We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.1John 4:16
The most effective invitation to belief, to faith, to religion, to Christianity, to the Catholic Church is not an answer to a question, but a person: Jesus Christ. https://t.co/BQHaH28vbc
Reflection by Pope Leo XIV
"Missionary zeal is born from an encounter with Christ. We desire to share with others what we have received so that they, too, can come to know the fullness of love and truth found only in Him. As you draw close to Jesus through fellowship, the Sacraments, and Eucharistic Adoration, do not be afraid to ask Him what He is calling you to."
(Video message to SEEK26, January 2, 2026)
@JamesMartinSJ Prayers to St. Joseph for a restful night and peaceful death for your dear mother. God bless you and your family during this difficult time…you are loved.
Happy #NewYear! As we step into #2026, we place our trust in #God. We begin again, placing our past in God's merciful hands, our present in His abiding #love, and our future in His #Divine Providence! Know of our prayer and our love.
“Mary’s greatness consists in the fact that she wants to magnify God, not herself. She is lowly: her only desire is to be the handmaid of the Lord.”
- Pope Benedict XVI
A blessed Feast Day of St. Anthony of Padua - patron saint of lost items and animals!
Prayer to St. Anthony, taken from today's collect:
Almighty ever-living God, who gave Saint Anthony of Padua to your people as an outstanding preacher and an intercessor in their need, grant that, with his assistance, as we follow the teachings of the Christian life, we may know your help in every trial. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
https://t.co/fkp5o2ttgC
At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words:
"Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church.
He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."
I think of the many people who find various ways to be close to the sick, becoming a sign of the Lord’s presence for them. We need this “miracle of tenderness” to accompany those who face adversity, in order to bring a little light into the night of pain.
Our societies are too enslaved to market logic, and everything risks being subject to self-interest and the quest for profit. Volunteering is prophecy and a sign of hope, because it bears witness to the primacy of gratuitousness, solidarity, and service to those most in need.
I urge you to continue your apostolate with joy and to be a sign of a love that embraces everyone, as the #GospelOfTheDay suggests. May we transform evil into goodness and build a fraternal world. Do not be afraid to take risks for love!
Be courageous witnesses of the love of God our Father, who wants us all to be brothers and sisters. Let us set out together to be artisans of a new era of peace, justice and fraternity.
I appeal to communicators around the world to tell stories of hope. Let your storytelling be #HopeTelling. Seek out the hidden crumbs of good, even when all seems lost, and allow people to hope against all hope.
The Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is holy. And yet we have seen that even Jesus’ parents did not always understand Him. Let us not be surprised if at times it happens that we do not understand each other. When it happens, let us ask ourselves: have we listened to each other?
The authentic Olympic and Paralympic spirit is an antidote against the tragedy of war and a way to put an end to violence. May sport build bridges, break down barriers, and foster peaceful relations. #OlympicTruce#Paris2024