Pope Francis expresses his joy at meeting the faithful face to face at General Audience

2 Sep, 2020 | News

b

Members of the public were able to attend Pope Francis’ general audience today, after an almost six-month absence due to the coronavirus pandemic. Today’s audience was held in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace following advice from authorities seeking to restrict the spread of the coronavirus.

General audiences are usually held in either St. Peter’s Square or the Paul VI Audience Hall. When the pandemic struck Italy in March, Pope Francis transferred his general audiences to the library of the Apostolic Palace, where they took place without public access. The first livestreamed general audience from the library took place on 11 March.

After expressing his joy for the possibility to meet the faithful face-to-face instead of “screen-to-screen”, the Holy Father noted how the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted our interdependence – “for better or worse”.

Solidarity, therefore, is the key to emerging from the crisis better than before.

All humanity, said the Pope, has its common origin in God. We dwell together in our common home, “a garden-planet where God has placed us”, and we have a common destination in Christ.

“But when we forget all this, our interdependence becomes dependence of some on others,” he said. “increasing inequality and marginalization; it weakens the social fabric and the environment deteriorates.”

Pope Francis admitted that the word “solidarity” may seem a little worn and poorly understood.

It is more than “a few sporadic acts of generosity.” Rather, he said, solidarity involves creating a mindset which thinks “in terms of community and the priority of life of all over the appropriation of goods by a few.”

Solidarity, said the Pope, “is a matter of justice.”

A healthy and fruitful interdependence “needs strong roots in the humanity and nature created by God; it needs respect for faces and for the land.”

The Pope went on to reflect on the Biblical account of the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9).

When humanity tries to reach to heaven while ignoring our relationship with each other, creation, and the Creator, we wind up unifying languages and constructing skyscrapers but we “destroy community” and “mortify cultural wealth”.

Another unfortunate result, said the Pope, is that we instrumentalize others as a workforce, rather than building up a community.

“When shares fall in the financial markets, all the agencies report the news,” he lamented. “Thousands of people fall due to hunger and no-one talks about it.”

Diversity and harmony

Pentecost, said Pope Francis, is the answer and antithesis of Babel.

Descending upon the community, “the Spirit creates unity in diversity; He creates harmony.”

“With Pentecost,” he said, “God makes Himself present and inspires the faith of the community united in diversity and in solidarity.”

Diversity ensures the community is imbued with “antibodies” which remind the community that each person is unique and protects it from the danger of individualism and selfishness.

“Solidarity,” said the Pope, “is the road to take towards a post-pandemic world, towards the healing of our interpersonal and social sicknesses. There is no other path.”

Solidity and meaning in solidarity

Finally, Pope Francis encouraged everyone to let our solidarity be guided by faith, so that we might translate the love of God for our brother and sisters to build communities that promote healthy growth.

He also invited everyone to ask ourselves: “Do I think about others?”

Audiences with the Pope for the month of September will take place in the San Damaso Courtyard.ENDS

Archives

Latest Videos

Fr Paul Finnerty, Rector of the Irish College in Rome, on the invitation for people to come to Rome during the Jubilee Year as pilgrims of hope and to follow the tradition of passing through the Holy Doors in the Papal Basilicas.

Fr Paul Finnerty, Rector of the Irish College in Rome, on the invitation for people to come to Rome during the Jubilee Year as pilgrims of hope and to follow the tradition of passing through the Holy Doors in the Papal Basilicas.

0 0

YouTube Video UEw5U0ZnbHhHSVBDTkVoUGljZndaMHMySWZHUUF5SGM4WS4xQ0EyNTVGREQ1Nzk5MkVB

Pilgrims of Hope - The Jubilee Year of 2025

An in-depth interview with Archbishop John Kennedy, Secretary for Discipline at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Archbishop John shares with us his vocation story, how he came to work in the Vatican and the challenge of leading the Discipline office that deals with cases of the abuse of minors by clergy, which he calls 'the worse of the worst'.

An in-depth interview with Archbishop John Kennedy, Secretary for Discipline at the
Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Archbishop John shares with us his vocation story, how he came to work in the Vatican and the challenge of leading the Discipline office that deals with cases of the abuse of minors by clergy, which he calls 'the worse of the worst'.

2 0

YouTube Video UEw5U0ZnbHhHSVBDTkVoUGljZndaMHMySWZHUUF5SGM4WS4yMkNBN0M4QUJEQzYxMjA3

Every Suffering of the Church is Yours

Seamus Mulconry, Sec Gen of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association, calls for equal capitation funding for Primary and Post-Primary schools.

Seamus Mulconry, Sec Gen of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association, calls for equal capitation funding for Primary and Post-Primary schools.

8 0

YouTube Video UEw5U0ZnbHhHSVBDTkVoUGljZndaMHMySWZHUUF5SGM4WS5BNjBCMUFCN0Q5QzUyMjlG

Cherish all the children of the nation equally

Michael Kelly discusses the importance of the Week of Witness and Red Wednesday which is a week of campaigning and prayer for persecuted Christians around the world when Churches are lit red.

Michael Kelly discusses the importance of the Week of Witness and Red Wednesday which is a week of campaigning and prayer for persecuted Christians around the world when Churches are lit red.

4 0

YouTube Video UEw5U0ZnbHhHSVBDTkVoUGljZndaMHMySWZHUUF5SGM4WS4wOTkzRUNGQkU5QzI1QTA3

Week Of Witness | Red Wednesday 2024

Seamus Mulconry details the range of services provided by the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association which includes training and advocacy and their helpline which handles 16,000+ calls a year. More info - https://www.cpsma.ie/

Seamus Mulconry details the range of services provided by the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association which includes training and advocacy and their helpline which handles 16,000+ calls a year.

More info - https://www.cpsma.ie/

0 0

YouTube Video UEw5U0ZnbHhHSVBDTkVoUGljZndaMHMySWZHUUF5SGM4WS40MkQ0RjUwRTlGMUU4N0ZG

CPSMA - Serving Catholic Primary Schools

Michael Kelly discusses 'Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2022-24' produced by Aid to the Church in Need which highlights the reality that Christian persecution has significantly worsened globally.

Michael Kelly discusses 'Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2022-24' produced by Aid to the Church in Need which highlights the reality that Christian persecution has significantly worsened globally.

0 0

YouTube Video UEw5U0ZnbHhHSVBDTkVoUGljZndaMHMySWZHUUF5SGM4WS5DQzY2RDZFRUQyRDlDQkMw

'Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2022-24'

Julieann Moran reflects on the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality in Rome and how the Final Document provides a roadmap for a Synodal Church with training and formation as the primary objective. Julieann Moran is the Gen. Sec. of the Synodal Pathway for the Catholic Church in Ireland. for more info - https://synod.ie/

Julieann Moran reflects on the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality in Rome and how the Final Document provides a roadmap for a Synodal Church with training and formation as the primary objective.

Julieann Moran is the Gen. Sec. of the Synodal Pathway for the Catholic Church in Ireland.

for more info - https://synod.ie/

3 9

YouTube Video UEw5U0ZnbHhHSVBDTkVoUGljZndaMHMySWZHUUF5SGM4WS43Q0UyODJENjc3NDRCODU0

A roadmap for a Synodal Church

'The Holy Spirit at work ...' Bishop Brendan Leahy gives an in-depth review of the Synod on Synodality, his experience in Rome, the final document, what reforms should follow and what lies ahead for the Synodal Pathway for the Catholic Church in Ireland. For more info - www.synod.ie

Bishop Brendan Leahy gives an in-depth review of the Synod on Synodality, his experience in Rome, the final document, what reforms should not follow on and what lies ahead for the Synodal Pathway for the Irish Church.

5 8

YouTube Video UEw5U0ZnbHhHSVBDTkVoUGljZndaMHMySWZHUUF5SGM4WS4yM0YxNkQ4MTExRjg4RUI2

Reviewing the Synod on Synodality - Bishop Brendan Leahy

'The Rock from Which You Were Hewn: The Lives and Legacy of Holy Irish Men and Women' edited by Patrick Kenny and Fr John Hogan. This book presents brief biographies of over 40 modern Irish men and women whose causes for canonization are in process, along with others who enjoy a strong reputation for sanctity. Written in response to Pope Benedict XVI’s call to the Irish to renew the Church in Ireland by drawing on the legacy of holiness offered by their ancestors, this book details the heroic lives of more recent saintly models to encourage contemporary Catholics to seek holiness in their lives. Featuring chapters written by various contributors, including the postulators of some of the causes, the book offers moving insights into the subjects themselves and the times and places in which they lived. All are native-born Irish, some lived and died in Ireland, and some were missionaries in other countries as was often the Irish experience for a great part of its modern history. Among those whose inspiring lives are told include Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, Fr. Willie Doyle, S.J., Father Edward Flanagan, Frank Duff, Sister Clare Crockett, Venerable Patrick Peyton, Venerable Matt Talbot, Venerable Edel Quinn, Blessed John Sullivan, Blessed Columba Marmion, Little Nellie, Archdeacon Cavanagh of Knock, and many more. Published by Cenacle Press https://cenaclepress.com/products/the-rock-from-which-you-were-hewn-1 and internationally by Ignatius Press

'The Rock from Which You Were Hewn: The Lives and Legacy of Holy Irish Men and Women' edited by Patrick Kenny and Fr John Hogan.

This book presents brief biographies of over 40 modern Irish men and women whose causes for canonization are in process, along with others who enjoy a strong reputation for sanctity. Written in response to Pope Benedict XVI’s call to the Irish to renew the Church in Ireland by drawing on the legacy of holiness offered by their ancestors, this book details the heroic lives of more recent saintly models to encourage contemporary Catholics to seek holiness in their lives.

Featuring chapters written by various contributors, including the postulators of some of the causes, the book offers moving insights into the subjects themselves and the times and places in which they lived. All are native-born Irish, some lived and died in Ireland, and some were missionaries in other countries as was often the Irish experience for a great part of its modern history.

Among those whose inspiring lives are told include Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, Fr. Willie Doyle, S.J., Father Edward Flanagan, Frank Duff, Sister Clare Crockett, Venerable Patrick Peyton, Venerable Matt Talbot, Venerable Edel Quinn, Blessed John Sullivan, Blessed Columba Marmion, Little Nellie, Archdeacon Cavanagh of Knock, and many more.

Published by Cenacle Press
https://cenaclepress.com/products/the-rock-from-which-you-were-hewn-1
and internationally by Ignatius Press

22 3

YouTube Video UEw5U0ZnbHhHSVBDTkVoUGljZndaMHMySWZHUUF5SGM4WS4zQTkyMjEwN0U0QkU3RDg5

'The Rock from Which You Were Hewn: The Lives and Legacy of Holy Irish Men and Women'

Load More...

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This