The pope met with about 40,000 people in St Peter's Square. Continuing the Jubilee catechesis on the theme "Jesus Christ our hope", he commented on the episode of the healing of blind Bartimaeus in Jericho, saying that, “we must never give up hope, even when we feel lost.” The pontiff also offered his prayers for the victims of the mass shooting in a school in Graz, Austria. This morning he met with António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.
At today's audience, before 35,000 faithful in St Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV continued the Jubilee catechesis on “Jesus Christ our hope". The parable in the Gospel of Matthew is "a story that fosters our hope". Speaking to young people, he urged them “not [to] delay, roll up your sleeves, because the Lord is generous and you will not be disappointed!”
In St Peter's, in his second general audience, Pope Leo XIV spoke about Gaza. “The cry of mothers, of fathers,” he said, “rises ever more intensely to the sky.” On Ukraine, he called for action “to stop the war and to support every initiative of dialogue and peace.” In the parable of the Good Samaritan, he noted that the man was “simply a person.” With respect to others, people can either “take care of them or pretend nothing is wrong.”
40,000 welcome Pope Prevost in St Peter’s Square for his first public audience. Tour in the popemobile amid cheers and flags from Lebanon, Ukraine, and peace movements. Leo XIV continues the catechetical series “Jesus Our Hope”, begun by Francis for the Jubilee. A renewed appeal for “dignified humanitarian aid” to Gaza: “We are called to sow hope and build peace.”
In today's catechesis, released in written form, Francis began a new series of reflections on parables: "They provoke us." Speaking about the story of the father and his two sons, the pope notes that even if “we are lost, God comes looking for us!” His love welcomes, like the embrace depicted by Rembrandt. This morning Francis met with the staff of the Gemelli Hospital. His health is improving.
This week’s catechesis was centred on the encounter between Jesus and the "rich man". As it has done for weeks, the Holy See Press Office released the written text of the catechesis.
Today’s weekly general audience was dedicated to Jesus’s meeting with the Samaritan woman. While the pope recovers at Casa Santa Marta, his catechesis notes that Jesus is waiting for us “at the crossroads in our life” where we least expect him.
The pontiff released his weekly catechesis from the Gemelli Hospital, with a commentary on the Gospel passage about Nicodemus, opening a new chapter in his reflections on Jesus Christ our hope. In his message for World Day of Prayer for Vocation, he urges young people to make their life a “gift of love”.
The pope’s health conditions remain stationary at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The text for his general audience was released today, from the Gospel passage about the presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the figures of Simeon and Anna, two elderly people who were able to “rekindle hope”.
The pontiff spoke this morning at the end of the Wednesday general audience, despite a bronchitis. “May paths of peace be found,” he said, in Ukraine, Palestine, Myanmar, South Sudan and in the “many countries that are at war”. The catechesis, read by a Vatican official, focused on the visit by the “malodorous” shepherds to the manger, men who “practice the occupation by which God himself makes himself known to his people.”
Francis, who appeared chilled in the Paul VI Hall, again turned his thoughts to the countries ‘suffering from war’, also mentioning Jordan. To the Polish pilgrims, he invited them to pray for consecrated people in poor and conflicted countries: for many people they are ‘proof that God always remembers them’. The catechesis - read by an official of the secretariat of state - on the Visitation: ‘The Magnificat: praise of faith, hope and joy’.
At the general audience in the Paul VI Hall the appeal for the region of North Kivu, the region of the Democratic Republic of Congo occupied by the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda: ‘Let the violence to people and their property cease’. In the catechesis the example of St Joseph: ‘Let us ask with him the grace to dream God's dreams and responsibly welcome Christ’.
At the audience in the Paul VI Hall, Pope Francis recalled the days - Jan. 18-25 - dedicated to prayer for ecumenism. Again a call for peace in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and Mynamar. Relief for Gaza's Holy Family parish: “I called yesterday, they were happy. There are 600 people in there." Los Angeles community entrusted to the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Catechesis on the Annunciation: 'Mary does not seek outside but inside'.
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’.
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’.
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.
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".
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’.
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.
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.”
At the general audience, the pontiff continued the cycle of catechesis on the Holy Spirit and his ‘bride’, the Church. The meditation dedicated to ‘Marian piety’: Our Lady is ‘a letter written with the Spirit of the living God’, which can be ‘read’ by all. The ‘yes’ to the Angel is an example of ‘availability combined with active readiness’, he said. At the end the invitation not to forget the countries at war.
In Wednesday's general audience in St Peter's Square, Francis shared the pain for the civilians "gunned down" in Gaza and Valencia, invaded by mud. He laid a flower in front of the “Virgin of the Forsaken,” patroness of the Spanish city, reciting the Hail Mary with the faithful. Today’s catechesis was centred on prayer, "sanctifying action of the Holy Spirit", advocate before God.
Today's general audience recalled the 150 innocent people ‘gunned down’ yesterday in northern Gaza by Israeli raids. Reiterated several times the appeal to pray for peace in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar and North Kivu: ‘In war nobody wins’. Catechesis on Confirmation: ‘Let it not be a sacrament of farewell, but of active participation in the Church’.
From St Peter's Square, the pope shared in the pain due to conflicts in the world and their death numbers, including the frightening level of military spending. Speaking about John Paul II, whose memory was celebrated yesterday, Francis said that he was “the pope of families”. Couples were at the centre of today’s catechesis on the Holy Spirit. “The human couple” is the ”realization of the communion of love that is the Trinity”.
At the general audience Francis' commentary on the words of the Creed on the third person of the Trinity. New appeal to continue to ‘pray and fight for peace’. The memory of Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko killed by the communist regime 40 years ago in Poland: ‘He taught to overcome evil with good’.
From St Peter's Square the invitation to pray the rosary ‘every day’. Entrusted to the ‘caring mother’ Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar and Sudan, and the populations suffering ‘the madness of war’. The comment on the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles: the unity of the Church ‘is not achieved at the table, but in life’.
At his Wednesday general audience, he expressed sorrow for the news from the Land of the Cedars. Proximity to the Lebanese people and to all ‘peoples tormented’ by wars. Catechesis on the Holy Spirit as ally against the evil that hides in superstition: ‘There is no dialogue with the devil’.
In the general audience held today in St Peter's Square, Francis retraced the stages of the apostolic journey that in recent days has taken him to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. "I met living communities that grow by attraction. It gladdened my heart to be able to spend some time with the missionaries and catechists of today’.
Francis interrupted the cycle of reflections on the Holy Spirit to talk about migration, highlighting the deadly difficulties many face crossing seas and deserts. He expressed the need for a ‘global governance of migrations based on justice, brotherhood and solidarity’. Condemnation for rejections and restrictive laws. Praise for the commitment of those who rescue migrants, including Mediterranea Saving Humans.
In his weekly Wednesday catechesis, recalling today's feast of St. Pius X, Francis addressed a thought for all catechists and catechists: “They work so hard, in some parts of the world they are the first to carry out the faith: may the Lord give them courage.” The invitation to continue praying for peace in the Holy Land, Ukraine and other war-torn parts of the world.
