The path of priestly formation resembles a eucharistic procession, shaped by a spirit of closeness and devotion, Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis
Christians should make a practice each night of identifying signs of hope, even small ones, that came their way during the day, Pope Francis wrote.
The guiding principle of love extolled by Jesus cuts through confusion around how to uphold God’s commandments to humanity, Pope Francis said.
Young people need “big-hearted educators” to guide them through the complexities of modernity, Pope Francis told leaders in Catholic education.
The closest thing the Church has to a learning certificate for new bishops is a weeklong formation program in Rome — sometimes referred to as the “baby bishops course” — where they spend time with one another, Vatican officials, and the pope himself.
The Catholic Church must put more effort into ensuring that the sacrament of confirmation is not the “sacrament of goodbye” for young people, who receive it and then do not come to Church again until they want to get married, Pope Francis said.
A world that has become “heartless” and indifferent to greed and war, and a Catholic Church in need of revitalizing its missionary joy, need to open themselves up to Christ’s infinite love, Pope Francis wrote.
Because the Holy Spirit specializes in love and unity, Catholic couples should pray regularly for the Spirit to be present in their marriage, Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis called on the faithful to yearn to serve, not thirst for power, as he proclaimed 14 new saints, including Canada-born St. Marie-Léonie Paradis, founder of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, and 11 martyrs.
Pope Francis met a former prime minister of Israel and a former Palestinian foreign minister who believe they have a workable peace plan for the Holy Land.