At the Angelus, Pope Francis hails the truce, after 15 months of intense and incessant appeals for peace, hopeful that “what has been agreed will be respected immediately by the parties”. Today Hamas is set to free three young Israeli women, with a list of about 90 Palestinian prisoners still not available. The pontiff calls for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza “faster and in large quantities.”
Meeting pilgrims in the Paul VI Hall he recalled the millions of children exposed to dangerous activities despite their young age or kidnapped for organ transplants. Proximity to the populations of Kachin State in Myanmar where landslides have sown death and destruction. ‘We pray for the conversion of the hearts of arms manufacturers’.
From the window of the Apostolic Palace Bergoglio invited us to think about the date of the first sacrament: ‘If you do not remember, ask your parents, the godparents’. 21 children baptised this morning in the Sistine Chapel: ‘Today they are in charge’. Prayer for Los Angeles and for peace ‘in Ukraine, the Middle East and the whole world’.
In the Vatican, Francis met with the diplomatic corps at the Holy See for the traditional exchange of greetings. In his address, the pontiff expressed hope for peace in Ukraine in 2025, as he did for Palestine and Israel so that the two may “live side by side". In Syria and Lebanon, the Christian community should help the two countries pursue “a path of stability.”
At today's audience in Paul VI Hall, Bergoglio began 2025 with the first of two catechesis dedicated to the youngest. He condemned the scourge of child labour, exploitation and abuse: ‘May every boy and girl grow up receiving and giving love’. After Epiphany the invitation to ‘reflect light with one's life’.
Todayfrom St Peter's Basilica, marking the Solemnity of the Epiphany, Francis spoke of the star. The three kings follow ‘another kind of light’: that of love, not of power. Let the journey to Bethlehem be an example to be ‘light for others’. At the Angelus the Christmas greeting to the Churches of the East.
During the Angelus, Francis appealed once again to the international community to uphold humanitarian law in the bloody conflicts that still rage in the world. “No more striking schools, hospitals; no more hitting workplaces! Let us not forget that war is always a defeat, always!”
On the first day of the year, Pope Francis urges the faithful to protect life "from conception to natural death,” so that everyone “may look with hope to the future’.” In Mary’s name, the pontiff mentioned mothers with hearts “full of pain” because of war.
An Indian Jesuit from Goa, he is the superior of the community of the Vatican Observatory. He told AsiaNews that his “field of research is the origins of galaxies” billions of years ago, studying “the complexity and beauty of the universe”. Tools exist to find answers about “what exists outside the solar system”.
Today, Feast of the Holy Family, Francis pointed to the nucleus of Nazareth as a 'model'. After Jesus' return to the Temple, Mary "does not accuse, does not judge, but seeks to understand". Closeness to the families of the at least 177 victims of the Muan plane crash in South Korea. The third Holy Door of the Jubilee opened this morning in Rome at the basilica of St John Lateran.
Today, the Feast of St Stephen, Pope Francis visited a prison, a “cathedral of pain”, home for 285 inmates. He led Holy Mass at the Church of Our Father. In his homily, the pontiff said that “Hope never disappoints!” At the Angelus in St Peter's, he called for the cancellation of the debt of “oppressed” countries.
In the Urbi et Orbi message, the Pope's gaze falls on a humanity wounded by wars on every continent and at Christ, as the true Door to be crossed in the Jubilee year that has just begun. ‘May Christmas bring comfort to those in Myanmar who are forced to flee their homes’. Thanks ‘to the missionaries scattered around the world, who bring light and comfort to so many people in difficulty’.
Crossing the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica in his wheelchair, on Christmas Eve, the pope launched the Holy Year 2025. "For Christian hope is not a cinematic “happy ending” which we passively await: it is the promise of the Lord to be welcomed here and now. May a new time be opened for the Earth disfigured by the logic of profit, for the poorest countries burdened by unjust debts, for the prisoners of old and new slavery’.
Speaking over giant screens from Santa Marta, the pontiff blessed the “Bambinelli” and expressed words of sorrow for Gaza in St Peter's Square. “So much cruelty, children machine-gunned,” he lamented. This morning Patriarch Pizzaballa reached the Parish of the Holy Family after he was stopped yesterday. In his Gospel commentary about the gift of life, Francis stressed that “No child is a mistake.”
In his greetings to the Roman Curia, the pontiff spoke again about what is happening in Gaza, where Patriarch Pizzaballa was prevented from making a Christmas visit. For Christmas Francis urges the members of the Curia to nurture humility and speak well and not ill of others, like God who does not bless “from above, but in the flesh.”
At the Wednesday audience, the pontiff began his reflection on Christ's childhood. The meanings related to genealogy are explained with women's names at the start of the Gospel of Matthew. "No one gives life to himself, but receives it as a gift from others,” he said. For Christmas, the pontiff is encouraging the faithful to put up a nativity scene at home. “This,” Francis said, “is an important element of our spirituality and culture”. He also called for prayers for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and Myanmar.
Francis' apostolic journey to the French Mediterranean island. From this symbolic place he concluded the congress on popular piety. In Europe the "question about God seems to be waning", but the opening between "Christian culture and secular culture" must be recognised. In the Cathedral of St Mary of the Assumption the meeting with the religious: "Do not forget to weep before the Lord".
This morning the Holy Father met with the president of the Palestinian National Authority for half an hour, the first time in three years. A Vatican press release underlines the “very serious humanitarian situation in Gaza". For the vicar of the Custody, prospects for a ceasefire and a celebration of peace are “very different from last year," even if "great concern" remains for Lebanon and Syria.
In the message released today for 1 January 2025, Francis renews the appeal that John Paul II made in 2000, for “a global financial Charter based on solidarity and harmony between peoples.” The pontiff calls for more action on poor countries’ debt and the death penalty, urges some of the money spent on weapons go to development and the fight against hunger.
From the Paul VI Hall, the appeal for the country after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime: "May the Syrian people live in peace and security in their beloved land," and may the religions "walk together in mutual respect". This morning, there was also a meeting with the non-profit organization ResQ - People Saving People: "Migrants should be welcomed and integrated". The cycle of catechesis on the Holy Spirit was concluded: "If the Church is a boat, the Spirit is the sail that drives it".
In this morning's Holy Mass in St Peter's, Pope Francis said that the 21 new cardinals created yesterday “have come from many parts of the world, bringing great wisdom”. In his homily dedicated to Mary’s beauty as daughter, wife and mother, and her yes, he said that she “appears before us as a beautiful flower that grew unnoticed until it finally blossomed”. At the Angelus, he renewed his call for peace, in Syria too, that it “may reach the feast of the Nativity with a ceasefire on all fronts of war.”
During today’s consistory in the Vatican basilica, the pontiff placed the biretta on 21 new cardinals. The College of Cardinals includes 37 from Asia, 25 electors. Archbishop Kikuchi of Tokyo, who chairs Caritas Internationalis, received the title of a suburban Roman church. Indian PM Modi sent an official delegation for the new Cardinal Koovakad. Francis will travel to India only after 2025, says Minister Kurian.
Pope Francis again expresses sorrow over conflicts: ‘So many dead children, so many dead innocents’. Thoughts for Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and Myanmar. The catechesis on the Holy Spirit and the Church - for the first time translated into Chinese - dedicated to preaching: ‘Beyond 8 minutes no-one understands anything. Preach Jesus, not yourself’.
On the first Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis condemns war, calling for respects for Lebanese ceasefire and the appeal to elect a president; his attention for Syria, where Aleppo is under the control of jihadist groups and Ukraine where another tragic winter approaches. The Gospel commentary on hope: ‘God works even in dramatic events’.
A native of the same Indian metropolis, 57 year-old Msgr. John Rodrigues has led the diocese of Pune since last year after serving for ten years as auxiliary bishop to Card. Oswald Gracias, who will turn eighty on 20 December next. As of 25 January, he will be at his side with right of succession. He comes from a family in which the widowed mother accompanied all three of her sons to the priesthood.
Led by the Substitute for the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Peña Parra, the delegation joined the millions of pilgrims who will pay homage to the relics of Saint Francis Xavier until 5 January. Also present was the organiser of papal journeys, Cardinal-designate Koovakad. The pope has India and Asia “in his heart,” he said. Goa Governor Pillai pays tribute to Christian schools.
As of next week, a summary of the catechesis will be presented every Wednesday in St. Peter's Square in the most widely spoken language in the world. The announcement, personally made today by the pontiff, is part of the new climate between the Vatican and China. To the faithful, Francis, mentioned the harsh winter in Ukraine, and appealed for more peacemakers, not wars. In the catechesis on the "fruits of the Spirit", he said that the Gospel must be proclaimed without a long face.
On the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe, the traditional relay of the symbols of the WYD, the cross and the Marian icon, took place. The Portuguese delegation met the Korean delegation in St Peter's, which consisted of about 100 young people accompanied by Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taek. In his homily, the pope turned his thoughts to accusations, approval and truth. On Myanmar, he said, “may all weapons be silenced and may a sincere and inclusive dialogue be opened.”
Francis released a letter dedicated to the study of this subject in connection with the training of priests and pastoral workers. He warns against interested denialism that nowadays is used to “justify wars, persecutions”.
The pontiff read a letter from a young Ukrainian university student at the general audience. In it, the young man laments “too many deaths”, noting that “only love, faith, and hope give real meaning to our wounds.” The Vatican will host the World Meeting on Children's Rights on 3 February 2025. Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati will be proclaimed saints in next year’s jubilee. The pontiff met with an Iranian delegation for interreligious dialogue. He said that the Church in the Mideastern country is “a small flock”, stressing that religious freedom is the “cornerstone of the entire edifice of human rights.”
