Franco Pisano

In a video message to the 65th Religious Education Congress organised by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Francis states that there is a need for a community that can support us, that can help us and in which we help each other to look forward, to a tomorrow in which we will have to “act in the Samaritan’s style”, that is, by “letting myself be struck by what I see.”

Note from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on the celebrations of Holy Week in times of Covid-19. "It is suggested to facilitate and privilege the media coverage of the celebrations presided over by the bishop, encouraging the faithful who are unable to attend their own church to follow the diocesan celebrations as a sign of unity".

On Ash Wednesday, Francis recalls “our journey then is about letting him take us by the hand. The Father who bids us come home is the same who left home to come looking for us; the Lord who heals us is the same who let himself suffer on the cross; the Spirit who enables us to change our lives is the same who breathes softly yet powerfully on our dust.”

Francis has introduced changes to the Vatican Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure. The changes reflect “the changed sensitivities of the times” and go beyond “outdated inspirational criteria and functional solutions”.

Pope Francis released a video message for the 'Day of Contemporary Martyrs', organised by the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London to commemorate the 21 Coptic Orthodox martyrs killed on 15 February 2015.

In the episode of the leper who approaches Jesus who heals him, we see that "God is not indifferent, he does not keep a 'safe distance'; indeed, he approaches with compassion and touches our life to heal it. Closeness, compassion, tenderness: these three words contain God's style ".

Francis writes a letter to mark the 600th anniversary of the mission of the Commissaries of the Holy Land who through their dedication enable "a network of ecclesial, spiritual and charitable relations that have as their focal point the land where Jesus lived".

Pope tells a delegation from the European Institute for International Studies that “an integrated approach to defending and promoting the rights of all is incumbent upon both political and religious leaders, for it is precisely a culture of encounter that can provide a basis to a more united and reconciled world.”

Francis says this Lent love means “caring for those who suffer or feel abandoned and fearful because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In these days of deep uncertainty about the future, let us keep in mind the Lord’s word to his Servant, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you” (Is 43:1). In our charity, may we speak words of reassurance and help others to realize that God loves them as sons and daughters”.

“Prayer is always alive, like an ember, even when our mouth does not speak. Every thought, even if apparently 'profane', can be permeated with prayer ". At the end of the general audience, Francis invited people to pray for the victims of the landslide in India and made his wishes for the Lunar New Year.

Document of the Pontifical Academy for Life: "Old age: our future. The elderly after the pandemic." "The individual as the main focus, with his or her needs and rights", "is an expression of progress, civilization and an authentic Christian conscience". "Young and old, coming together, can bring a new lymph of humanism and greater unity into the social fabric".

Francis sends a video message for the International Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Human Trafficking. An economy without trafficking is "a economy of care ". It is "an economy of solidarity: : we work for solidity combined with solidarity. We are convinced that solidarity". "Human trafficking finds fertile ground in the approach of neoliberal capitalism". We need "the courage to combine legitimate profit with the promotion of employment and decent working conditions".