Pope Francis delivers a message during his general audience on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, May 1, 2024 / 09:45 am (CNA).On Wednesday, May 1, Pope Francis addressed an international audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican and reiterated the importance of faith in the Christian life as well as the need to continually pray for "real peace" for the whole world.The Holy Father also deplored war profiteering, decrying the actions of those "making money off death" through huge investments in the production of weapons.Speaking to thousands of people gathered inside Vatican City on an overcast morning on the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, the Holy Father spoke about the three theological virtues, beginning with faith, as part of his ongoing catechesis series on vices and virtues.Pope Francis greets pilgrims attending his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall on May 1, 2024. Credit: Elizabeth Alva/CN...
Pope Francis delivers a message during his general audience on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, May 1, 2024 / 09:45 am (CNA).
On Wednesday, May 1, Pope Francis addressed an international audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican and reiterated the importance of faith in the Christian life as well as the need to continually pray for "real peace" for the whole world.
The Holy Father also deplored war profiteering, decrying the actions of those "making money off death" through huge investments in the production of weapons.
Speaking to thousands of people gathered inside Vatican City on an overcast morning on the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, the Holy Father spoke about the three theological virtues, beginning with faith, as part of his ongoing catechesis series on vices and virtues.
"What is faith?" Pope Francis asked his listeners. "Faith is the act by which the human being freely commits himself to God."
Speaking of men and women who are role models of faith, such as Abraham, Moses, and the Virgin Mary, the pope urged his listeners to also welcome God into their daily lives — freely and completely — in spite of life's difficulties, uncertainties, and tribulations.
"Faith is the first gift to welcome in Christian life: a gift that must be welcomed and asked for daily so that it may be renewed in us. It is seemingly a small gift, yet it is the essential one," he said.
The Holy Father also added that "the great enemy of faith" is fear and not intelligence or reason as many people believe.
Following his catechesis, Pope Francis greeted parish and religious groups from around the world packed into the crowded hall, many of whom brought flags and banners, and asked them to join him in prayer for peace in the world, particularly for those suffering due to natural disasters and conflict.
"Severe flooding has tragically taken the lives of many of our brothers and sisters, injured others, and caused widespread destruction," he said about the severe flooding affecting the people of Kenya. "Even amid adversity we remember the joy of the risen Christ, and I invoke upon you and your families the loving mercy of God our Father."
The Holy Father also reminded his audience to pray for those who are "victims of wars" in Ukraine, Palestine, and Israel, and to not forget the sufferings of the Rohingya refugees and to pray for peace in Myanmar.
"We cannot forget to pray for peace. War is always a defeat. Always," he said. "We ask for real peace for these peoples and for the whole world. Unfortunately, today, the investments that earn the most income are weapons factories. Terrible. Making money off death. We ask for peace."
Pope Francis converses with Metropolitan Agathangelos, director general of the Apostolikí Diakonía of the Greek Orthodox Church, at the Vatican on May 16, 2024. / Credit: Vatican MediaACI Prensa Staff, May 16, 2024 / 16:18 pm (CNA).Pope Francis has placed in young people his hope that Catholics and Orthodox may be "united in diversity" and "break the chains" of antagonism, misunderstanding, and prejudice that have kept them prisoners for centuries.In a Thursday audience, the Holy Father received the director-general of the Apostolikí Diakonía of the Orthodox Church of Greece, Metropolitan Agathangelos, and a delegation from the Theological College of Athens.The Apostolikí Diakonía is the official publishing house and missionary arm of the Orthodox Christian Church of Greece. Since 1936 it has published hundreds of books on Christian theology and tradition, Orthodox spirituality, and biblical studies.At the beginning of his talk given at the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the ...
In an interview with 60 Minutes' Norah O'Donnell, airing this Sunday, Pope Francis took aim at his "conservative critics" in the United States. / Credit: CBS News/Adam VerdugoCNA Staff, May 16, 2024 / 16:58 pm (CNA).In an interview with "60 Minutes" airing this Sunday, Pope Francis takes aim at his "conservative critics" in the United States, reportedly saying a conservative is someone who "clings to something and does not want to see beyond that.""It is a suicidal attitude," the pope said as reported by "60 Minutes," which released a brief clip of the upcoming interview conducted by CBS' Nora O'Donnell. "Because one thing is to take tradition into account, to consider situations from the past, but quite another is to be closed up inside a dogmatic box."The Pope addresses his conservative critics in the church."Conservative is one who clings to something and does not want to see beyond that. It is a suicidal attitude," says Pope Francis. This Sunday on ...
Jessica Tapia displays a sign outside the Garden Grove Unified School District board meeting on behalf of the Teachers Don't Lie program. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Advocates for Faith and Freedom and Jessica TapiaCNA Staff, May 16, 2024 / 18:04 pm (CNA).A Christian teacher settled in court for $360,000 earlier this week after suing a California school district board for firing her after she refused to comply with gender ideology rules that went against her religious beliefs.After refusing to comply with a preferred pronoun rule, Jessica Tapia was fired by the Jurupa Unified School District from her job as a physical education teacher."It ultimately really does come down to my faith and how I believe that it's always worth it to stand for righteousness and fight for truth," Tapia told CNA in a phone call. "And ultimately, I believe the word of God is that truth and is the instructions we've been given to live our life upon. There's really nothing else or no one else that I lea...