This morning, the Director of the Holy See Press Centre, Matteo Bruni, issued the following statement: Today, in solidarity with Italy, the Holy See will fly flags at half staff, in mourning, in order to express its closeness to the victims of the pandemic in Italy and throughout the world, as well as to their families and to those who generously struggle to put an end to this struggle.
This is yet another demonstrable sign of unity between the Holy See and the rest of Italy which has been so hard hit by the ongoing battle to overcome the ravages of COVID-19.
At 7:00am local time this morning (1:00am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrated Mass inside the chapel at the Casa Santa Marta.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the celebration of the Mass
Let us pray today for those who have no fixed address, in this time when we are all being asked to remain indoors, at home ... that our society, made up of men and women, may be aware of their reality and that the Church may find ways to welcome them.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
during the Mass celebrated on 31 March 2020
The snake is certainly not a nice animal: it is always associated with evil. Even in revelation, the serpent is precisely the animal that the devil uses to induce sin. In the Book of Revelations the devil is called the ancient snake, the one who from the beginning bites, poisons, destroys, kills. This is why he cannot succeed. If you want to succeed as someone who offers beautiful things, these are fantasy: we believe them and so we sin. This is what happened to the people of Israel: they did not endure the journey. They were tired. And the people spoke against God and against Moses. It's always the same music, isn't it? Why did you take us out of Egypt? To make us die in this desert? Because there is no bread or water and we are sick of this light food, this manna (cf Nm 21: 4-5). And the imagination - we have been reading it in recent days - always goes to Egypt: But, we were fine there, we ate well ... And also, it seems that the Lord did not endure the people at this time. He became angry: the wrath of God shows up at times ... And then the Lord sent among the people burning snakes which bit the people and they died. A large number of Israelites died (Nm 21:5). At that time, the serpent was always the image of evil: the people saw sin in the serpent; they saw all the evil that had been done in the figure of the serpent. And they came to Moses and said: We have sinned because we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Plead with the Lord to drive these snakes away from us (Nm 21:7). Repentance. This is the story in the desert. Moses prayed for the people and the Lord said to Moses: Make a snake and put it on a metal pole. Whoever has been bitten and looks at the snake will remain alive (Nm 21: 8).
I am thinking: is this not idolatry? There is the snake, there, an idol, who gives me health ... It is not clear. Logically, it is not clear, because this is a prophecy, this is a proclamation of what will happen. Because we also heard as a prophecy in the Gospel: When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am and that I do nothing by myself (Jn 8: 28). Jesus was raised: on the cross. Moses made a snake and raised it up. Jesus will be raised up, like the serpent, to give salvation. But the crux of the prophecy is precisely that Jesus made himself sin for us. He did not sin: he became sin. As Saint Peter says in his Letter: He carried our sins upon himself (cf 1 Pt 2: 24) And when we look at the crucifix, we think of the Lord who suffers: all that is true. But let's stop before we get to the centre of that truth: at this moment, You seem the greatest sinner, You made yourself a sin. He has taken upon himself all our sins; he has annihilated himself until now. The cross - it is true - is a torture, there is the revenge of the doctors of the Law, of those who did not want Jesus: all this is true. But the truth that comes from God is that He came into the world to take our sins upon himself to the point of becoming sin. All sins. Our sins are there.
We should develop a habit of looking at the cross in this light, which is the true light, the light of redemption. In Jesus, who became sin, we see Christ's total surrender. He does not pretend to die, he does not pretend to suffer, he is alone, he is abandoned ... Father, why have you abandoned me? (cf Mt 27: 46; Mk 15: 34). A serpent: I am raised up like a serpent, like one who is the entirety of sin.
It is not easy to understand this and, if we think about it, we will never entirely understand it. We can only contemplate it, pray about it and give thanks.
After the completion of the Mass, the Holy Father spent some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He instructed all those who were watching from a distance:
People who cannot receive communion because of the distance, now make a spiritual communion.
His Holiness offered the following prayer, leading all those who were united with him in prayer via various media:
Prayer to make a spiritual communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I desire you in my soul. Since I cannot receive You sacramentally now, at least spiritually come to my heart. As you have already come, I embrace you and I join myself to you. Do not let me ever be separated from you. Amen.
At 7:00am local time this morning (2:00am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrated Mass inside the chapel at the Casa Santa Marta.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the celebration of the Mass
Let us pray today for many people who are unable to react: they are frightened by this pandemic. May the Lord help them to stand up again, to act for the good of all of society and for the good of the whole community.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
during the Mass celebrated on 30 March 2020
In the responsorial psalm, we prayed: The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. In verdant pastures, he bids me rest, he leads me to quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He leads me by the right path because of his name. Even if I go through a dark valley, no harm shall befall me because you are with me. Your rod and your staff give me comfort (Ps 23: 1-4).
This is the experience these two women have had, whose story we read in the two readings. An innocent woman, falsely accused, who was slandered ... and a sinful woman. Both were sentenced to death. The innocent one and the sinner. Some Fathers of the Church saw in these women a figure of the Church: holy, but with sinful children. They said in a beautiful Latin expression: The Church is the casta meretrix (the chaste whore), the saint with sinful children.
Both women in the scriptures were desperate, humanly desperate. But Susanna trusted God. There were also two groups of people, men; both groups were employees in the service of the Church: the judges and the teachers of the Law. They were not clergymen, but they were in the service of the Church, in the courts and in teaching the Law. There were several of them. The former group, those who accused Susanna, were corrupt: corrupt judges, the emblematic figure in history. In the Gospel too, in the parable of the persistent widow, Jesus addressed the corrupt judge who did not believe in God and did not care about others. The corrupt judges. The doctors of the Law were not corrupt, but hypocrites.
And these women, one fell into the hands of the hypocrites and the other into the hands of the corrupt: there was no way out. Even if I go through a valley of darkness I do not fear any harm, because you are with me, your rod and your staff give me comfort (Ps 23: 4). Both women were walking through a dark valley, they went there: a dark valley, towards death. The first explicitly trusted God and the Lord intervened. The second, poor thing, knew that she was guilty; she was shameless in front of all the people - because the people were present in both situations - the Gospel does not say it, but she certainly prayed inside, she asked for some help.
What does the Lord do with these people? He saves the innocent woman, does her justice. He forgives the sinful woman. He condemns the corrupt judges; he helps the hypocrites to convert and before the people he says: Yes, really? Let any of you who has no sins be the one to throw the first stone (cf Jn 8: 7), and one by one they went away. The apostle John has some irony here: Those who heard this went away one by one, beginning with the older ones (Jn 8: 9). Give them some time to repent; the corrupt he does not forgive, simply because the corrupt ones are unable to ask for forgiveness, so he went further. He has grown tired ... no, he has not tired: he is not capable of growing tired. Corruption has also taken away from those men the ability we all have of being ashamed, of asking for forgiveness. No, the corrupt ones are safe, they go on, destroy, exploit people, like this woman, everything, everything ... they goes on. They put themselves in the place of God.
And the Lord responds to the women. Susanna is freed from those corrupt men, God keeps her going; and to the other woman, Jesus says: Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore (Jn 8: 11). He lets her go. And he does this before the people. In the first case, the people praise the Lord; in the second case, the people learn. They learn what God's mercy is like.
Each of us has our own stories. Each of us has our own sins. And if you don't remember them, think a little: you will find them. Thank God if you find them, because if you don't find them, you are corrupt. Each of us has our own sins. We look to the Lord who is just, but who is so merciful. Let us not be ashamed of being in the Church: let us be ashamed of being sinners. The Church is the mother of all. We thank God for not being corrupt, for being sinners. And each of us, looking at how Jesus acts in these cases, we trust in the mercy of God. And we can pray with confidence in the mercy of God, we can pray for forgiveness. “Because God guides me on the right path because of his name. Even if I go through a valley of darkness - the valley of sin - I do not fear any harm because you are with me. Your rod and your staff give me comfort (cf Ps 23.4). Testo originale nella lingua italiana
After the completion of the Mass, the Holy Father spent some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He instructed all those who were watching from a distance:
People who cannot receive communion because of the distance, now make a spiritual communion.
His Holiness offered the following prayer, leading all those who were united with him in prayer via various media:
Prayer to make a spiritual communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I desire you in my soul. Since I cannot receive You sacramentally now, at least spiritually come to my heart. As you have already come, I embrace you and I join myself to you. Do not let me ever be separated from you. Amen.
Here is the reflection I shared with those who joined us for the live stream of the Mass which was celebrated this weekend, marking the fifth Sunday of Lent.
Detail from 'The Resurrection of Lazarus' by Giotto
A significant encounter
The gospel narrative for this fifth Sunday of Lent recounts three particular moments in the life of Jesus and of those who were dear to him. Each of these moments provides us with food for our reflection and prayer.
The first moment is presented in this way: The sisters of Lazarus sent a message to Jesus, 'Lord, he whom you love is ill' (Jn 11:3). Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived in Bethany, not far from Jerusalem. On many occasions, their home had been a place of welcome for Jesus and his disciples. They were friends of his, so when Lazarus was dying, they sent word to him, probably thinking that he would want to visit with him. Hidden in these few simple words is also a plea: the sisters had no doubt heard of other occasions when Jesus had performed miracles; perhaps they too hoped that Jesus could cure Lazarus.
How often have we heard such news? A friend of ours, an acquaintance or a family member has fallen ill. Perhaps he or she has been hospitalized. Maybe we have even heard that there is not much time left. Most of us would try to move mountains so that we could be present, so that we could see our loved one, just one more time. Even if we are physically present at the bedside of someone who is gravely ill, there is a sense of powerlessness as we watch our loved ones growing steadily weaker, yet it is a comfort for us and for others to be close to those we love when such experiences occur.
This is what makes Jesus' response even more curious. Instead of running to his friends side, he said: This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory ... (Jn 11:4). His disciples must have been perplexed by these words, yet there was a lesson that he wanted to share. Sometimes it happens that we pray for certain outcomes but it doesn't seem as though God answers our prayers. In such moments, we have a glimpse of the questions that must have circulated among the disciples at that particular moment. Jesus waited two more days before he set out for the home of Martha and Mary (cf Jn 11:7). Even if we try to be people of faith every day, it can still be very difficult for us to learn to put our own wills aside and to trust that God will answer our prayers in His time.
The second moment that feeds our prayer is described in this way: When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home (Jn 11:20). Perhaps Mary was overwhelmed by her grief at the moment when he arrived and Martha did not want to trouble her. Instead, she went outside the house to speak with Jesus. It is evident that Martha was disappointed: Lord, she said, if you had been here, my brother would not have died (Jn 11:21). These are words of anguish, but they are also words of deep faith, a depth of faith that is further demonstrated in the second part of her declaration: ... even now, I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him. Even in the depths of her sadness, Martha believed that Jesus could change the situation.
For the past few weeks, it seems that many parts of the routines that we considered to be normal parts of our lives have been changed. First, the coronavirus was discovered in another part of the world, then it began to spread. At first, perhaps we thought that it would have been possible to contain the contagion, but then the relentless march began. In recent weeks, we have watched the number of cases of COVID-19 rise continually, even in this country. Political leaders, health care professionals and many others are doing everything they can to control this unknown virus, and to prepare for the eventuality that someone - perhaps many people - will need to be treated. As we hear news of the increasing number of cases in various parts of the world, we too have been calling out: Lord, our brothers and sisters, the ones you love, are ill. We pray and we hope that those we love will be kept safe, but we really do not know what will happen. Perhaps all we can do is to repeat the words that Martha spoke: ... even now, I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him (Jn 11:21). We must pray and we must place all our loved ones in the arms of God, trusting that he will not abandon us.
In China, in Italy, in Spain and in many other countries throughout the world, many of our brothers and sisters have already fallen victim to this new virus, and many of them have died. This is an alarming truth, but even in such times of powerlessness, we Christians have the gift of our faith to help us. The prophet Ezekiel reminds us that the Lord God has said: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves ... (Ez 37:12), and we saw further proof of this in the gospel today.
The third moment that is described recounts the details when Jesus came to the tomb and told those who were there with him: Take away the stone (Jn 11:38-39). Physical death is not the end of the story. In a few days' time, we will begin the celebrations for Holy Week, yet even now, the encounter between Jesus and Lazarus reminds us that God has the final word. In the midst of their disbelief, Martha and the others stood by and watched as Jesus called out to the dead man: Lazarus, come out! (Jn 11:43). Only God can speak such words. Only God can call out to those who are dead and raise them to life. The spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us (Rom 8:11). This is the hope that has been planted in our hearts ever since the day of our Baptism. One day, when Jesus calls our name, this hope will become a reality: we too will be raised and set free.
Détail de «La résurrection de Lazare» par Giotto
Une rencontre significative
Le récit évangélique de ce cinquième dimanche de Carême raconte trois moments particuliers de la vie de Jésus et de ceux qui lui étaient chers. Chacun de ces moments nous fournit de la nourriture pour notre réflexion et notre prière.
Le premier moment est présenté ainsi: les sœurs de Lazare ont envoyé un message à Jésus: Seigneur, celui que tu aimes est malade (Jn 11, 3). Marthe, Marie et Lazare vivaient à Béthanie, pas loin de Jérusalem. À plusieurs reprises, leur maison a fourni un lieu d'accueil pour Jésus et ses disciples. Ils étaient ses amis, alors lorsque Lazare était en train de mourir, ils lui ont envoyé un message, pensant probablement qu'il voudrait lui rendre visite. Caché dans ces quelques paroles simples est aussi un plaidoyer: les sœurs avaient sans doute entendu parler d'autres occasions où Jésus avait fait des miracles; peut-être espéraient-elles aussi que Jésus pourrait guérir Lazare.
Combien de fois avons-nous entendu des nouvelles semblables? Un de nos amis, une connaissance ou un membre de la famille est tombé malade. Peut-être qu'il ou elle a été hospitalisé. Peut-être avons-nous même entendu qu'il ne lui restait plus beaucoup de temps. La plupart d'entre nous essaieraient de déplacer des montagnes pour que nous puissions être présents, afin de voir notre bien-aimé, juste une dernière fois. Même si nous sommes physiquement présents au chevet d'une personne gravement malade, il y a un sentiment d'impuissance quand nous voyons nos proches de plus en plus faibles, mais c'est un réconfort pour nous et pour les autres d'être proches de ceux que nous aimons quand de telles expériences se produisent.
C'est ce qui rend la réponse de Jésus encore plus curieuse. Au lieu de courir chez ses amis, il a dit: Cette maladie ne conduit pas à la mort; elle est pour la gloire de Dieu ... (Jn 11, 4). Ses disciples ont dû être perplexes face à ces paroles, mais il y avait une leçon qu'il voulait partager. Parfois, il arrive que nous priions pour certains résultats, mais il semble que le Seigneur ne répond pas à nos prières. Dans de tels moments, nous avons un aperçu des questions qui ont dû circuler parmi les disciples à ce moment particulier. Jésus a attendu deux jours de plus avant de partir pour la maison de Marthe et de Marie (cf Jn 11, 7). Même si nous essayons d'être des gens de foi, il peut encore être très difficile pour nous d'apprendre à mettre de côté nos propres idées et croire que le Seigneur répondra à nos prières en son temps.
Le deuxième moment qui nourrit notre prière est décrit de la manière suivante: lorsque Marthe apprit l'arrivée de Jésus, elle partit à sa rencontre, tandis que Marie restait ... à la maison (Jn 11, 20). Peut-être que Marie était submergée par son chagrin au moment de son arrivée et Marthe ne voulait pas la déranger. Au lieu de cela, elle est sortie de la maison pour parler avec Jésus. Il est évident que Marthe a été déçue: Seigneur, elle a dit, si tu avais été ici, mon frère ne serait pas mort (Jn 11, 21). Ce sont des paroles d'angoisse, mais ce sont aussi des paroles de foi profonde, une profondeur de foi qui est encore démontrée dans la deuxième partie de sa déclaration: ... maintenant encore, je le sais, tout ce que tu demanderas à Dieu, Dieu te l'accordera. Même au plus profond de sa tristesse, Marthe croyait que Jésus pouvait changer la situation.
Au cours des dernières semaines, de nombreux aspects des routines que nous considérions comme des parties normales de notre vie ont changé. D'abord, le coronavirus a été découvert dans une autre partie du monde, puis il a commencé à se propager. Au début, nous pensions peut-être qu'il aurait été possible de contenir la contagion, mais ensuite la marche implacable a commencé. Pendant ces dernières semaines, nous avons vu le nombre de cas de COVID-19 augmenter continuellement, même dans notre pays. Les politiciens, les médecins et bien d'autres personnes font tout ce qu'ils peuvent pour contrôler ce virus inconnu et pour se préparer à l'éventualité que quelqu'un - peut-être beaucoup de gens - doive être traité. Alors que nous apprenons le nombre croissant de cas dans diverses parties du monde, nous avons également lancé un appel: Seigneur, nos frères et sœurs, ceux que vous aimez, sont malades. Nous prions et nous espérons que ceux que nous aimons seront protégés, mais nous ne savons vraiment pas ce qui va se passer. Peut-être que tout ce que nous pouvons faire c'est de répéter les paroles que Marthe a prononcées: ... maintenant encore, je le sais, tout ce que tu demanderas à Dieu, Dieu te l'accordera (Jn 11, 21). Nous devons prier et placer tous nos proches dans les mains de Dieu, confiant qu'il ne nous abandonnera jamais.
En Chine, en Italie, en Espagne, aux États-Unis maintenant et dans de nombreux autres pays à travers le monde, beaucoup de nos frères et sœurs ont déjà été victimes de ce nouveau virus, et beaucoup d'entre eux sont décédés. C'est une vérité alarmante, mais même en ces temps d'impuissance, nous les chrétiens, nous avons le don de notre foi pour nous aider. Le prophète Ézéchiel nous rappelle que le Seigneur Dieu a dit: Je vais ouvrir vos tombeaux et je vous en ferrai remonter ... (Ez 37:12), et nous en avons vu d'autres preuves dans l'Évangile d'aujourd'hui.
Le troisième moment décrit dans l'Évangile d'aujourd'hui raconte les détails lorsque Jésus est venu au tombeau et a dit à ceux qui étaient là : Enlevez la pierre (Jn 11, 38-39). La mort physique n'est pas la fin de l'histoire. D'ici quelques jours, nous revivrons les liturgies de la Semaine Sainte, mais même maintenant, la rencontre entre Jésus et Lazare nous rappelle que Dieu a le dernier mot. Au milieu de leur incrédulité, Marthe et les autres se tenaient à côté et regardaient Jésus appeler le mort: Lazare, viens dehors! (Jn 11, 43). Dieu seul peut prononcer de telles paroles. Dieu seul peut appeler ceux qui sont décédés et les ressusciter. L'esprit de Celui qui a ressuscité Jésus d'entre les morts habite en nous (Rom 8:11). C'est l'espérance qui a été semée dans nos cœurs depuis le jour de notre baptême. Un jour, quand Jésus nous appellera, cette espérance deviendra réalité: nous aussi, nous serons ressuscités et libérés.
At noon today in Rome (6:00am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis led the recitation of the Angelus prayer from the Library inside the Vatican Apostolic Palace.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
The Gospel for this fifth Sunday of Lent is that of the raising of Lazarus (cf Jn 11: 1-45). Lazarus was the brother of Marta and Maria; they were very close to Jesus. When he arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days; Martha ran to meet the Master and said to him: If you had been here, my brother would not have died! (Jn 11: 21). Jesus replied: Your brother will rise (Jn 11: 23); and added: I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live (Jn 11: 25). Jesus showed himself as the Lord of life, the One who is capable of giving life even to the dead. Then Mary and other people arrived, all in tears, and then Jesus - the Gospel tells us - was deeply moved and ... burst into tears" (Jn 11: 33, 35). With this disturbance in his heart, he went to the grave, thanked the Father who always listens to him, opened the grave and shouted loudly: Lazarus, come out! (Jn 11: 43). And Lazarus came out with his feet and hands tied with bandages, and his face wrapped in a shroud (Jn 11: 44).
Here we touch with our hands, the truth that God not only is life and that He gives life, but He takes on the drama of death. Jesus could have avoided the death of his friend Lazarus, but he wanted to make our pain for the death of loved ones his own, and above all he wanted to show us God's dominion over death. In this Gospel passage we see that the faith of man and the omnipotence of God - of the love of God - are both sought and finally meet. It is like a double path: the faith of man and the omnipotence of the love of God that is sought and eventually met. We see this in the cry of Martha and Mary and all of us with them: If you had been here! ... And God's response is not a speech, no, God's response to the problem of death is Jesus: I am the resurrection and the life ... Have faith! In the midst of crying, you can continue to have faith, even if death seems to have won. Remove the stone from your heart! Let the Word of God bring life back to where there is death.
Even today Jesus repeats these words to us: Remove the stone. God did not create us for the grave, he created us for life: to be beautiful, good, joyful. But death entered the world through the devil's envy (Wis 2: 24), says the Book of Wisdom, and Jesus Christ came to free us from his snares.
Therefore, we are called to remove the stones of everything that tastes of death: for example, the hypocrisy with which faith is lived is death; destructive criticism of others is death; offense, slander is death; the marginalization of the poor is death. The Lord asks us to remove these stones from our hearts, and then life will flourish around us again. Christ is alive, and whoever welcomes him and follows to him comes into contact with life. Without Christ, or outside of Christ, not only is life not present, but we fall back into death.
The resurrection of Lazarus is also a sign of the re-creation that takes place in the believer through the Sacrament of Baptism, with our full inclusion into the Paschal Mystery of Christ. By the action and strength of the Holy Spirit, the Christian is a person who walks through life like a new creature: a creature for life and one who goes towards life.
May the Virgin Mary help us to be compassionate like her Son Jesus, who made our pain his own. May each of us be close to those who are facing trials, becoming for them a reflection of the love and tenderness of God, who frees us from death and makes life win.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
In recent days, the Secretary General of the United Nations has launched an appeal for a global and immediate ceasefire in all corners of the world, recalling the current emergency for COVID-19, which knows no borders. A call for a total ceasefire.
I join all those who have accepted this appeal and I invite everyone to follow up by stopping all forms of war and hostility, promoting the creation of corridors for humanitarian aid, openness to diplomacy and attention to those in a greater situations of vulnerability.
The joint commitment against the pandemic can lead everyone to recognize our need to strengthen fraternal bonds as members of a single family. In particular, it arouses a renewed commitment to overcoming rivalries among the leaders of nations and other stakeholders. Conflicts are not resolved through war! It is necessary to overcome antagonisms and contrasts, through dialogue and a constructive search for peace.
At this moment my thoughts go in a special way to all the people who are suffering from the vulnerability of being forced to live in a group: retirement homes, barracks ... In particular, I would like to mention people in prisons. I read an official memo from the Human Rights Commission that talks about the problem of overcrowded prisons, which could become a tragedy. I ask the authorities to be sensitive to this serious problem and to take the necessary measures to avoid future tragedies.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please, don't forget to pray for me; I am also praying for you. Enjoy your lunch and good bye. Testo originale nella lingua italiana
At 7:00am local time this morning (2:00am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrated Mass inside the chapel at the Casa Santa Marta.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the celebration of the Mass
I think of many people who are crying: isolated people, people in quarantine, the elderly who are alone, people who have recovered and people who are being treated, parents who are seeing that, since there is no salary coming in, they will not be able to feed their children. Many people are crying. Even us, in our hearts, we are accompanying all those people. And it won't hurt us to cry a little with the Lord who also is weeping for all his people.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
during the Mass celebrated on 29 March 2020
Jesus had friends. He loved them all, but he had some friends with whom he had a special relationship, as one does with friends: relationships of more love, more confidence ... And many, many times he stayed at the house of these friends: Lazarus, Martha, Mary ... And Jesus he felt pain for his friend's illness and death. He arrived at the tomb and was deeply moved and very upset as he asked: Where did you put him? (Jn 11:34). And Jesus burst into tears. Jesus, God, but man, wept. Another time in the Gospel, it is said that Jesus cried: when he cried over Jerusalem (Lk 19:41-42). Jesus cries with great tenderness! He cries from the heart, he cries with love, he cries with his friends who are crying. The cry of Jesus. Perhaps, he cried at other times in life - we don't know -; certainly he cried in the Garden of Olives. But Jesus cries because he loves us, always.
He was deeply moved and very upset; he cried. How many times have we heard this commotion in the gospels: Jesus, with that phrase that is repeated: Seeing this, he had compassion (cf Mt 9:36; Mt 13:14). Jesus cannot see people and feel no compassion. His eyes look with the heart; Jesus sees with the eyes, but sees with the heart and is capable of crying.
Today, faced with a world that is suffering so much, so many people who are suffering the consequences of this pandemic, I ask myself: am I capable of crying as, surely, Jesus would have done and Jesus is doing it now? Does my heart resemble that of Jesus? And if it is too hard, even if I am able to speak, to do good, to help, but if my heart does not enter, if I am not able to cry, I must ask the Lord for this grace. Lord, may I cry with you, cry with your people who are suffering right now. Many are crying today. And we, from this altar, from this sacrifice of Jesus ... Jesus who was not ashamed to cry ... let us ask for the grace to cry. May it be for all of us today like the Sunday of tears.
After the completion of the Mass, the Holy Father spent some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He instructed all those who were watching from a distance:
People who cannot receive communion because of the distance, now make a spiritual communion.
His Holiness offered the following prayer, leading all those who were united with him in prayer via various media:
Prayer to make a spiritual communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I desire you in my soul. Since I cannot receive You sacramentally now, at least spiritually come to my heart. As you have already come, I embrace you and I join myself to you. Do not let me ever be separated from you.
At 7:00am local time this morning (2:00am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrated Mass inside the chapel at the Casa Santa Marta.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the celebration of the Mass
In these days, in some parts of the world, there have been consequences - some consequences - of the pandemic; one of these consequences is hunger. We are beginning to see people who are hungry, because they cannot work, they do not have permanent jobs, and as a result of many circumstances. We are already beginning to see the after effects, which will come later but which are already beginning now. Let us pray for families who are beginning to feel this need because of the pandemic.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
during the Mass celebrated on 28 March 2020
"And each of them returned to his own home" (Jn. 7.53): after their discussion and all of that, each returned to his convictions. There was a rift among the people: the people who followed Jesus listened to him - they did not notice the long periods of time that passed as they listened to him, because the Word of Jesus enters the heart - and the group of doctors of the Law who rejected Jesus a priori because he did not accomplish his works according to the law, according to them. There were two groups of people. The people who loved Jesus followed him ... and the group of intellectuals ... who knew the Law, the leaders of Israel, the leaders of the people. This is clear when the guards returned to the chief priests, they said: 'Why did you not bring him here? ... The guards replied: Never has a man spoken like this. But the Pharisees replied to them: Have you too been deceived? Did any of the leaders of the Pharisees believe in him? But these people who do not know the Law are cursed (Jn 7:45-49). This group of the doctors of the Law, the elite, felt contempt for Jesus. But also, they felt contempt for the people, those people, who were ignorant, who knew nothing. The holy faithful people of God believed in Jesus, followed him, and this group of elites, the doctors of the Law, detached themselves from the people and did not receive Jesus. But why, if these were illustrious people, intelligent, had they studied? But they had a big flaw: they had lost the memory of their belonging to a people.
The people of God followed Jesus ... they could not explain why, but they followed him and he reached their hearts, and he did not grow tired. We can think for example about the day of the multiplication of the loaves: they spent the whole day with Jesus, to the point that the apostles said to Jesus: Leave them, so that they can go away to buy food (cf Mk 6:36). The apostles also kept their distance; they did not take into consideration - they did not despise the people - but they did not take the people of God into consideration. Let them go and eat. Jesus' response was: You give them something to eat (cf Mk 6,37). He put their focus back onto the people.
This rift between the elite of the religious leaders and the people is a drama that comes from afar. We can also think in the Old Testament of the attitude of the sons of Eli in the temple: they used the people of God; and if any of them were a little atheist but came to fulfill the Law, they said: They are superstitious. The contempt of the people. The contempt of people who are not as polite as we who have studied, who know ... Instead, the people of God have a great grace: their noses. Their sense of knowing where the Spirit is. They are sinners, like us: they are sinners. But they have that sense of knowing the ways of salvation.
The problem with the elites, with elite clerics like these, was that they had lost the memory of their belonging to the people of God; they were sophisticated, they had moved on to another social class, they felt that they were leaders. This is clericalism, which already took place there. But how come - I heard in recent days - how come these nuns, these priests who are healthy are going out to the poor to feed them, and can they take the coronavirus with them? Tell the mother superior that she shouldn't let the nuns come out, tell the bishop that he shouldn't let the priests come out! They are for the sacraments! It's up to the government to feed the people! This is what we are talking about these days: the same topic. They are second-class people: we are the ruling class, we must not get our hands dirty with the poor.
Many times I think: they are good people - priests, nuns - who do not have the courage to go out and serve the poor. Something is missing. What were these people missing, the doctors of the Law? They had lost their memory, they had lost what Jesus felt in his heart: that he was part of his own people. They had lost the memory of what God said to David: I took you from the flock. They had lost the memory of their belonging to the flock.
And these, each, each of them returned to his home (cf Jn. 7,53). A rift. Nicodemus, who saw something - he was a restless man, perhaps not so brave, too diplomatic, but restless - went to Jesus then, but he was faithful to what he could; he tried to mediate and took from the Law: Does our Law judge a man before we have listened to him and understand what he has done? (Jn 7.51). They answered him; but they did not answer the question about the Law: Are you also from Galilee? You are ignorant, and you will see that a prophet does not arise from Galilee "(Jn 7,52). And this is how the story ended.
Let us also think today about the many men and women who are qualified in the service of God, who are good and go to serve the people; there are many priests who do not detach themselves from the people. The day before yesterday I received a photograph of a priest, a mountain pastor, pastor of many villages, in a place where it snows, and in the snow he took the monstrance to the small villages to give the blessing. He didn't care about the snow, he didn't care about the burning that the cold made him feel in his hands, in contact with the metal of the monstrance: he only cared to bring Jesus to the people.
We must think, each of us, about which side we are on, if we are in the middle, a little undecided, if we are with the feeling of the people of God, of the faithful people of God who cannot fail: they have that infallibilitas in credendo (infallibility of belief). And let's think about the elite that detach themselves from the people of God, toward clericalism. And perhaps the advice that Paul gives to his disciple, the bishop, the young bishop Timothy, will do us all good: Remember your mother and grandmother (cf 2 Tim 1:5). Remember your mother and your grandmother. If Paul advised this, it was because he was well aware of the danger to which this sense of elite leads in our leadership.
After the completion of the Mass, the Holy Father spent some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He instructed all those who were watching from a distance:
People who cannot receive communion because of the distance, now make a spiritual communion. His Holiness offered the following prayer, leading all those who were united with him in prayer via various media:
Prayer to make a spiritual communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I desire you in my soul. Since I cannot receive You sacramentally now, at least spiritually come to my heart. As you have already come, I embrace you and I join myself to you. Do not let me ever be separated from you.
This afternoon, at 6:00pm local time in Rome (1:00pm EDT), on the steps of Saint Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over an extraordinary moment of prayer during the time of the pandemic. This moment of prayer included Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and began with a period of listening to the Word of God. The image of the Salus Populi Romani and the Crucifix of San Marcello were placed near the central gate of the Vatican Basilica.
At the conclusion of the celebration, the Pope imparted the Urbi et Orbi blessing (to the city of Rome and to the world), with the possibility of receiving the accompanying plenary indulgence.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
shared after the proclamation of the Word of God
When evening had come (Mk 4: 35). The Gospel passage we have just heard begins like this. For weeks now it has been evening. Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by; we feel it in the air, we notice in people’s gestures, their glances give them away. We find ourselves afraid and lost. Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. On this boat… are all of us. Just like those disciples, who spoke anxiously with one voice, saying We are perishing (Mk 4: 38), so we too have realized that we cannot go on thinking of ourselves, but only together can we do this.
It is easy to recognize ourselves in this story. What is harder to understand is Jesus’ attitude. While his disciples are quite naturally alarmed and desperate, he stands in the stern, in the part of the boat that sinks first. And what does he do? In spite of the tempest, he sleeps on soundly, trusting in the Father; this is the only time in the Gospels when we see Jesus sleeping. When he wakes up, after calming the wind and the waters, he turns to the disciples in a reproaching voice: Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? (Mk 4: 40).
Let us try to understand. In what does the lack of the disciples’ faith consist, as contrasted with Jesus’ trust? They had not stopped believing in him; in fact, they called on him. But we see how they call on him: Teacher, do you not care if we perish? (Mk 4: 38). Do you not care: they think that Jesus is not interested in them, does not care about them. One of the things that hurts us and our families most when we hear it said is: Do you not care about me? This is a phrase that wounds and unleashes storms in our hearts. It would have shaken Jesus too. Because he, more than anyone else, cares about us. Indeed, once they had called on him, he saved his disciples from their discouragement.
The storm exposes our vulnerability and uncovers those false and superfluous certainties around which we have constructed our daily schedules, our projects, our habits and priorities. It shows us how we have allowed to become dull and feeble the very things that nourish, sustain and strengthen our lives and our communities. The tempest lays bare all our prepackaged ideas and forgetfulness about what nourishes our people’s souls; all those attempts that anesthetize us with ways of thinking and acting that supposedly save us, but instead prove incapable of putting us in touch with our roots and keeping alive the memory of those who have gone before us. We deprive ourselves of the antibodies we need to confront adversity.
In this storm, the façade of those stereotypes with which we camouflaged our egos, always worrying about our image, has fallen away, uncovering once more that blessed common belonging, of which we cannot be deprived: our belonging as brothers and sisters.
Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? Lord, your word this evening strikes us and includes us, all of us. In this world, that you love more than we do, we have gone ahead at breakneck speed, feeling powerful and able to do anything. Greedy for profit, we let ourselves get caught up in things, and lured away by haste. We did not stop at your reproach to us, we were not shaken awake by wars or injustice across the world, nor did we listen to the cry of the poor or of our ailing planet. We carried on regardless, thinking we would stay healthy in a world that was sick. Now that we are in a stormy sea, we implore you: Wake up, Lord!.
Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? Lord, you are calling to us, calling us to faith. Which is not so much believing that you exist, but coming to you and trusting in you. This Lent, your call reverberates urgently: Be converted!, Return to me with all your heart (Joel 2:12). You are calling on us to seize this time of trial as a time of choosing. It is not the time of your judgement, but of our judgement: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not. It is a time to get our lives back on track with regard to you, Lord, and to others. We can look toward so many exemplary companions on the journey, who, even though fearful, have reacted by giving their lives. This is the strength of the Spirit poured out and fashioned in courageous and generous self-denial. It is the life in the Spirit that can redeem, value and demonstrate how our lives are woven together and sustained by ordinary people – often forgotten people – who do not appear in newspaper and magazine headlines nor on the grand catwalks of the latest shows, but who without any doubt are in these very days writing the decisive events of our time: doctors, nurses, supermarket employees, cleaners, caregivers, providers of transport, law and order forces, volunteers, priests, religious men and women and so very many others who have understood that no one reaches salvation by themselves. In the face of so much suffering, where the authentic development of our peoples is assessed, we experience the priestly prayer of Jesus: That they may all be one (Jn 17:21). How many people every day are exercising patience and offering hope, taking care to sow not panic but a shared responsibility. How many fathers, mothers, grandparents and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday gestures, how to face up to and navigate a crisis by adjusting their routines, lifting their gaze and fostering prayer. How many are praying, offering and interceding for the good of all. Prayer and quiet service: these are our victorious weapons.
Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? Faith begins when we realize that we are in need of salvation. We are not self-sufficient; by ourselves we flounder: we need the Lord, like ancient navigators needed the stars. Let us invite Jesus into the boats of our lives. Let us hand over our fears to him so that he can conquer them. Like the disciples, we will experience that with him on board there will be no shipwreck. Because this is God’s strength: turning everything that happens to us to the good, even the bad things. He brings serenity into our storms, because with God, life never dies.
The Lord asks us and, in the midst of our tempest, invites us to reawaken and put into practice that solidarity and hope that is capable of giving strength, support and meaning to these hours when everything seems to be floundering. The Lord awakens so as to reawaken and revive our Easter faith. We have an anchor: by his cross we have been saved. We have a rudder: by his cross we have been redeemed. We have a hope: by his cross we have been healed and embraced so that nothing and no one can separate us from his redeeming love. In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet one another, and we experience the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: he is risen and is living by our side. From his cross, the Lord asks us to rediscover the life that awaits us, to look towards those who look to us, to strengthen, recognize and foster the grace that lives within us. Let us not quench the wavering flame (cf Is 42:3) that never falters, and let us allow hope to be rekindled.
Embracing his cross means finding the courage to embrace all the hardships of the present time, abandoning for a moment our eagerness for power and possessions in order to make room for the creativity that only the Spirit is capable of inspiring. It means finding the courage to create spaces where everyone can recognize that they are called, and to allow new forms of hospitality, fraternity and solidarity. By his cross we have been saved in order to embrace hope and let it strengthen and sustain all measures and all possible avenues for helping us protect ourselves and others. Embracing the Lord in order to embrace hope: that is the strength of faith, which frees us from fear and gives us hope.
Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? Dear brothers and sisters, from this place that tells of Peter’s rock-solid faith, I would like this evening to entrust all of you to the Lord, through the intercession of Mary, Health of the People and Star of the stormy Sea. From this colonnade that embraces Rome and the whole world, may God’s blessing come down upon you as a consoling embrace. Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies and comfort to our hearts. You ask us not to be afraid. Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell us again: Do not be afraid (Mt 28:5). And we, together with Peter, cast all our anxieties onto you, for you care about us (cf 1 Pet 5:7). Testo originale nella lingua italiana Texte en français Texto en español Texto em português Text in Deutsch
At 7:00am local time this morning (2:00am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrated Mass inside the chapel at the Casa Santa Marta.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the celebration of the Mass
In recent days, we have received news that many people are beginning to get worried in a general way about others, many people are thinking about their families who do not have enough to live, about the elderly who are alone, about the sick in hospitals and they are praying and searching for ways to get some help ... This is a good sign. Let us thank the Lord for arousing these sentiments in the hearts of his faithful.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
during the Mass celebrated on 27 March 2020
The first reading is almost an anticipated chronicle of what will happen to Jesus. It is an anticipated chronicle, it is a prophecy. It seems like a historical description of what happened next. What do the wicked say? Let us beset the just one because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions against the Law and charges us with violations of our training ... to us he is the censure of our thoughts ... if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes (Wis 2:12). Let us think for a moment about what was said to Jesus on the cross: If you are the Son of God, come down; he will come to save you (cf Mt 27:40). And then, the plan of action: let us put him to the test with violence and torment, to know his meekness and to test his spirit of endurance, and let us condemn him to a shameful death because according to his words, God will take care of him (cf Wis 2:19). This is a prophecy, about what happened. And the Jews tried to kill him, the gospel says. Then, they also tried to arrest him - the gospel tells us this - but no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come (Jn 7:30).
This prophecy is too detailed; these evil people's plan of action is precisely made up of details upon details; they do not spare anything, let's test him with violence and torment, and let's test his spirit of endurance ... let's set snares, let's put a trap on him to see if he falls ... This is nothing but mere hatred, there is no bad action plan - certainly - of one party against another: this is another thing. This is called fury: when the devil who is behind all this - always, he is behind every fury - tries to destroy, he does not spare any means. Let us think of the beginning of the Book of Job, which is prophetic about this: God is satisfied with Job's way of life, and the devil says to him: Yes, because he has everything, he has no proof! Test him! (cf Job 1:1-12; 2,4-6). At first the devil takes away his goods, then he takes away his health and Job never, ever turns away from God. But the devil, what does he do? ... fury. Always. Behind every fury there is the devil, to destroy the work of God. Behind a discussion or an enmity, it may be that it is the devil but from afar, with normal temptations. But when there is fury, we should not doubt: there is the presence of the devil. And the fury is subtle, subtle. Let us think about how the devil has raged not only against Jesus, but also in the persecutions of Christians as he sought the most sophisticated means to bring them to apostasy, to move away from God. This is, as we say in everyday speech, this is diabolical: yes; diabolical intelligence.
Some bishops from one of the countries that suffered the dictatorship of an atheist regime told me about details like this as part of their persecution: on Monday after Easter the teachers had to ask the children: What did you eat yesterday? ... and children told them what was at lunch. And some said, eggs, and those who said eggs were then persecuted to see if they were Christians because they ate eggs on Easter Sunday in that country. Up to this point, to see - that's espionage - to see where there is a Christian in order to kill him. This is fury in persecution and this is the devil.
And what do you do, in the moment of fury? Only two things can be done: discussing things with these people is not possible because they have their own ideas, fixed ideas, ideas that the devil has sown in their hearts. We have heard what their plan of action is. What can be done? What Jesus did: keep silent. It is striking when we read in the Gospel that in front of all these accusations, Jesus kept silent about all these things. Faced with the spirit of fury, only silence, never justification. Never. Jesus spoke, he explained. When he understood that there were no possible words, silence. And in silence Jesus lived his Passion. It is the silence of the just in the face of fury. And this is also valid for - let's call them this - the small daily feats, when someone among us feels that there is idle chatter being spoken against him, and they say things and then nothing comes out ... shut up. Silence. To suffer and tolerate the fury of chatter. Gossip is also a fury, a social fury: in society, in the neighbourhood, in the workplace, but always against him. It is an obstinacy not as strong as this, but it is an obstinacy, to destroy another person because it is seen that the other person is disturbing, harassing.
Let us ask the Lord for the grace to fight against the evil spirit, to speak when we should speak, but when we are faced with the spirit of fury, to have the courage to be silent and to allow others to do the talking. The same is true when we are faced with the small daily furies that come about as a result of gossip: let them speak. Let us remain in silence, before God.
After the completion of the Mass, the Holy Father spent some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. His Holiness offered the following prayer, leading all those who were united with him in prayer via various media:
Prayer to make a spiritual communion
Let those who cannot receive communion now make a spiritual communion.
My Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I desire you in my soul. Since I cannot receive You sacramentally now, at least spiritually come to my heart. As you have already come, I embrace you and I join myself to you. Do not let me ever be separated from you.
At 7:00am local time this morning (2:00am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrated Mass inside the chapel at the Casa Santa Marta.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the celebration of the Mass
In these days of such suffering, there is a lot of fear. Fear on the part of the elderly, who are alone in homes for the aged or in hospitals or in their own homes, alone, and they do not know what is going to happen. There is the fear of unemployed workers who are wondering how they will provide food for their children and who see hunger on the way. There is the fear of many civil servants who at this moment are helping to keep society going and who can catch the disease. There is also fear - there are fears - that each one of us has: we all know what our fears are. Let us pray to the Lord to help us trust and to tolerate and overcome our fears.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
during the Mass celebrated on 26 March 2020
In the first reading there is the scene of the mutiny of the people. Moses went up the Mount to receive the Law: God gave it to him, in stone, written by his finger. But the people got bored and crowded around Aaron and said: But, this Moses, for a long time we don't know where he is, where he went and we are without a guide. Make us a god to help us move forward. And Aaron, who later will be a priest of God ... but there he was a priest of stupidity, of idols, said: Yes, give me all the gold and silver you have, and they gave everything and made that golden calf (cf Ex: 32,1-7).
In the Psalm we heard God's lament: They made a calf on Horeb, prostrated themselves to a metal statue, exchanged their glory with the figure of a bull eating grass (Ps 105 (106): 19- 20). And here, at this moment, when the reading begins: The Lord said to Moses: 'Go, go down, because your people who you brought out of the land of Egypt were perverted. They did not delay in moving away from the way I had indicated to them. They made a calf of molten metal then prostrated themselves before him, offered sacrifices and said: 'Here is your god, Israel, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt'' (Ex 32: 7-9). A true apostasy! From the living God to idolatry. They did not have patience to wait for Moses to come back: they wanted some news, they wanted something, a liturgical show, something ...
On this point, I would like to mention some things. First of all, that idolatrous nostalgia in the people: in this case, they were thinking about the idols of Egypt, about the nostalgia of returning to those idols, returning to the worst, not knowing how to wait for the living God. This nostalgia is a disease, even ours. We begin to walk with the enthusiasm of being free, but then the complaints begin: But yes, this is a hard time, the desert, I am thirsty, I want water, I want meat ... but in Egypt we ate onions, the good things and there is none of that here … Idolatry is always selective: it makes you think about the good things it gives you, but it doesn't make you see bad things. In this case, they thought about how they were at the table, with those meals - so good - that they liked them so much, but they forgot that this was the table of slavery. Idolatry is selective.
Then, another thing: idolatry makes you lose everything. In order to make the calf, Aaron asked them: Give me gold and silver: but that was the gold and silver that the Lord had given them when he said to them: Ask the Egyptians for gold on loan, and then they went along with him. This was a gift from the Lord and with the Lord's gift, they made the idol (Ex 11:1-9). And this is very bad. But this mechanism also happens to us: when we have attitudes that lead us to idolatry, we are attached to things that distance us from God, because we create another god and we do it using the gifts that the Lord has given us. With intelligence, with will, with love, with heart ... they are the gifts proper to the Lord that we use to practice idolatry.
Yes, some of you can tell me: But I don't have idols at home. I have the Crucifix, the image of the Madonna, who are not idols ... - No, no: in your heart. And the question we should ask today is: what is the idol you have in your heart, in my heart. That hidden exit where I feel good, which takes me away from the living God. And we also have a very clever attitude regarding idolatry: we know how to hide idols, as Rachel did when she ran away from her father and hid them in the camel saddle and between cloths. We too, among our favorite clothes, have hidden many idols.
The question I would like to ask today is: what is my idol? My idol of worldliness ... and idolatry also affects piety, because they wanted the golden calf not to make a circus: no. To adore: They prostrated themselves before it (cf Ps 105 (106): 19 and Ex 32:8). Idolatry leads you to a wrong religiosity, on the contrary: many times, worldliness - which is an idolatry - makes you change the celebration of a sacrament into a worldly feast. An example: I don't know, I think, we think, I don't know, let alone a wedding celebration. You do not know if it is a sacrament where the newlyweds really give everything and love each other before God and promise to be faithful before God and receive the grace of God, or whether it is an exhibition of models, how they are dressed etcetera etcetera ... worldliness. It is an idolatry. This is an example. Because idolatry does not stop: it always goes on.
Today the question that I would like to ask of all of us, of everyone: what are my idols? Everyone has their own. What are my idols? Where do I hide them? And may the Lord not find us at the end of life, and say of each of us: “You are perverted. You have strayed from the way I had pointed out. You prostrated yourself before an idol.
Let us ask the Lord for the grace of knowing our idols. And if we cannot chase them away, at least keep them away from us ...
After the completion of the Mass, the Holy Father spent some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. His Holiness offered the following prayer, leading all those who were united with him in prayer via various media:
Prayer to make a spiritual communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I desire you in my soul. Since I cannot receive You sacramentally now, at least spiritually come to my heart. As you have already come, I embrace you and I join myself to you. Do not let me ever be separated from you.
Today, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments published a second decree outlining some details about the approaching celebrations for Easter.
Decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship
and Discipline of the Sacraments
In time of Covid-19 (II)
Considering the rapidly evolving situation of the Covid-19 pandemic and taking into account observations which have come from Episcopal Conferences, this Congregation now offers an update to the general indications and suggestions already given to Bishops in the preceding decree of 19 March 2020.
Given that the date of Easter cannot be transferred, in the countries which have been struck by the disease and where restrictions around the assembly and movement of people have been imposed, Bishops and priests may celebrate the rites of Holy Week without the presence of the people and in a suitable place, avoiding concelebration and omitting the sign of peace.
The faithful should be informed of the beginning times of the celebrations so that they can prayerfully unite themselves in their homes. Means of live (not recorded) telematic broadcasts can be of help. In any event it remains important to dedicate an adequate time to prayer, giving importance above all to the Liturgia Horarum.
The Episcopal Conferences and individual dioceses will see to it that resources are provided to support family and personal prayer.
1 - Palm Sunday. The Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem is to be celebrated within sacred buildings; in Cathedral churches the second form given in the Roman Missal is to be adopted; in parish churches and in other places the third form is to be used.
2 – The Chrism Mass. Evaluating the concrete situation in different countries, the Episcopal Conferences will be able to give indications about a possible transfer to another date.
3 – Holy Thursday. The washing of feet, which is already optional, is to be omitted. At the end of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper the procession is also omitted and the Blessed Sacrament is to be kept in the tabernacle. On this day the faculty to celebrate Mass in a suitable place, without the presence of the people, is exceptionally granted to all priests.
4 – Good Friday. In the Universal Prayer, Bishops will arrange to have a special intention prepared for those who find themselves in distress, the sick, the dead, (cf Missale Romanum). The adoration of the Cross by kissing it shall be limited solely to the celebrant.
5 – The Easter Vigil: Is to be celebrated only in Cathedral and parish churches. For the Baptismal Liturgy only the Renewal of Baptismal Promises is maintained (cf. Missale Romanum).
Seminaries, houses of clergy, monasteries and religious communities shall follow the indications of this decree.
Expressions of popular piety and processions which enrich the days of Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum can be transferred to other suitable days in the year, for example 14 and 15 September, according to the judgement of the Diocesan Bishop.
By mandate of the Supreme Pontiff for this year only, 2020.
From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
25 March 2020, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
Robert Card. Sarah
Prefect
✠ Arthur Roche
Archbishop Secretary
Décret de la Congrégation pour le culte divin
et la discipline des sacrements
En temps de Covid-19 (II)
Ayant considéré l'évolution rapide de la pandémie de Covid-19 et tenant compte des observations reçues des Conférences Épiscopales, cette Congrégation propose une mise à jour des indications générales et des suggestions déjà données aux Évêques dans le décret précédent du 19 mars 2020.
En considération du fait que la date de Pâques ne peut pas être transférée, dans les pays touchés par la maladie, où des restrictions sur les rassemblements et les mouvements de personnes sont prévues, les Évêques et les Prêtres célébreront les rites de la Semaine Sainte sans la présence du peuple et dans un endroit approprié, en évitant la concélébration et en omettant l'échange de paix.
Les fidèles seront informés de l'heure du début des célébrations afin de pouvoir s'unir en prière dans leurs propres maisons. Les moyens de communication télématiques en direct, et non enregistrés, pourront être utiles. Dans tous les cas, il reste important de consacrer suffisamment de temps à la prière, en valorisant surtout la Liturgia Horarum.
Les Conférences Épiscopales et chaque diocèse ne manqueront pas d'offrir des suggestions en vue d’aider la prière familiale et personnelle.
1 – Dimanche des Rameaux. La Commémoration de l'Entrée du Seigneur à Jérusalem sera célébrée à l’intérieur de l’édifice sacré ; dans les églises Cathédrales on utilisera la deuxième forme prévue par le Missel Romain ; dans les églises Paroissiales et dans les autres lieux, la troisième forme.
2 – Messe chrismale. En évaluant la situation concrète dans les différents pays, les Conférences Épiscopales pourront donner des indications sur un éventuel transfert à une autre date.
3 – Jeudi Saint. Le lavement des pieds, déjà facultatif, est omis. À la fin de la Messe en Mémoire de la Cène du Seigneur, on omet aussi la procession, et le Saint-Sacrement sera conservé dans le tabernacle. En ce jour, on concède exceptionnellement à tous les prêtres la faculté de célébrer la Messe dans un endroit approprié, sans la présence du peuple.
4 – Vendredi Saint. Dans la prière universelle les Évêques veilleront à préparer une intention spéciale pour ceux qui se trouvent dans une situation de désarroi, pour les malades, les défunts (cf. Missale Romanum). L'adoration de la Croix par le baiser sera limité au célébrant seulement.
5 – Vigile Pascale. Elle n'est célébrée que dans les églises Cathédrales et Paroissiales. Pour la liturgie baptismale, seul le renouvellement des promesses baptismales sera maintenu (cf. Missale Romanum).
Dans les séminaires, les maisons de prêtres, les monastères et les communautés religieuses, on suivra les indications de ce Décret.
Les expressions de la piété populaire et les processions qui enrichissent les jours de la Semaine Sainte et du Triduum Pascal peuvent être transférées, au jugement de l'Évêque diocésain, à d'autres jours convenables, par ex. les 14 et 15 septembre.
Par ordonnance du Saint-Père pour cette année seulement, 2020.
De la Congrégation pour le Culte Divin et la Discipline des Sacrements, le 25 mars 2020, solennité de l’Annonciation du Seigneur.
This morning's General Audience took place at 9:30am in the Library of the Vatican Apostolic Palace.
During his speech, the Pope added his mediation on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, which is celebrated on this day every year.
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to the faithful. Then, he issued a call to unite ourselves today in reciting the Lord's Prayer and to participate in a moment of prayer that will be offered on Friday 27 March from the staging area in Saint Peter's Square.
The General Audience concluded with the Apostolic Blessing.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
during the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Twenty-five years ago, on this same date of March 25, which in the Church is the solemn feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, Saint John Paul II promulgated the Encyclical Evangelium vitae, on the value and inviolability of human life.
The link between the Annunciation and the Gospel of life is close and profound, as Saint John Paul underlined in his Encyclical. Today, we find ourselves relaunching this teaching in the context of a pandemic that threatens human life and the world economy. A situation that makes the words with which the Encyclical begins even more demanding. Here they are: The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus' message. Welcomed by the Church every day with love, it must be announced with courageous fidelity as good news to men of all ages and cultures (EV, 1).
Like any Gospel proclamation, this too must be witnessed first of all. And I think with gratitude of the silent testimony of many people who, in different ways, are doing their utmost to serve the sick, the elderly, those who are lonely and most destitute. They put the Gospel of life into practice, like Mary who, having accepted the angel's announcement, went to help her cousin Elizabeth who needed her assistance.
In fact, the life we are called to promote and defend is not an abstract concept, but always manifests itself in a person, in flesh and blood: a newly conceived child, a poor marginalized person, a lonely and discouraged patient or one who is in a terminal state, one who has lost his job or is unable to find employment, a refused or ghettoized migrant ... Life manifests itself in people.
Every human being is called by God to enjoy the fullness of life; and being entrusted to the maternal concern of the Church, every threat made to dignity and human life cannot fail to affect the Church's heart, at the level of her maternal bowels. For the Church, the defence of life is not an ideology, it is a reality, a human reality that involves all Christians, precisely because they are Christians and because they are human.
Unfortunately, attacks on the dignity and life of people continue even in our era, which is the era of universal human rights; on the contrary, we are faced with new threats and new slavery, and legislation is not always used to protect the weakest and most vulnerable human lives.
The message of the Encyclical Evangelium vitae is therefore more relevant than ever. Beyond emergencies, such as the one we are experiencing, it is a question of acting on a cultural and educational level to transmit to future generations the attitude of solidarity, care and hospitality, knowing full well that the culture of life is not an exclusive Christian heritage, but that it belongs to all those who, striving for the construction of fraternal relationships, recognize the proper value of each person, even when they are fragile and suffering.
Dear brothers and sisters, every human life, unique and unrepeatable, has value in and of itself, constitutes an immeasurable value. This must always be proclaimed - again and again - with the courage of the word and the courage of action. This calls for solidarity and fraternal love for the great human family and for each of its members.
Therefore, with Saint John Paul II, who wrote this encyclical, with him I reaffirm with renewed conviction the appeal he made to all people twenty-five years ago: Respect, defend, love and serve life, every life, every human life ! Only on this path will you find justice, development, freedom, peace and happiness! (EV, 5). Testo originale nella lingua italiana
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages and he offered greetings in various languages. To French-speaking viewers, he said:
Je salue cordialement les fidèles de langue française. Chers frères et sœurs, que le oui de la Vierge Marie vous fortifie dans votre lutte pour la promotion et la défense de la vie et vous rende solidaires de toute personne souffrante, âgée ou seule, surtout en cette période de grande épreuve. Que Dieu vous bénisse!
I cordially greet the French-speaking faithful. Dear brothers and sisters, may the Virgin Mary's yes strengthen you in your fight for the promotion and the defence of life and unite you with all those who are suffering, aged or alone, especially in this period of great trial. May God bless you!
To English-speaking viewers, he said:
I greet the English-speaking faithful joining us through the media, as we continue on our Lenten journey towards Easter. Upon you and your families, I invoke the strength and peace that come from our Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless you! To German-speaking viewers, he said:
Einen herzlichen Gruß richte ich an die Brüder und Schwestern deutscher Sprache. Setzen wir uns für das Leben der anderen ein, vor allem der Kranken und der Bedürftigen. Ich denke besonders an die älteren Menschen. Sie verdienen unsere Aufmerksamkeit und unsere Wertschätzung. Dank ihres Fleißes und ihrer Fürsorge sind wir hier und haben wir diesen Lebensstandard. Der barmherzige Gott segne euch mit seiner Gnade.
I offer a cordial greeting to our German-speaking brothers and sisters. Let us commit ourselves to the lives of others, especially the sick and the needy. I am thinking in particular of the elderly. They deserve our respect and our attention. Thanks to their commitment and their care we are here and we have this lifestyle today. May the merciful God bless you with his grace.
To Spanish-speaking viewers, he said:
Saludo a los fieles de lengua española que siguen esta catequesis a través de los medios de comunicación. En estos momentos en que toda la humanidad está sufriendo a causa de la pandemia, los exhorto a implorar la protección de María y la intercesión del Papa san Juan Pablo II, para que toda vida humana sea valorada, respetada, defendida y amada; así se hallará justicia, paz y felicidad. Que Dios los bendiga.
I greet the Spanish-speaking faithful who are following this catechesis through the media. In these moments in which all humanity is suffering due to the pandemic, I urge you to implore the protection of Mary and the intercession of Pope Saint John Paul II, so that all human life is valued, respected, defended and loved; in this way, justice, peace and happiness will be found. May God bless you.
To Portuguese-speaking viewers, he said:
De coração saúdo aos fiéis de língua portuguesa: obrigado pela vossa união na oração! À Virgem Maria, Saúde dos Enfermos, confio todos vós, fazendo votos de que testemunheis o Evangelho da Vida com a palavra e a coragem das ações. Sobre vós e vossas famílias, desça a Bênção do Senhor!
I cordially greet the Portuguese-speaking faithful: thank you for your unity in prayer! I entrust all of you to the Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick, with the hope that you will bear witness to the Gospel of Life with your words and the courage of your actions. May the Lord's Blessing descend upon you and your families!
To Arabic-speaking viewers, he said:
أُحيِّي المؤمنينَ الناطقينَ باللغةِ العربية، أيّها الإخوةُ والأخواتُ الأعزاء، مريم في الناصرة تدلُّنا على الطريق الذي يوصِّلنا إلى معرفة يسوع: هي تعلِّمنا أن نقول "نعم" لمشيئة الله، ولتدبيره الذي يفوق إدراكنا. لنجدد معًا قولنا "نعم" لله ولمشيئته، واثقين به، مثل مريم، أنّه سيمنحنا حياة جديدة. ليُبارِكْكُم الرّب!
I greet the Arabic-speaking faithful! Dear brothers and sisters, Mary of Nazareth shows us the way to get to know Jesus: to know how to say yes to the will of God, and to his plans, which always go beyond us. Together we renew our yes to the Lord and to his will, trusting him: in this way, like Mary, we will have new life. May the Lord bless you!
To Polish-speaking viewers, he said:
Drodzy bracia i siostry, dziś przypada uroczystość Zwiastowania Pańskiego. Przeżywamy tajemnicę Syna Bożego, który stał się człowiekiem i narodził się z Dziewicy Maryi. Ona z wielkoduszną gotowością przyjęła i chroniła Jego życie poczęte z Ducha Świętego. Każde życie ludzkie jest bezcennym darem Boga. Coraz bardziej zdajemy sobie z tego sprawę w tym czasie, gdy epidemia odbiera życie bardzo wielu osobom. Przez wstawiennictwo Maryi, prośmy Pana życia, by zatrzymał groźbę śmierci i by napełnił serca wszystkich ludzi szacunkiem dla każdego życia. Jego błogosławieństwo niech wam zawsze towarzyszy.
Dear brothers and sisters, today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation. We experience the mystery of the Son of God who became man and was born of the Virgin Mary. She received and protected His life, which was conceived of the Holy Spirit, with generous readiness. Every human life is a precious gift of God. We are increasingly aware of this at a time when the epidemic is taking the lives of many people. Through the intercession of Mary, let us ask the Lord of life to stop the threat of death and to fill all people's hearts with respect for every life. May his blessing always accompany you.
To Italian-speaking viewers, he said:
Saluto cordialmente voi, fedeli di lingua italiana. Vi incoraggio ad essere sempre fiduciosi nella misericordia di Dio e generosi con il prossimo, specialmente in questi tempi di incertezza. Rivolgo un pensiero speciale ai giovani, agli anziani, ai malati e agli sposi novelli. Oggi, solennità dell’Annunciazione del Signore, affido tutti alla Madre di Gesù e Madre nostra. Ella, che ha detto quel “sì” a Nazaret, vi aiuti ogni giorno a dire il vostro “sì” al Signore, che vi chiama ad accoglierlo e a seguirlo in tutte le situazioni concrete in cui vi trovate a vivere. Che Dio vi benedica.
I cordially greet you, Italian speaking faithful. I encourage you to always trust in the mercy of God and to be generous toward your neighbour, especially during this time of uncertainty. I offer a special thought to the young people, the elderly, those who are sick and the newlyweds. Today, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, I entrust you all to the Mother of Jesus, our Mother. May she who gave her yes in Nazareth, help us every day to say yes to the Lord, who calls us to welcome him and to follow him in all concrete situations where we may find ourselves in life. May God bless you.
At the conclusion of the General Audience, the Holy Father made the following appeal:
Very soon, at noon today, we Pastors of the various Christian communities, together with the faithful from various confessions, will meet spiritually to call upon God with the prayer of the Our Father. Let us unite our voices in supplication to the Lord during these days of suffering, while the world is so severely tried by this pandemic. May our Father, who is merciful, hear the prayers of his children who with trusting hope turn to his omnipotence.
I also renew my invitation for all of you to participate spiritually, through various communications media, in the moment of prayer over which I will preside the day after tomorrow, Friday, at 6:00pm (1:00pm EDT), on the steps of Saint Peter's Basilica. Listening to the Word of God and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be followed by the Urbi et Orbi blessing, with the plenary indulgence attached.
The moment of prayer will be broadcast by live stream on Friday beginning at 1:00pm EDT on various television stations.
