“I carry with me a photo of a Muslim child who, during my visit to Lebanon, was standing there holding a sign that said ‘Welcome, Pope Leo,’ and in this latest phase of the war, he was killed.
“There are many human situations like this, and I believe we must have the ability to think in this way.
“And as a Church, I say again: as a pastor, I cannot be in favor of war.
“I would like to encourage everyone to make efforts to seek answers that come from a culture of peace, not of hatred or division.” — Pope Leo XIV
In the #GospelOfTheDay (Mt 10:26-33), Jesus draws a parallel between what we hear “in private,” namely, what is in the secret of our hearts, and what we are called to proclaim to everyone. He reminds us that proclaiming the Gospel is first and foremost a sharing of a personal encounter with Him, which is unique to each of us.
We are called to reread the Gospel in today’s world, exchanging the gifts of our respective cultures and the fruits that Christ's message has produced in them. One of these fruits is precisely the dialogue between peoples, the encounter in a spirit of fraternity, which enables us to discover and appreciate one another’s values. This path is not easy, but requires goodwill and God’s help. Yet, it is the path that leads to the civilization of love. #GeneralAudience
There has been distressing news about the war in #Ukraine, which keeps expanding. There are many innocent victims, rescue workers killed, and churches and cultural heritage sites devastated by flames. I am close to all those who mourn their loved ones, to the wounded, and to those who continue to serve life with courage amid violence. Let us #PrayTogether that this war may end. Let us ask the Lord to open paths of dialogue, extinguish hatred, and make a just and lasting #Peace possible.
I welcome with satisfaction the reaching of an agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, which will be signed on Friday, as an encouraging result of patient work in dialogue and negotiation. I express my gratitude to the countries that have worked to facilitate a meeting between the parties and to make this agreement possible. I hope that the agreement may help strengthen mutual trust, security, and stability in the Middle East, promoting paths of dialogue and cooperation among peoples. #Peace
My newest prayer is simple: “Lord, settle it.”
Settle my mind. Settle my heart. Settle my spirit.
Teach me to walk in peace instead of anxiety, and faith instead of fear. 🤍
Prayer teaches us how to act. In prayer, our limited human possibilities are joined to the infinite possibilities of God. Thoughts, words and deeds then break the demonic cycle of evil and are placed at the service of the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom in which there is no sword, no drone, no vengeance, no trivialization of evil, no unjust profit, but only dignity, understanding and forgiveness. #PrayTogether #Peace
Dubai authorities have confirmed that a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception has been successfully contained. No injuries have been reported. Authorities have also denied reports circulating on social media regarding any incidents at Dubai International Airport.
Jesus, however, proclaims that God will never throw us away; our Father cares for our names and our uniqueness. Every wound, even the deepest, will be healed by welcoming the word of the Beatitudes and setting ourselves back on the path of the Gospel. #GospelOfTheDay (Mt 5:13-16)
Salt that has lost its flavour “is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot” (Mt 5:13). So many people feel worthless or broken. It is as if their light has been hidden. It is painful to lose flavour and give up joy; yet it is possible to have this wound in our heart.
In the unity of faith, proclaimed since the beginning of the Church, Christians have been called to walk in harmony, guarding and transmitting the gift they have received with love and joy. This is expressed in the words of the Creed, “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God… for our salvation he came down from heaven,” that were formulated 1,700 years ago by the #CouncilOfNicaea, the first ecumenical gathering in the history of Christianity. #ChristianUnity #ApostolicLetter
Material things cannot fill life; only love can make us whole. The path to this goal is that of charity, which keeps nothing for itself, but shares everything. #GospelOfTheDay (Jn 6:24-35)
#Lent, which begins today, is an occasion for conversion and internal renewal through listening to the Word of God, caring for brothers and sisters who need our help, and prayer, especially to obtain the grace of peace in the world.