, but who did not come from the earth, this child came from Heaven, from God.  In this way, through the incarnation of the Son, God showed us the way to a new life, based not on egoism but on love.  The birth of Jesus is the greatest gesture of our heavenly Father's love.

And finally, one more important aspect: in the events of Christmas, we can see how the history of humanity, which is affected by the powerful of this world, is visited by the history of God.  And God involves those who, confined to the margins of society as the first recipients of his gift, which is to say - the gift - the salvation that Jesus brings.  With those who are small and despised, Jesus establishes a friendship that continues through time and that nurtures the gift of hope for a better future.  To these people, represented in the shepherds of Bethlehem, a great light appeared (Lk 2:9-12).  They were marginalized, frowned upon, despised, and to them this great news appeared first.  With these persons, with the small and the despised, Jesus established a friendship that continues through time and that nourishes the gift of hope for a better future.  To these people, represented by the shepherds of Bethlehem, a great light appeared, which led them directly to Jesus.  With them, in every time, God wants to build a new world, a world in which there are no more rejected, maltreated or destitute people.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us open our minds and hearts to welcome this grace.  Jesus is the gift of God for us and, if we welcome him, we too will be able to become gifts for others - to be gifts for God and for others - first of all for those who have never experienced attention and tenderness.  But how many people, in their daily lives, have never experienced a hug, loving attention, a gesture of tenderness ... Christmas motivates us to share these gifts.  In this way, Jesus comes and is born again to life in every one of us, and through us he continues to be a gift of salvation for those who are small and excluded.



The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages and he offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.  To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:

I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from the United States of America. May each of you, and your families, cherish the joy of this Christmas season, and draw near in prayer to the Prince of Peace who has come to dwell among us. God bless you all!

Christmas greetings shared

Pope Francis is continuing his established tradition of visiting with his predecessor to offer him Christmas greetings.  This most recent visit took place on Thursday (December 21, 2017) at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery located on the grounds of Vatican City.

Pope Francis and Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI spent about 30 minutes together, first in prayer and then in pleasant conversation.

On various occasions, Pope Francis has referred to the presence of Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI on the grounds of the Vatican like having a wise grandfather living at home with him.

Angelus for Saint Stephen

At noon today (Rome time), on 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 gathered in Saint Peter's Square.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

After having celebrated the birth of Jesus, today we celebrate the birth of Saint Stephen, the first martyr, in heaven.  Even if at first, it might seem that among these two events there is no connection, in truth there is, and it is a very strong connection.

Yesterday, in the Christmas day liturgy, we heard: The Word was made flesh and came to live among us (Jn 1:14).  Saint Stephen placed the leaders of his time in crisis because: filled with faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5), he firmly believed and professed the new presence of God among men; he know that from now on, the true temple of God was and is Jesus, the eternal Word who came to dwell among us, who was made like us in all things except for sin.  But Stephen was accused of preaching the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.  The accusation that was made against him was that he was affirming the fact that Jesus, the Nazarene, would destroy this place and undermine the customs that Moses had handed down to us (Acts 6:14).

In truth, the message of Jesus was uncomfortable and inconvenient, because it challenged worldly religious power and provoked consciences.  After his coming, it was necessary to convert, to change our mentality, to renounce our ways of thinking before this change, to convert.  Stephen remained anchored to the message of Jesus until his death.  His final prayers: Lord Jesus, welcome my spirit and Lord, do not hold this sin against them (Acts 7:59-60), these two prayers are faithful echoes of the prayers that were spoken by Jesus on the cross: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit (Lk 23:46) and Father, forgive them for they know not what they do (Lk 23:34).  These words spoken by Stephen were possible only because the Son of God came to earth and died and rose for us; before these events, they would have been humanly impossible expressions.

Stephen pleaded with Jesus to welcome his spirit.  In fact, the risen Christ is the Lord, the only mediator between God and man, not only at the hour of our death, but also at every moment of our lives: without Him we can do nothing (cf Jn 15:5).  Therefore, we too, standing before the child Jesus in the manger scene, can pray to him in these words: Lord Jesus, I entrust my spirit to you, welcome it, so that our lives may be well lived according to the gospel.

Jesus is our mediator and he reconciles us not only with the Father, but also with one another.  He is the source of love, that opens us to living in communion with our brothers and sisters, to loving one another, removing all traces of conflict and resentment.  We know that resentments are terrible things, they cause so much suffering and cause us such pain!  Jesus removes all of them and helps us instead to love one another.  This is the miracle of Jesus.  Let us as Jesus, born for us, to help us to adopt these two attitudes of faithfulness to the Father and to love for our neighbour; this is an attitude that transforms lives and makes them more beautiful, more fruitful.

To Mary, the Mother of the Redeemer and Queen of martyrs, let us trustingly offer our prayers, asking her to help us to welcome Jesus as Lord of our lives and to become his courageous witnesses, ready to personally pay the price of faithfulness to the gospel.



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

Dear brothers and sisters,

In this climate of Christian joy that surrounds us at the Birth of Jesus, I greet you all and I thank you for your presence.

To all of you who have come from Italy and from many other countries, I renew my wish for peace and serenity: may these days be for you and your families, a time to enjoy the beauty of being together and knowing that Jesus is among us.

I offer a particular greeting to the national Ukrainian pilgrimage: I bless all of you and your country.

In recent weeks, I have received many messages and greetings.  It would never be possible for me to respond to each one of them, so today I express to all of you, my sincere gratitude: especially for the gift of your prayers.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!  May the Lord reward you for your generosity!

Happy feast day!  Please, don't forget to pray for me.  Enjoy your lunch and good bye.

Come, let us adore

Here is the reflection I prepared for the celebration of the Solemnity of the Lord's Birth (known also as Christ-mas).

We have come

The time has finally arrived.  After all the anxiety of preparing for this day: making sure that there is enough food for anyone who may come through the doors, decorating our homes, buying and wrapping presents, for some of us travelling long distances, the time has finally arrived.  We are here, and just for a moment, we can take a breath, stop, look around us, gather around the manger to contemplate the reason for all the fuss.

Mary and Joseph were just like us. Caesar Augustus had issued a decree that all the world should be registered (Lk 2:1).  This was the very first census in recorded history.  Everyone had to travel to the town of their ancestry in order to be registered.  Since Joseph was descended from the house and family of David, he had travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem along with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child (Lk 2:4-5).  By today’s measurements, the distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem is 156.4 kilometres.  Even today, the trek would take 2 hours and 18 minutes by car, but Joseph walked the distance and Mary rode on a donkey.  They were not alone either.  The roads would have been packed with people travelling in all directions, each trying to reach their own cities.

This was a hectic journey for the young couple.  Exhausted from their travel, they couldn’t even find a place to sleep.  Saint Luke says that Mary gave birth to her first-born son ... and laid him in a manger (Lk 2:7).  Our all-powerful God, the king of the universe came into the world that night: not as a mighty leader, but as a newborn child; not as a powerful figure, but as a helpless infant.

Many of those who were present in Bethlehem that night paid no attention to him.  In fact, other than his parents and the animals who would have been lodged in the stable that night, no one else seemed to pay any attention to him.  This is the true miracle of this night: God came into the world, not amidst great fanfare, in fact far away from the limelight.  He came into the world not in luxury but in most humble surroundings so that a people who had walked in darkness might see a great light (cf Is 9:2). 

This light was revealed not to kings but to shepherds who were living in the surrounding fields, keeping watch over their flock by night (Lk 2:8).  The angels shared good news of great joy (Lk 2:10) with them that night: news that filled their hearts with excitement and caused them to say to one another: Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place (Lk 2:15).

Dear friends, the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all of us (Titus 2:11) and this is the reason why families have travelled for miles to be together, this is the reason for all the fuss that has led to this moment.   Let us not lose sight of the greatest gift of all, the gift of God’s love that is right here in our midst.  Let us all set out, not in haste, but in prayer to find Mary and Joseph and the child in the manger (Lk 2:16) and let us ask this holy child to share with us the joy that is the best Christmas gift ever.

Nous sommes arrivés

Enfin, nous sommes arrivés.  Après avoir expérimenté toute l’angoisse de nous préparer pour cette journée: après nous être assurés qu’il y ait assez de nourriture pour tous ceux qui franchissent les portes, après avoir décoré nos maisons, après avoir procuré et emballé tous les cadeaux, après avoir voyagé des longues distances, le temps est finalement arrivé.  Nous sommes rendus, et juste pour une minute, nous pouvons respirer, nous pouvons nous arrêter, nous pouvons regarder autour de nous, nous pouvons nous rassembler autour de la crèche et contempler la raison pour tout ce tapage.

Marie et Joseph vivaient ces mêmes sentiments.  L’empereur Auguste avait émis un édit ordonnant de recenser toute la terre (Lc 2,1).  C’était le tout premier recensement de l’histoire enregistrée.  Tout le monde devait se rendre dans la ville de leur ascendance pour être enregistré.  Puisque Joseph était de la maison et de la lignée de David, il avait voyagé de Nazareth à Bethléem avec Marie qui lui avait été accordée en mariage et qui était enceinte (Lc 2,4-5).  La distance entre Nazareth et Bethléem est de 156,4 kilomètres.  Même de nos jours, il nous faudrait 2 heures et 18 minutes pour accomplir le voyage en automobile, mais Joseph l’aurait parcouru à pied et Marie l’aura fait montée sur un âne.  Ils n’étaient certainement pas seuls non plus.   Les routes étaient pleines de gens voyageant dans toutes les directions, chacun essayant d’atteindre sa propres ville.

Ce fut un voyage mouvementé pour le jeune couple.  Épuisés par leur voyage, ils n’arrivaient même pas à trouver des logements pour dormir.  Saint Luc nous explique que Marie mit au monde son fils premier-né ... et elle le coucha dans une mangeoire (Lc 2,7).  Notre Dieu tout-puissant, le roi de l’univers est venu dans le monde, pas comme un chef puissant, mais comme un enfant nouveau-né; pas comme une personne puissante, mais comme un bébé sans défense.

Beaucoup de ceux qui étaient présents à Bethléem cette nuit ne lui ont pas prêté la moindre d’attention.  En fait, à part ces parents et les animaux qui étaient logés dans l’étable ce soir là, personne d’autre ne semblait lui porter attention.  Voici le vrai miracle de cette nuit: Dieu est venu dans le monde, non pas au son des grandes trompettes, mais en fait loin des feux de la rampe.  Il est venu dans le monde non pas dans le luxe, mais dans un environnement des plus humbles afin que le peuple qui marchait dans les ténèbres puisse voir se lever une grande lumière (cf Is 9,2).

Cette lumière ne fut pas révélée aux rois, mais aux bergers qui vivaient dehors et passaient la nuit dans les champs pour garder leurs troupeaux (Lc 2,8).  Les anges ont partagé une bonne nouvelle qui sera une grande joie pour tout le peuple (Lc 2,10) cette nuit, une nouvelle qui a rempli leurs coeurs de grande joie et leur a fait se dire: Allons donc jusqu’à Bethléem pour voir ce qui est arrivé (Lc 2,15).

Chers amis, la grâce de Dieu s’est manifestée pour le salut de toute personne (Tite 2,11) et voici la raison pour laquelle les membres de nos familles ont parcouru de longues distances pour se trouver ensemble; voici la raison de tout le tapage qui nous a conduit jusqu’à ce moment.  Ne perdons pas de vue du plus grand don, le don de l’amour de Dieu qui se trouve ici au milieu de nous.  Partons tous, non en fuite, mais en prière à la recherche de Marie et de Joseph ainsi que l’enfant qui dors dans la crèche (cf Lc 2,16) et demandons à ce saint enfant de partager avec nous sa joie qui est le meilleur cadeau de Noël.

Christmas Day Greetings

At noon today (Rome time), the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared on the central loggia above the doors of Saint Peter's Basilica to offer his annual Christmas blessing known as the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world).

Before imparting his benediction, the Pope shared the following words:

Address of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world)

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Merry Christmas!

In Bethlehem, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary.  He was born, not by the will of man, but by the gift of the love of God our Father, who so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16).

This event is renewed today in the Church, a pilgrim in time.  For the faith of the Christian people relives in the Christmas liturgy the mystery of the God who comes, who assumes our mortal human flesh, and who becomes lowly and poor in order to save us.  And this moves us deeply, for great is the tenderness of our Father.

The first people to see the humble glory of the Saviour, after Mary and Joseph, were the shepherds of Bethlehem.  They recognized the sign proclaimed to them by the angels and adored the Child.  Those humble and watchful men are an example for believers of every age who, before the mystery of Jesus, are not scandalized by his poverty.  Rather, like Mary, they trust in God’s word and contemplate his glory with simple eyes.  Before the mystery of the Word made flesh, Christians in every place confess with the words of the Evangelist John: We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only-begotten Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (Jn 1:14).

Today, as the winds of war are blowing in our world and an outdated model of development continues to produce human, societal and environmental decline, Christmas invites us to focus on the sign of the Child and to recognize him in the faces of little children, especially those for whom, like Jesus, there is no place in the inn (Lk 2:7).

We see Jesus in the children of the Middle East who continue to suffer because of growing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.  On this festive day, let us ask the Lord for peace for Jerusalem and for all the Holy Land.  Let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can finally be reached, one that would allow the peaceful coexistence of two States within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders.  May the Lord also sustain the efforts of all those in the international community inspired by good will to help that afflicted land to find, despite grave obstacles the harmony, justice and security that it has long awaited.

We see Jesus in the faces of Syrian children still marked by the war that, in these years, has caused such bloodshed in that country.  May beloved Syria at last recover respect for the dignity of every person through a shared commitment to rebuild the fabric of society, without regard for ethnic and religious membership.  We see Jesus in the children of Iraq, wounded and torn by the conflicts that country has experienced in the last fifteen years, and in the children of Yemen, where there is an ongoing conflict that has been largely forgotten, with serious humanitarian implications for its people, who suffer from hunger and the spread of diseases.

We see Jesus in the children of Africa, especially those who are suffering in South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and Nigeria.

We see Jesus in the children worldwide wherever peace and security are threatened by the danger of tensions and new conflicts.  Let us pray that confrontation may be overcome on the Korean peninsula and that mutual trust may increase in the interest of the world as a whole.  To the Baby Jesus we entrust Venezuela that it may resume a serene dialogue among the various elements of society for the benefit of all the beloved Venezuelan people.  We see Jesus in children who, together with their families, suffer from the violence of the conflict in Ukraine and its grave humanitarian repercussions; we pray that the Lord may soon grant peace to that dear country.

We see Jesus in the children of unemployed parents who struggle to offer their children a secure and peaceful future.  And in those whose childhood has been robbed and who, from a very young age, have been forced to work or to be enrolled as soldiers by unscrupulous mercenaries.

We see Jesus in the many children forced to leave their countries to travel alone in inhuman conditions and who become an easy target for human traffickers.  Through their eyes we see the drama of all those forced to emigrate and risk their lives to face exhausting journeys that end at times in tragedy.  I see Jesus again in the children I met during my recent visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh, and it is my hope that the international community will not cease to work to ensure that the dignity of the minority groups present in the region is adequately protected.  Jesus is well aware of the pain of not being welcomed and he knows how hard it is not to have a place to lay his head.  May our hearts not be closed as they were in the homes of Bethlehem.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The sign of Christmas has also been revealed to us: a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes (Lk 2:12).  Like the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, like the shepherds of Bethlehem, may we welcome in the Baby Jesus the love of God made man for us.  And may we commit ourselves, with the help of his grace, to making our world more human and more worthy for the children of today and of the future.

I offer a warm greeting to all of you, dear brothers and sisters from throughout the world gathered here in this Square, and to all those who in various countries are joined to us by radio, television and other communications media.

May the birth of Christ the Saviour renew hearts, awaken the desire to build a future of greater fraternity and solidarity, and bring joy and hope to everyone.  Merry Christmas!
(Text courtesy of Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

Christmas Mass in Rome

At 9:30pm tonight (Rome time), the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over the celebration of the Mass during the Night for the Solemnity of Christmas.  The celebration took place inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the Christmas Eve Mass

Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (Lk 2:7). In these plain and clear words, Luke brings us to the heart of that holy night: Mary gave birth; she gave us Jesus, the Light of the world. A simple story that plunges us into the event that changes our history forever. Everything, that night, became a source of hope.

Let us go back a few verses. By decree of the Emperor, Mary and Joseph found themselves forced to set out. They had to leave their people, their home and their land, and to undertake a journey in order to be registered in the census. This was no comfortable or easy journey for a young couple about to have a child: they had to leave their land. At heart, they were full of hope and expectation because of the child about to be born; yet their steps were weighed down by the uncertainties and dangers that attend those who have to leave their home behind.

Then they found themselves having to face perhaps the most difficult thing of all. They arrived in Bethlehem and found that it was a land that was not expecting them. A land where there was no place for them.

And there, where everything was a challenge, Mary gave us Emmanuel. The Son of God had to be born in a stable because his own had no room for him. He came to what was his own and his own people did not accept him (Jn 1:11). And there, amid the gloom of a city that had no room or place for the stranger from afar, amid the darkness of a bustling city which in this case seemed to want to build itself up by turning its back on others … it was precisely there that the revolutionary spark of God’s love was kindled. In Bethlehem, a small chink opens up for those who have lost their land, their country, their dreams; even for those overcome by the asphyxia produced by a life of isolation.

So many other footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary. We see the tracks of entire families forced to set out on our own day. We see the tracks of millions of persons who do not choose to go away but, driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones. In many cases this departure is filled with hope, hope for the future; yet for many others this departure can only have one name: survival. Surviving the Herods of today, who, to impose their power and increase their wealth, see no problem in shedding innocent blood.

Mary and Joseph, for whom there was no room, are the first to embrace the One who comes to give all of us our citizenship documents. The One who in his poverty and humility proclaims and shows su that true power and authentic freedom are shown in honouring and assisting the weak and the frail.

That night, the One who had no place to be born is proclaimed to those who had no place at the table or in the streets of the city. The shepherds are the first to hear this Good News. By reason of their work, they were men and women forced to live on the edges of society. Their state in life, and the places they had to stay, prevented them from observing all the ritual prescriptions of religious purification; as a result, they were considered unclean. Their skin, their clothing, their smell, their way of speaking, their origin, all betrayed them. Everything about them generated mistrust. They were men and women to be kept at a distance, to be feared. They were considered pagans among the believers, sinners among the just, foreigners among the citizens. Yet to them – pagans, sinners and foreigners – the angel said: Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord (Lk 2:10-11).

This is the joy that tonight, we are called to share, to celebrate and to proclaim. The joy with which God, in his infinite mercy, has embraced us pagans, sinners and foreigners, and demands that we do the same.

The faith we proclaim tonight makes us see God present in all those situations where we think he is absent. He is present in the unwelcomed visitor, often unrecognizable, who walks through our cities and our neighbourhoods, who travels on our buses and knocks on our doors.

This same faith impels us to make space for a new social imagination, and not to be afraid of experiencing new forms of relationship, in which none have to feel that there is no room for them on this earth. Christmas is a time for turning the power of fear into the power of charity, into power for a new imagination of charity. The charity that does not grow accustomed to injustice, as if it were something natural, but that has the courage, amid tensions and conflicts, to make itself a house of bread, a land of hospitality. That is what Saint John Paul II told us: Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ (Homily for the Inauguration of the Pontificate, 22 October 1978).

In the Child of Bethlehem, God comes to meet us and make us active sharers in the life around us. He offers himself to us, so that we can take him into our arms, lift him and embrace him. So that in him we will not be afraid to take into our arms, raise up and embrace the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned (cf Mt 25:35-36). Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ. In this Child, God invites us to be messengers of hope. He invites us to become sentinels for all those bowed down by the despair born of encountering so many closed doors. In this child, God makes us agents of his hospitality.

Moved by the joy of the gift, little Child of Bethlehem, we ask that your crying may shake us from our indifference and open our eyes to those who are suffering. May your tenderness awaken our sensitivity and recognize our call to see you in all those who arrive in our cities, in our histories, in our lives. May your revolutionary tenderness persuade us to heed our call to be agents of the hope and tenderness of our people.
(Text courtesy of Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

Angelus for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

At noon today, the Vigil of the Birth of the Lord, 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.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

On this Sunday that immediately precedes Christmas, we hear the gospel passage of the Annunciation (cf Lk 1:26-38).

In this gospel passage we can take note of a contrast between the promises made by the angel and the response given by Mary.  This contrast is seen in the dimensions and the content of the expressions used by each of them.  The angel says to Mary: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.  And behold, you will conceive a son who you will bring to birth and you will call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, he will reign forever over the house of Jacob and his kingdom will have no end (Lk 1:30-33).  This is a long revelation, one which opens prospectives previously unheard of.  The child who will be born of this humble girl from Nazareth will be called Son of the Most High: it is not possible for us to conceive of a dignity greater than this.  And in answer to Mary's question, with which she asks for some explanations, the angel's revelation becomes even more detailed and surprising.

In contrast to such details, Mary's response is a brief phrase, which does not speak of glory, nor does it speak of privilege, but only of availability and of service: Behold the handmaiden of the Lord: may it be done unto me according to your word (Lk 1:38).  The content of Mary's words is also different.  Mary does not exalt herself before the prospect of becoming the mother of the Messiah, but she remains modest and expresses her own compliance with the Lord's plan.  Mary does not boast.  She is humble and modest.  She remains as she always has been.

This contrast is significant.  It helps us to understand that Mary is truly humble and does not try to show off.  She recognizes the fact that she is small before God, and she is content to be that way.  At the same time, she is aware that the fulfillment of God's plan depends on her response, and therefore she is called to cooperate with this plan with her entire being.

In this circumstance, Mary presents herself with an attitude that perfectly corresponds to that of the Son of God when he comes into the world.  He wants to become the Servant of the Lord, to place himself at the service of humanity in order to fulfill the Father's plan.  Mary says: Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; and the Son of God, entering into the world, says: Behold, I come, O God, to do your will (Heb 10:7, 9).  Mary's attitude fully reflects this declaration by the Son of God, who also becomes the son of Mary.  In this way, Our Lady reveals herself to be a perfect collaborator with the plan of God, and she also reveals herself to be a disciple of her Son.  Thus, in the Magnificat, she can proclaim: God has raised up the humble (Lk 1:52), because by this humble and generous response, she has gained the highest level of joy, and also the highest level of glory.

While we admire our Mother for her response to the call and the mission of God, we ask her to help each one of us to welcome God's plan in our lives with sincerity, humility and courageous generosity.



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

Dear brothers and sisters,

While we prayerfully wait for the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we invoke the gift of peace for the whole world, especially those who are suffering most due to ongoing conflicts.  In particular, I renew my call that, at Christmas time, those people who have been kidnapped - priests, religious men and women and lay faithful - may be released so that they can return home.  Let us pray for them.

I also want to assure my prayer for the people of the Island of Mindanao, in the Philippines, who have been struck by a storm that has left many victims and much destruction.  May our merciful God welcome the souls of all those who have died and bring comfort to those who are suffering because of this calamity.  Let us pray for those people.

I affectionately greet all of you, faithful of Rome and pilgrims who have come from various other countries, families, parish groups and associations.

At these final hours that separate us from Christmas, I recommend that you might find a few moments to pause in silence and in prayer before the Manger, to adore in your heart the true mystery of Christmas, the mystery of Jesus, who comes to us with love, humility and tenderness.

And, now, remember also to pray for me.  Thank you!  Have a good Sunday and enjoy your lunch!  Good bye!

Part of an ancient story

Here is the text of the homily I prepared for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.  This year, we have cancelled some of the Sunday liturgies that would normally be celebrated in order to allow for the fact that Christmas Eve will be observed beginning in the latter part of Sunday afternoon.  My homily for Christmas will be published separately.

History in the making

Families are gathering from near and far this weekend to celebrate the joy of Christmas.  Each of our families has traditions that belong to this time: foods that we share, stories that we retell and memories that we recall.

Today we hear a part of the story that belongs to our family of faith: the story of King David: the same David who was once a poor shepherd boy, but who had been called by God to defend his people against Goliath (1 Sam 17).  Having defeated the giant, David was made King and given a house of cedar (2 Sam 7:2) to live in: a mark of considerable wealth, and yet David never lost sight of the greatness of God.

Many centuries later, God sent his angel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth ... to a virgin whose name was Mary (Lk 1:26-27).  The angel shared with Mary the plan that God had for her.  Notice the extreme tenderness with which the angel’s words are spoken.  He begins with an extraordinary greeting: Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you (Lk 1:28).  These words must have startled Mary and made her truly wonder but they reveal the absolute respect that our God has for each one of us.  He never barges into our space, but knocks gently at the doors of our hearts.  When we invite him in, he is always polite, greeting each of us with the same words: The Lord is with you.

The angel went on to explain to Mary how precious she was in the sight of God (cf Lk 1:30), and then he explained the vocation that God had prepared for her: you will conceive and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus ... the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David (Lk 1:31-32).  Mary would have known the story of David: the same story that we have heard today, yet the angel’s invitation would have surprised her.  It is always surprising for us to learn how God wants to use us to be the instruments through which he reaches out to share his love with our world, and yet he never stops looking for ways to show us his love in action.  He never stops inviting us to share what we have received with others.

Mary accepted the Lord’s invitation (Lk 1:38), and because she did, many of us have also received great blessings from our God.  It is only fitting that at this time of year, we should pause to give thanks for all that we have received.  Our God never stops surprising us with the vastness of his generosity.  All we need to do is open our eyes, look around us and allow our tongues to repeat the song of praise that was spoken by Saint Paul: to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever!  Amen! (Rom 16:27)

Une longue histoire

Les familles se ressemblent de près et de loin afin de célébrer la joie de Noël.  Chacune de nos familles a ses traditions qui font partie de ce temps de l’année: des mets de choix, des histoires qui sont racontées et les souvenirs que nous nous rappelons.

Aujourd’hui les Saints Écritures nous racontent une partie de l’histoire de notre famille de foi: l’histoire du roi David.  C’est le même David qui était autrefois un pauvre berger, mais qui avait été appelé par Dieu pour défendre son peuple contre Goliath (1 Sam 17).  Ayant vaincu le géant, on a nommé David comme roi et lui a construit une maison de cèdre (2 Sam 7,2): une marque de richesse considérable, et pourtant David n’a jamais oublié la grandeur de Dieu.

Plusieurs siècles plus tard, le Seigneur a envoyé son ange dans une ville de Galilée, appelé Nazareth ... à une jeune fille vierge qui s’appelait Marie (Lc 1:26-27).  L’ange a partagé avec Marie le projet que Dieu avait pour elle.  Il faut remarquer la tendresse extrême avec laquelle les paroles de l’ange sont prononcées.  Il commence par une salutation extraordinaire:  Je te salue, Comblée-de-grâce, le Seigneur est avec toi (Lc 1,28).  Ces paroles ont dû surprendre Marie et l’ont vraiment émerveillée, mais ils révèlent le respect absolu que notre Dieu a pour chacun de nous.  Il n’envahit jamais notre espace, mais par contre, il frappe doucement aux portes de nos coeurs.  Quand nous l’invitons, il est toujours poli, saluant chacun de nous avec ces mêmes paroles: Le Seigneur est avec vous.

L’ange a expliqué à Marie combien elle était précieuse devant Dieu (cf Lc 1,30), et puis il expliqua la vocation que Dieu lui avait préparée: Voici que tu vas concevoir et enfanter un fils; tu lui donneras le nom de Jésus ... le Seigneur Dieu lui donnera le trône de David son père (Lc 1,31-32).  Marie connaissait l’histoire de David: la mème que nous avons entendue aujourd’hui, mais l’invitation de l’ange l’aurait néanmoins surprise.  Il est toujours surprenant pour nous d’apprendre comment Dieu veut se servir de nous comme instruments à travers lesquelles il tend la main pour partager son amour avec notre monde, et pourtant il ne cesse de chercher des moyens de nous démontrer son amour en action.  Il ne cesse jamais de nous inviter à partager ce que nous avons reçu avec d’autres.

Marie a accepté l’invitation du Seigneur (Lc 1, 38) et à cause de son oui, beaucoup d’entre nous ont également reçu des bénédictions de la part du Seigneur.  Il est normal qu’en ce temps de l’année, nous prenions pause afin de rendre grâce pour tout ce que nous avons reçu.  Le Seigneur ne cesse jamais de nous surprendre; sa générosité est immense.  Tout ce que nous devons faire c’est d’ouvrir nos yeux, regarder autour de nous et répéter les louanges qui ont été prononcées par Saint-Paul: à celui qui est le seul sage Dieu, par Jésus-Christ, à lui la gloire pour les siècles. Amen (Rom 16,27).

Christmas greetings for the Vatican staff

At noon today (Rome time), in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with staff members of the Holy See and of the Vatican City State, along with members of their families for the exchange of Christmas greetings.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

offered to staff members

Good morning!

First of all, I want to thank you.  Thank you to every one of you for the work you do here.  Every one of us has his own job, we all know this ...  There are also working teams in the Vatican ... This work is what composes the train which is the Vatican, the Holy See, at times it seems very heavy, very grandiose, with many problems, many things ... And every one of you gives the best of yourselves in order to do this work.  I am aware that without your work ... - one of you told me that you've been here for 43 years; what memories! - without the work that you are doing, things would not proceed as well as they do, and this means that the work of the Church would not go on as well, we could not do so much work for the preaching of the gospel, to help so many people, so many sick people, so many schools, so many things ... You are a part of the great chain that carries on the work of the Church.

The first word that I want to say to you is work.  But not to make you work: work harder, hurry up!  No, no, in order to say thank you.  Thank you.  But in the Vatican, speaking of work, there is a problem.  One of you came in and met a young man and said: We need to help workers who are at risk.  The other day, I had a meeting with Cardinal Marx, who is the President of the Council for the Economy, and with Monsignor Ferme, the secretary, and I said: I don't want anyone working under the table in the Vatican.  I ask you to forgive me if this has happened in the past.  The famous Article 11, which is a valid article worth trying, but trying for one or two years, not longer.  Just as I said that we should not leave anyone without work, that is to say we should not dismiss them, unless there is no more work for them to do, or unless there is an agreement that suits the person, so I say: we should work here in order that there are no jobs or workers who are wasted or mistreated.  For me, this is also a problem of conscience, because we cannot teach the social doctrine of the Church and then do something (like that) that is not good.  It is understood that for a certain time, we need to put people on probation, yes, we can try things for a year, maybe for two, but stop there.  Don't work under the table.  This is my intent.  You can help me, you can help your superiors, those who work for the Governatorate, the Cardinals, the Secretaries, help them to resolve the problems of the Holy See: cases of precarious working conditions that still exist.

Therefore, the first word is work, to thank, talk of temporary work and also, one last thing: work is your path of holiness, of happiness, of growth. Today perhaps the worst curse is not to have work. And so many people — you surely must know so many –, don’t have work. Because work gives us dignity, and the security of work gives us dignity. I don’t want to give names, but you will find it in the newspapers. Today I saw, in a newspaper, these two problems, of two important firms, here in Italy, which are at risk, and to save the life, one must rationalize – that’s the word – the work and fire 3-4 thousand people. This is awful, very awful, because dignity is lost. And this is a problem not only here, of the Vatican, in Italy or in Europe: it’s a global problem. It’s a problem that depends on many factors in the world. To keep one’s work and to have dignity, to be the breadwinner: I take it because I earn it. Not because I pass by Caritas to get it, no. I earn it. This is dignity. So is work. Thank you, Help superiors to put an end to irregular work situations, and keep your job because it’s your dignity. I would say, keep your job, but do it well. This is important!

The second word that comes to mind to say to you is: family. I would like to say to you sincerely: when I know that one of your families is in crisis, that there are children who are anguished because they see that the family has . . . a problem, I suffer. But allow yourselves to be helped. I wanted the Secretary General of the Governorate to be Bishop so that he would have this pastoral dimension. Please, save the families. I know it’s not easy, that there are personality problems, psychological problems, problems . . . so many problems in a marriage. However, try to ask for help in time, to safeguard the families. I know that among you there are some who are separated; I know it and I suffer, I suffer with you . . . life has gone that way. However, I would also like to help you in this; allow yourselves to be helped. If something has happened, at least don’t let the children suffer, because when parents quarrel, the children suffer, they suffer. And I’ll give you some advice: never quarrel in front of the children –never, because they don’t understand. Take care of the family. And for this you have here Monsignor Verges and also the chaplains. They will tell you where to go to get help. The family: this is the great jewel, because God has created us family. Marriage is the image of God, man and woman, fruitful: “multiply,” have children; go ahead. I was happy today when I saw many, many children here. It’s a family. Take care of the family, is the second word that comes to mind.

The third word that comes to mind – perhaps one of you would like to say to me: But put and end to it with this! is a recurrent word: gossip. Perhaps I’m mistaken . . . there is no gossiping in the Vatican . . . perhaps, I don’t know . . . One of you said to me, one of you workers, one day when I preached about gossip, and he had come to Mass with his wife, he said to me: Father, if one doesn’t gossip in the Vatican, one remains isolated. Heavy, heavy! You heard what I say about gossiping: the gossiper is a terrorist, because he does as the terrorists: he throws the bomb, goes away, the bomb explodes and hurts so many others, with the tongue, does that bomb. Please, don’t engage in terrorism! Don’t engage in the terrorism of gossip. This is the third word that comes to me.

However, someone might say to me: Father, give us advice, what can we do not to gossip? Bite your tongue! It will surely swell, but you will have done good not to gossip. Gossip, also, by some persons who should give example and don’t, they don’t give it.

And here is the fourth word I would like to say to you: forgiveness. Forgiveness and sorry, because we don’t always give good example; we – I speak of the clerical fauna – we (he smiles) don’t always give good example. There are mistakes in life that we clerics make, sins, injustices, or sometimes we treat people badly, we are somewhat neurotic, injustices . . . Forgiveness for all these bad examples. We must ask for forgiveness I also ask for forgiveness, because sometimes I fly off the handle (he laughs) I lose my patience . . .

Dear collaborators, brothers and sisters. Here are the words, the four words that came from my heart: work, family, gossip, forgiveness.

And the last word is the Christmas greeting: Happy Christmas! — a Happy Christmas in the heart, in the family, also in the conscience. Don’t be afraid, you too, to ask for forgiveness if your conscience reproaches you for something; look for a good confessor and do a thorough cleaning! They say the best confessor is a deaf priest (he laughs): he doesn’t make you feel ashamed! However, without their being deaf, there are so many merciful confessors, so many who listen to you and forgive you: Go ahead! Christmas is a good opportunity to make peace also within ourselves. We are all sinners, all. Yesterday I made my Christmas confession: the confessor came . . . and it did me good. We must all go to confession.

I wish you a Happy Christmas, of joy but that joy that comes from within. And I don’t want to forget the sick, who perhaps are in your family, who suffer, and I send them also a blessing. Thank you so much. We take care of work, so that it’s just; we take care of the family, we curb the tongue and, please, forgive us for the bad examples, and let’s do a thorough cleansing of the heart this Christmas, to be at peace and happy.

And before I go, I would like to give you a Blessing, to you, to your families, to all. Thank you so much for your help.

Let’s pray a Hail Mary to Our Lady: Hail Mary . . .

(Blessing)

And pray for me; don’t forget!