Vatican City, Feb 1, 2016 / 10:33 am
Christ-like obedience, the "terrorism of gossip", and hope for future vocations were some of the themes Pope Francis addressed during a Monday audience marking the end of the Year for Consecrated Life.
Some 5,000 religious men and women attended the audience to mark the end of the year dedicated to the consecrated vocation, which ends Tuesday.
Setting aside the prepared text, Pope Francis delivered an off-the-cuff address Feb. 1 in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, which centered on what he said were three of the core pillars of the religious life: prophecy, nearness to others, and hope.
Pope Francis began by reflecting on obedience of the consecrated person, which is essentially "prophecy."