On Wednesday, August 17, 2016, the Vatican released a motu proprio by Pope Francis which officially establishes the new dicastery on the Laity, Family, and Life.  “For many centuries, the Church, a caring mother, has had care and respect for the laity, the family, and life, manifesting the love of the merciful Savior for humanity.  Keeping in mind this, as Pastor of the Lord’s flock we...Read more

    APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS  TO MEXICO  (12-18 FEBRUARY 2016) MEETING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS “José María Morelos y Pavón” Stadium, Morelia Tuesday, 16 February 2016 [Multimedia] Good afternoon to you, young friends of Mexico here today, and to those who are following us on television or listening to us. I want to send a...Read more

MESSAGE FOR THE JUBILEE OF MERCY FOR YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS “Merciful Like the Father” Dear Young Friends, The Church is celebrating the Holy Year of Mercy, a time of grace, peace, conversion and joy. It is meant for everyone: people of every age, from far and near. There are no walls or distances which can prevent the Father’s mercy from reaching and embracing us. The Holy Door is now open in...Read more

Message of Pope Francis for the 31st World Youth Day 2016 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5:7) Dear Young People, We have come to the last stretch of our pilgrimage to Krakow, the place where we will celebrate the 31st World Youth Day next year in the month of July. We are being guided on this long and challenging path by Jesus’ words taken from the Sermon on the...Read more

  APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO CUBA, TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND VISIT TO THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS (19-28 SEPTEMBER 2015) HOLY MASS WITH BISHOPS, CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS OF PENNSYLVANIA HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia Saturday, 26 September 2015   This morning I learned something about the history...Read more

To My Venerable Brother Archbishop Rino Fisichella President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization With the approach of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy I would like to focus on several points which I believe require attention to enable the celebration of the Holy Year to be for all believers a true moment of encounter with the mercy of God. It is indeed my...Read more

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO ECUADOR, BOLIVIA AND PARAGUAY (5-13 JULY 2015) MEETING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER “Costanera” riverside area, Asunción, Paraguay Sunday, 12 July 2015 [Multimedia]       Dear Young People, Good Afternoon!   After having read the Gospel, Orlando came up to me and said, “I ask you to pray for the freedom of...Read more

ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME Full text 1. “LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”. In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. “Praise be to you, my Lord,...Read more

  To the Venerable Brother Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity I give you my cordial greeting and to all the participants in the International Study Seminar on the topic “Coaches: Educating People”, organized by the Church and Sport Section of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Continuing in your path of reflection and promotion of human and...Read more

POPE FRANCIS GENERAL AUDIENCE Saint Peter's Square Wednesday, 15 April 2015 [Multimedia] Dear Brothers and Sisters: Continuing our catechesis on the family, today we reflect on the complementarity between man and woman. Scripture tells us that “God created man in his own image… male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27). Man and woman bear the image and likeness of God not only as individuals,...Read more