The liturgy is not merely an outward observance, but a living encounter with God. Let us participate in the liturgy consciously, devoutly, and actively, so that we may grow in faith. #GeneralAudience
I would like the Church to be the family of all those left by the roadside. Like the Samaritan who made himself a neighbour to the fallen man, let us not pass by. Let us build a Church that stops, draws near, is moved with compassion, anoints wounds, provides nourishment, and becomes a home.
Today, we witness the suffering of so many broken families, whether because of drug use, violence, the criminal recruitment of a child, poverty, or a lack of opportunities that pushes people to the margins.
Evil cannot be overcome with evil. On earth as in heaven, love is the law of life and the way of redemption, the way of the crucified Messiah. In opposition to the false realism that rearms minds, words, and nations, Catholic culture must today offer the realism of mercy, according to which there can be no enemies. Everyone, even our adversaries, is a brother or sister to be looked in the eye and encountered in truth. #PastoralVisit #Rimini
“The Love that moves the sun and the other stars” still impels us to hope. Love moves us, urges us onward, awakens us from lethargy, inspires new vocations, and calls us to take risks. In love, there is never coercion or indoctrination; never seduction, deception, or recruitment. Love exists only in freedom, genuine encounter, and the generous gift of self. #PastoralVisit #Rimini https://t.co/q7Kyt8JLjt
I am also close to the people of the Central African Republic, who are mourning the victims of the collapse at a mine in Zamboyé. May the Lord receive those who have lost their lives and sustain efforts to ensure safety and respect for the law at mining sites.
In my prayers, I often remember the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially in light of the spread of the Ebola epidemic, which is sadly claiming many lives. I encourage on the part of the international community a response that also involves local communities in efforts of prevention, so that many human lives may be saved.
Faith is not something given to us once and for all. Rather, we continually need to rediscover the face of Christ and his Gospel, to enter more deeply into his message and to renew the choices we make in our lives, so that they may be consistent with what we profess. In this way, we can overcome the temptation to think that we already know everything and to reduce faith to mere habit. #GospelOfTheDay (Mt 16:13-20)
There is no true civil liberty without personal freedom—that is, without respect for and the promotion of the dignity of the human person, of which freedom is an essential component. Ultimately, this freedom is given and guaranteed by God, whose voice resounds in the conscience of every human being. #PastoralVisit #SanMarino
Music fosters communion. It helps unite our hearts to overcome differences between people and bring everyone together in praise of God through a symphony of voices. #GeneralAudience
The prophetic call to “beat swords into plowshares” (Is 2:4) is not only a vision for nations, but a call to each person. It invites us to transform harm into life. https://t.co/8zrZ6ZEB9i
The wounds of war and the degradation of the earth are profoundly linked to the condition of the human heart. The conflicts that torment humanity are in many ways the outward expression of interior discord and division. When the heart is distorted, relationships suffer, and the structures we build begin to reflect that disorder.
Sound legislation should encourage scientific and technological creativity while safeguarding fundamental human rights and freedoms. It should protect users from exploitation, preserve personal privacy, ensure transparency in the use of emerging technologies and guarantee that they strengthen democratic institutions. https://t.co/h4uTCWWvsk
The world does not need an artificial intelligence that diminishes humanity; rather, it needs human intelligence enlightened by wisdom, political authority guided by conscience and technological innovation directed by charity. Only then will artificial intelligence become not a rival to humanity but a servant of the common good.
The glorification of Mary, body and soul, teaches us that our true beauty does not lie in hiding the signs of aging, but in revealing the signs of love that never end, and are even impressed on our flesh (cf. 1 Cor 13:8).
The Blessed Virgin Mary, assumed into the glory of heaven, is a sign of hope and consolation for the entire People of God. For this reason, I wish to invoke her maternal intercession today on behalf of those communities that are in particular need of consolation and of renewed hope. My thoughts go out to our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, which is also, par excellence, the Land of Mary. My thoughts also go out to the Ukrainian and Russian peoples, both of whom are united by their filial devotion to the Holy Mother of God, and to Christians who suffer discrimination or even persecution.
From the Canaanite woman we learn humility and determination. Thanks to her faith, we learn that God’s table is set for everyone and that no one is left merely with crumbs, because each person has his or her own place with the Father. In the light of this faith, inequalities, discrimination and barriers that trample on the dignity of too many of God’s sons and daughters become unbearable. #GospelOfToday (Mt 15: 21-28)
I renew my appeal for an end to the ongoing violence against the Palestinian civilian population in the West Bank, and I urgently call on the international community to work toward advancing the two-state solution, for a just and lasting peace.
The liturgical year is not simply a commemoration of events from the past, but the living presence of Christ, who continues the work of salvation in his Church and guides us to an encounter with Him. #GeneralAudience
I wish to express my closeness to the Colombian sisters and brothers who have suffered the effects of the recent earthquake, which caused numerous deaths and injuries, as well as extensive material damage. As I pray to the Lord for the eternal repose of the deceased, I assure you of my prayers for their families and for all those affected by this tragedy. I express my gratitude to all those working in rescue and assistance efforts for those affected.