Posts by Pope Francis
Peter and John
Catechesis on Old Age #15 by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, welcome and good morning! In our catechetical journey on old age, today we will meditate on the dialogue between the risen Jesus and Peter at the end of John’s Gospel (21:15-23). It is a moving dialogue, from which shines all the love of…
Read MoreThe joyful service of faith that is learned in gratitude
Catechesis on Old Age #14 by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! We have heard the simple and touching account of the healing of the mother-in-law of Simon — who is not yet called Peter — in Mark’s version of the Gospel. The brief episode is told with slight, yet evocative variations, also…
Read MoreNicodemus – “How can a man be born when he is old?”
Catechesis on Old Age #13 by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! Among the most relevant elderly characters in the Gospels is Nicodemus — one of the Jewish leaders — who, wanting to know Jesus, went to him at night, although in secret (cf. Jn 3:1-21). In the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, the core…
Read MoreForsake me not when my strength is spent
Catechesis on Old Age #12 by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! The beautiful prayer of the elderly man that we find in Psalm 71, which we listened to, encourages us to meditate on the strong tension that dwells in the condition of old age, when the memory of labours overcome and blessings…
Read MoreEcclesiastes: the uncertain night of meaning and of things in life
Catechesis on Old Age #11 by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! In our reflection on old age — we are continuing to reflect on old age — today we are dealing with the Book of Qoheleth, , another jewel set in the Bible. On a first reading, this short book is striking…
Read MoreJob: The trial of faith
Catechesis on Old Age #10 by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! The biblical passage we have just heard concludes the Book of Job, a universal literary classic. On our catechetical itinerary on old age, we meet Job. We encounter him as a witness of a faith that does not accept a “caricature”…
Read MoreJudith: Generous in Old Age
Catechesis on Old Age #9 by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! Today we will talk about Judith, a biblical heroine. The conclusion of the book that bears her name — we have listened to a passage from it — summarizes the final part of the life of this woman, who defended…
Read MoreEleazar – Consistency of the Faith
Catechesis on Old Age #8 – Original post here by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! On the path of these catecheses on old age, today we meet a biblical figure — an old man — named Eleazar, who lived at the time of the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes. He is a wonderful…
Read MoreNaomi, the alliance between the generations that opens up the future
Catechesis on Old Age #7 – Original post here by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome! Today we will continue to reflect on the elderly, on grandparents, on old age – the word seems ugly but no, the elderly are great, they are beautiful! And today we will let ourselves be…
Read MoreLove for the gift of life
“Honour your father and your mother”: love for the gift of life Catechesis on Old Age #6 – Original post here by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! Today, with the help of the Word of God that we have heard, we open a passage through the fragility of old age, marked in…
Read MoreFidelity to God’s Visitation for the Next Generation
Catechesis on Old Age #5 – Original post here by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! In our series of catecheses on the theme of old age, today we will look at the tender picture painted by the evangelist Saint Luke, who depicts two elderly figures, Simeon and Anna. Their reason for living,…
Read MoreFairwell and inheritance: memory and testimony
Catechesis on Old Age #4 – Original post here by Pope Francis Dear brothers and sisters, good day! In the Bible, the account of the death of the elderly Moses is preceded by his spiritual testament, called the “Canticle of Moses”. This Song is first and foremost a beautiful confession of faith, and it goes…
Read More