Beatrice Guarrera

During today’s general audience, Francis focused again on the consequences of the war in Ukraine, making “a heartfelt appeal that every effort be made to resolve this issue”. During the catechesis, he asked political leaders, “How is it that modern civilisation, so advanced and efficient, is so uncomfortable with sickness and old age?”

During today’s general audience, Francis expressed his sorrow following the latest mass shooting in a Texas elementary school. The pontiff continued his catechesis on old age, urging seniors not to give in to disenchantment. “[I]f the elderly, who have seen it all [. . .], keep intact their passion for justice, then there is hope for love, and also for faith.”

During this morning’s general audience in St Peter’s Square, the pontiff focused on the figure of Job, warning the faithful against the type of religiosity that “explains everything, but” whose “heart remains cold.” Speaking to the men and women religious inspired by Charles de Foucauld, Francis said that his spirituality “helped me so much to overcome crises and to find a way of Christian life that was simpler”.

Francis' appeal at general audience for grave crisis shaking South Asian country: let people's aspirations be heard. "Let us entrust the world's ardent desire for peace to Our Lady of Fatima." Continuing the cycle of catechesis on old age, the pontiff dwelt on the biblical figure of Judith: "The good sown is the best legacy we can leave behind."

Francis spoke after the Regina Caeli on Good Shepherd Sunday, the day the Church celebrates the World Day of Vocations. He also turned his thoughts to mothers.

At the general audience, Francis addresses the theme of witness in old age: "Young people look to us and our consistency can open a beautiful path for them. The opposite instead can do so much harm." In his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, the wish for "a world free of nuclear weapons."

At today's general audience, which has returned to St. Peter's Square, the Pope returned to his reflections on old age. "Please do not turn away the elderly and if they are in a nursing home bring the children to them." The greeting to a group of pilgrims from Myanmar and the invitation to continue to pray for the families who suffer because of wars in the world.

In his homily during the Chrism Mass, the pontiff called on priests to fix their gaze on Jesus at the end of each day to ward off three forms of hidden idolatry: the spiritual worldliness that leads to a triumphalism without a cross, the pragmatism of numbers, and the functionalist mindset that stifles the Spirit.

On the eve of the Easter Triduum in his general audience, Francis warns against the temptation of "a false peace, based on power," while "the peace of Jesus does not overpower others, it is never an armed peace." And to participants in an interfaith pilgrimage in Ukraine, he writes: "War is a shameful surrender, a defeat in the face of the forces of evil."

Pope meets with Ukrainian children who are victims of "this savage cruelty that is war," at the general audience. Continuing his catechesis, Francis spoke of Simeon and Anna as examples of the expectation of God's visit even in the time of old age. Entrusted to the prayers of the faithful the trip to Malta.

In a letter to the world's bishops the meaning of the act of entrustment to the Immaculate Heart of Mary scheduled for tomorrow. At the general audience: "War is a defeat for humanity: I learned this from my grandfather who fought on the Piave River in 1914". The hope that in catechesis itineraries children can listen to the "narrative of faith" of the elderly.

At the general audience, Francis quotes a prayer written in recent days by the archbishop of Naples on the war in Ukraine and asked the young people to pray for their peers forced to flee from the bombs. In his catechesis on old age, he recalled the style of Noah who denounced corruption "without recriminations, but safeguarding future generations".