Pope Francis

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A new book interview: Psychologist Salvo Noé has interviewed Pope Francis for his book entitled "La paura come dono" ("Fear as a Gift")

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-speaks-to-italian-psychologist-for-book-fear-as-a-gift.html
Pope speaks to Italian psychologist for book entitled "Fear as a gift"
21 January 2023, 17:12

Italian psychologist Salvo Noé has interviewed Pope Francis for his book entitled "La paura come dono" ("Fear as a Gift"), to be released in Italian on January 25 by Edizioni San Paolo. The Pope speaks about his thoughts, fears, and feelings during the years of his pontificate, starting with his election in the 2013 conclave.
By Vatican News staff writer

A new book interview in Italian with Pope Francis, entitled La paura come dono ("Fear as a Gift"), will be released by Edizioni San Paolo on January 25. The author, Italian psychologist and psychotherapist Salvo Noé, conducted a lengthy interview with Pope Francis, looking at a host of topics over the nearly ten years of Pope Francis' pontificate.

Regarding decision-making, the Pope says "sometimes yes, when I have to make a decision, I say to myself, 'If I do this like this...?' And that's a little bit of fear of making a mistake, isn't it? And fear in this case helps me, because it leads me to weigh carefully the decisions to be taken, how to do carry them out and everything else. It is not fear that overtakes me, no, no. It is a feeling that makes me proceed carefully: fear can be like a mother who warns you."

Doctor Noé met with Pope Francis at Santa Marta, where the Pope resides, and told Vatican News that "in one of the many meetings, I told the Holy Father about my wish to write a book on fear, asking him if he would like to offer his own contribution to it. As usual, he said yes; and so, on a January afternoon, with my recorder in hand, I asked some questions that the Pope answered with his usual calm and reassuring voice. He also asked me some questions about fear and so ours became a conversation full of food for thought." The long conversation then covered a wide range of topics, ranging from seminary formation, the challenge presented by hypocrisy, worldliness, careerism, welcoming homosexuals and migrants, and preventing clergy abuse by perhaps introducing psychological reviews in seminaries.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-to-propaganda-fides-college-be-witnesses-of-dialogue.html

Pope to students of Propaganda Fide College: be true witnesses of dialogue
21 January 2023, 12:10

Pope Francis meets the Community of Pontifical Urban College for the Propagation of the Faith and encourages students to become authentic and outgoing missionaries of dialogue and fraternity.
By Lisa Zengarini

“The world needs dialogue and peace. And it needs men and women who bear witness to it”. Addressing students of the Pontifical Urban College for the Propagation of the Faith (Pontificio Collegio Urbano "de Propaganda Fide") on Saturday, Pope Francis urged them to follow the example of those “martyrs of dialogue” who,  “have courageously traveled this road to be peacebuilders."

The College was established in the 17th Century by Pope Urban VIII for the purpose of training missionaries to spread the Gospel around the world. It comes under the direct authority of the Dicastery for Evangelization (formerly known as the Congregation de Propaganda Fide, and then for the Evangelization of Peoples).
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2023/january.index.html
Speeches 2023 January
Audience with the superiors and students of the Pontifical Urban College “de Propaganda Fide” (21 January 2023)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-francis-meets-president-guillermo-lasso-of-ecuador.html

Pope Francis meets President Guillermo Lasso of Ecuador
21 January 2023, 13:42

Pope Francis meets Saturday morning with the president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso Mendoza. The president subsequently met with the Cardinal Secretary State and the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

Holy See Press Office Communiqué

This morning, Saturday 21 January 2023, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the President of the Republic of Ecuador, His Excellency Mr. Guillermo Lasso Mendoza, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
 

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Full video, with English commentary, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-the-word-of-god-calls-to-conversion-heals-raises-up.html
Pope: the Word of God calls to conversion, heals, raises up
22 January 2023, 10:55

At the Mass on Sunday of the Word of God, Pope Francis says the Word of God is for everyone, leading us to conversion, and making us heralds of the Good News of God’s boundless love for all.
By Thaddeus Jones

Pope Francis presided over the Mass celebrating this year’s Sunday of the Word of God marking the theme from John’s Letter, “We proclaim to you what we have seen” (1 Jn 1:3). The celebration took place in St. Peter’s Basilica and included the conferral of the Ministries of Lector and Catechist on lay men and women from Italy, Congo, the Philippines, Mexico, and the UK. Pope Francis instituted the annual celebration in 2019, calling for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time to be devoted to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God.

In his homily, the Pope recalled that in today’s Gospel we see how Jesus enters into His public ministry after a quiet life in Nazareth: He invites everyone to conversion, calls His first disciples, and gives the mission to spread the Good News of God’s boundless love for all. This “dynamism” shows us how “the Word is for everyone, the Word calls everyone to conversion, the Word makes us heralds.”
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253425/pope-francis-confers-lay-ministries-upon-ten-people-in-st-peter-s-basilica
Pope Francis confers lay ministries upon 10 people in St. Peter’s Basilica
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Jan 22, 2023 / 04:30 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2023.index.html
Homilies 2023
Holy Mass on the occasion of the Sunday of the Word of God (22 January 2023)

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Video, with English commentary, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-at-angelus-to-stay-with-jesus-leave-and-follow.html
Pope at Angelus: To stay with Jesus, follow Him and leave the rest
22 January 2023, 12:11

During his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis invites the faithful to leave aside that which holds them back from following the Lord, and to stay with Him.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Jesus invites us to set forth and follow Him, even when it means leaving the rest behind.

This was at the heart of Pope Francis Angelus address to the faithful gathered in a chilly St. Peter's Square.
This address fell on the Sunday of the Word of God, which the Holy Father instituted in 2019 as a way to promote the study of Sacred Scripture.

The Pope presided over the Mass for the Day, whose theme this year is a verse from John's Gospel, "We proclaim to you what we have seen" (1 Jn 1:3), on Sunday morning in St. Peter's Basilica.

The aim of the celebration is to give new life to the responsibility of all believers to deepen their knowledge of Sacred Scripture.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-recalls-sunday-of-word-of-god-christian-unity-week.html
Pope: Let's rediscover with amazement that God speaks to us
22 January 2023, 12:20

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-decries-violence-in-myanmar-peru-and-ukraine.html
Pope decries violence in Myanmar, Peru and Ukraine
22 January 2023, 12:33

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-sends-greetings-for-lunar-new-year.html
Pope sends greetings for Lunar New Year
22 January 2023, 12:13

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2023.index.html
Angelus - Regina Cæli 2023
Angelus, 22 January 2023

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-we-cannot-forget-brothers-and-sisters-with-hansens-disease.html

Pope: Never forget our brothers and sisters with Hansen's disease
23 January 2023, 10:20

In a message to participants in a seminar on Hansen’s disease (or ‘leprosy’) and other neglected tropical diseases, Pope Francis says we must ask ourselves, “Will we bend down to touch and heal the wounds of others?”
By Christopher Wells

“We must not forget these brothers and sisters of ours” who are afflicted by Hansen’s disease.

Pope Francis offered that invitation in a message to an international symposium focusing on serving those afflicted by leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

The two-day “Leave No One Behind" symposium takes place in Rome on 23-24 January, and is sponsored by the French Raoul Follereau Foundation, Italy’s Amici di Raoul Follereau (“Friends of Raoul Follereau”), and the Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative, in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The symposium is focused on achieving the goal of “zero leprosy” in the world and establishing societies where no one is left behind due to Hansen’s Disease and other NTDs.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-there-can-be-no-peace-without-development-and-education.html

Pope Francis: Peace requires development and education
23 January 2023, 11:48

Pope Francis welcomes volunteers of the Italian Charity for the Promotion of Literacy in the World, and encourages them to continue their commitment to defeating poverty and promoting peace through education.
By Lisa Zengarini

Meeting volunteers of the Italian Charity for the Promotion of Literacy in the World (Opera di Promozione dell'Alfabetizzazione nel Mondo - OPAM) on Monday, Pope Francis praised the Catholic nonprofit organization’s commitment to foster the right to education as a means to defeat poverty.

The organization is engaged in building and supporting schools, organizing teacher training, literacy and vocational training for adults, especially women, in over 80 countries to promote sustainable development and human dignity for each and every person.
It is also committed to promoting a culture of peace through twinning schools in the Global North and Global South and intercultural projects.

OPAM was founded in 1972 by Italian priest Don Carlo Muratore, who after working several years as a missionary in Venezuela, came to realize that illiteracy lies among the main causes of poverty.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2023/january.index.html
Speeches 2023 January
To Volunteers of the Opera for the Promotion of Literacy in the World (OPAM) (23 January 2023)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-01/cardinal-kurt-koch-week-prayer-christian-unity-faith.html

Cardinal Koch: Christians find unity in faith in Jesus
23 January 2023, 17:06

Cardinal Kurt Koch, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, reflects on the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and says Christians need to walk, pray, and work together.
By Devin Watkins & Mario Galgano

As Christians mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on 18-25 January, Cardinal Kurt Koch recalled the importance of doing good and promoting justice.

The theme for this year’s occurrence of the Week of Prayer is “Do good; seek justice”. It was selected by the Minnesota Council of Churches, in the United States, and was taken from the first chapter of the Book of Isaiah.
 

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Synod: Ecumenical Prayer Vigil

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-01/ecumenical-prayer-vigil-will-emphasize-unity-of-the-church.html
Synod: Ecumenical Prayer Vigil will emphasize 'unity of the Church'
23 January 2023, 17:39

Synod officials and ecumenical representatives from various Churches and ecclesial communities offer details of the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil that will precede the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October.
By Christopher Wells

When Pope Francis announced that the upcoming General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops would be preceded by an Ecumenical Prayer Vigil, he emphasized that “the path to Christian unity and the path of synodal conversion of the Church are linked.”

That sentiment was echoed on Monday by Cardinal Hollerich, the General Relator of the Synod, at a press conference providing details of the event, set to take place in St Peter's Square on Saturday, 30 September.

“The journey of synodality undertaken by the Catholic Church is and must be ecumenical, just as the ecumenical journey is synodal,” he said.

Cardinal Hollerich noted that the synodal process is founded on the grace of Baptism, which is shared not only by Catholics but by all Christians. “I feel that we need them,” he said, adding immediately, “We need you. We need you in order to be really on the path of conversion.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-francis-world-social-communications-day-message.html

Pope: Communicating with the heart can curb escalation of war
24 January 2023, 12:00

The Vatican publishes Pope Francis' Message for the 57th World Day of Social Communications, observed the Sunday before Pentecost, on the theme “Speak with the heart: Veritatem facientes in caritate” (Doing the truth in charity).
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis has appealed to communicators to always speak from the heart, and find the right words to build a better civilization.

The Holy Father did so in his Message for the 57th World Day of Social Communications, published on 24 January, the Feast of St. Francis De Sales, the patron saint of journalists, on the theme “Speak with the heart: Veritatem facientes in caritate” (Doing the truth in charity).

The World Day of Social Communications will be observed by the Vatican and Dioceses around the world on the Sunday before Pentecost, which falls this year on 21 May.

This year's theme connects with that of 2022, titled “Listen with the ear of the heart.”

This year's message urges communicators to communicate cordially and never pursue hostile communications.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/communications/documents/20230124-messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali.html
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR THE 57th WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

Speaking with the heart
“The truth in love” (Eph 4:15)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-world-needs-togetherness-to-address-current-multiple-crises.html

Pope: World needs togetherness to address current multiple crises
24 January 2023, 15:07

Pope Francis sends a message to participants in the Fifth International Conference for World Balance organized in Cuba under the auspices of UNESCO, reiterating that the current multiple crises facing the world today can only be addressed together in fraternity and solidarity.
By Lisa Zengarini

In a time of global political and social crises, our interconnected world needs more than ever today “to build bridges that can help us find viable solutions together that do not exclude anyone”.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-01/pope-francis-apostolic-visit-drc-south-sudan-briefing-bruni.html

Pope Francis prepares to travel to strife-torn DRC and South Sudan
24 January 2023, 16:26

Pope Francis is set to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan at the end of the month. Both are countries torn and crippled by violence, division and the festering wounds of colonialism.
By Linda Bordoni

Answering questions put to him by reporters regarding insecurity in the two African nations Pope Francis is about to visit, the Director of the Holy See Press Office said “there is no specific threat” in either country.

Matteo Bruni also affirmed that local authorities have put all security measures in place to guarantee the safety of everyone.

Bruni was speaking during a pre-apostolic journey briefing on Tuesday morning during which he gave a detailed run-down of the Pope’s visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to South Sudan, a visit he had been forced to postpone last July due to health issues.

He noted that the Holy Father will visit the DRC from January 31 to February 3 and then spend two days in South Sudan with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on an ecumenical pilgrimage for peace before returning to the Vatican.
 

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Synod: Ecumenical Prayer Vigil

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-01/christian-leaders-welcome-ecumenical-prayer-vigil-ahead-of-synod.html
Christian leaders welcome Ecumenical Prayer Vigil ahead of Synod
24 January 2023, 16:54

Representatives of various Christian churches and ecclesial communities share their thoughts on the relationship between synodality and ecumenism in the context of the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil that will precede the XVI General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
By Christopher Wells

Representatives of Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, and Protestant churches and ecclesial communities took part in a press conference presenting the Ecumenical Vigil of Prayer that Pope Francis has proposed will take place ahead of next fall’s General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-ukrainian-council-churches-religious-organizations-peace.html

Pope upholds Ukrainian interfaith efforts as concrete testimony of peace
25 January 2023, 10:50

Pope Francis receives a delegation of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations and thanks members for their witness of peace and for their efforts to pave the way to the common good of all people in war-torn Ukraine.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis thanked members of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) for their work describing their witness as a “concrete testimony of peace in a country suffering from war.”

Addressing a UCCRO delegation before the General Audience on Wednesday, the Pope upheld the collaboration of the member groups, whom he said, together support those in need, defend the rights of the faithful of all denominations and advocate for the respect of human rights.

“I give thanks to God because this meeting enables me, in some way, to have close contact with the Ukrainian people, who have always been present in my prayers during these months.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2023/january.index.html#speeches
Speeches 2023 January
To the Delegation of the All Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (25 January 2023)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-francis-at-general-audience-apostolic-zeal-is-key.html

Pope at Audience: Every day is a time of grace
25 January 2023, 09:28

During his General Audience, Pope Francis continues his cycle of catecheses on apostolic zeal, and tells the faithful that "each day is a time of grace" and "new opportunity" for those who follow Christ.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

For Christ's followers, every day is a 'time of grace' and new opportunity.

Pope Francis gave this encouragement during his Wednesday General Audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, as he continued his cycle of catecheses on apostolic zeal.

This week, the Holy Father explored  how Jesus himself chose to present His message.

In the synagogue of Nazareth, at the very beginning of his public ministry, the Pope recalled, the Lord revealed that, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy, He came to proclaim Good News to the poor and a year of favour from the Lord.

The Pope said Jesus communicated with certain essential elements, especially joy, freedom, light, healing and awe.

“One cannot speak of Jesus without joy, because faith is a wonderful love story to be shared...”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2023.index.html
Audiences 2023
General Audience of 25 January 2023 - Catechesis. The passion for evangelization: the apostolic zeal of the believer. 3. Jesus teacher of proclamation

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-francis-order-of-malta-message-st-john.html

Pope to Order of Malta: after the divisions, it is time for concord
25 January 2023, 12:30

Pope Francis sends a message to the General Chapter of the Order of Malta, called to live in fidelity to the new Constitutional Charter.
By Alessandro de Carolis

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is holding an extraordinary Chapter General with 111 members called to elect - under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Grand Master Fra' John Dunlap and Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi, the Pope's special delegate - the Grand Commander, the Grand Chancellor and the other top positions, on the basis of the new Constitutional Charter and the new Codex Melitense.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-offers-prayers-and-condolences-after-california-shooting.html

Pope Francis saddened by California shooting
25 January 2023, 14:31

In a telegram sent to Archbishop Gomez of Los Angeles, Pope Francis expresses sadness, offers prayers, and decries a recent California shooting that claimed 11 lives and wounded several others, in Monterey Park, during Lunar New Year celebrations.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis has expressed his great sadness for the tragic shootings that killed eleven people during Lunar New Year in Monterey Park, California, last weekend.

The Holy Father's message came on Wednesday in a telegram sent on his behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and addressed to the Archbishop of Los Angeles, Archbishop José H. Gómez.

In it, he said he was "deeply saddened" to learn of the shooting that took place in the US.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-more-than-ever-today-the-world-needs-the-good-news-of-peace.html

Pope: more than ever today the world needs the Good News of peace
25 January 2023, 15:09

Pope Francis releases his message for World Mission Day 2023 and urges the faithful to join in bringing the Gospel to today’s broken world following the example of the disciples on the way to Emmaus.
By Lisa Zengarini

Looking ahead to the World Mission Day to be observed this year on 29 October, Pope Francis is calling on all Christians to join together in contributing to missionary efforts with their personal witness of the Gospel, heeding the example of the Disciples on the road to Emmaus.

The World Mission Day is observed every year on the last Sunday of October, and in 2023 will be focused on the theme “Hearts on fire, feet on the move”, inspired by the story of the first appearance of Jesus to two of His Disciples after His crucifixion and the discovery of the empty tomb, in the Gospel of Luke (24:13-35).

In his message for the occurrence, released on Wednesday, Pope Francis dwells on three images in the Gospel episode, which he says “reflect the journey of all missionary disciples”.
 
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/01/25/230125c.html
Message of the Holy Father Francis for World Missionary Day, 25.01.2023

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-thanks-families-hosting-youths-participating-in-wyd-2023.html

Pope thanks families hosting youths participating in WYD 2023
25 January 2023, 09:52

Pope Francis sends a video message to Portuguese families who will welcome in their homes the thousands of youths expected at WYD Lisbon 2023, saying their generous hospitality also shows openness to other horizons.
By Lisa Zengarini

Following his video message addressed last week to young people preparing to participate in World Youth Day in Lisbon, Pope Francis has also thanked Portuguese families who will welcome them in their homes during the event.

Over 400,000 young people from across the world have already registered to take part in the WYD on 1-6 August 2023.
 

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Video at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-vespers-christian-unity-week-of-prayer.html
Pope tells all Christians to oppose war and injustice wherever they appear
25 January 2023, 18:11

Pope Francis celebrates Vespers at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with a reflection on how all Christians are asked to reflect on their wrongs and change their perspective, always putting God at the centre.
By Linda Bordoni

The Lord is grieved by our indifference and lack of understanding before sacrilegious violence Pope Francis said during his homily at Vespers on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, and he called for action to oppose war, violence and injustice wherever they begin to appear.

Celebrating the liturgy to mark the end of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the Basilica of Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls, the Pope invited Christians of all denominations to change and walk the path of unity “the Lord has placed before us.”

The Holy Father reflected on the readings of the day that call for change, and noted that “we celebrate the joy of coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ” in days that are so “full of tragic and troubling news reports.”

“We could perhaps easily dispense with such biblical condemnations of the sins of society!  Yet if we are sensitive to the profound unease of the times in which we are living, we should be all the more concerned for what causes suffering to the Lord for whom we live,” he said.

“Since we have gathered in his name, we cannot fail to put his word at the centre of things.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2023.index.html
Homilies 2023
Solemnity of the Conversion of Saint Paul - Celebration of Second Vespers (25 January 2023)