General audience

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Pope Francis during the weekly general audience at St. Peter's Square on Oct. 9, 2024.

Pope: ‘Prohibitions of the Spirit’ ensure Church unity is not driven by personal viewpoints

Oct 9, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Continuing his catechesis on the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Church, the pope emphasized that unity cannot be... Read more

Pope Francis during the 500th general audience of his pontificate, held in St. Peter’s Square on Sept. 25, 2024, spoke about pornography and how to avoid the temptation to sin.

Pope Francis condemns pornography as ‘a language of the devil’

Sep 25, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis spoke about pornography and how to avoid the devil’s temptation to sin via the internet during his 500th... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.

Pope Francis says the Catholic Church is ‘more alive’ outside of Europe

Sep 18, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In his first general audience since returning from the longest international trip of his pontificate, the pope expressed gratitude to... Read more

Pope Francis continued a series of lessons on the Holy Spirit during his weekly meeting with the public in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Aug. 21, 2024.

Pope Francis: Living the fruits of the Holy Spirit helps us spread holiness

Aug 21, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

During his general audience in the Vatican, Pope Francis spoke about the Holy Spirit, focusing on the fruits of being... Read more

Together with the Sunday Angelus and the principal celebrations of the liturgical year, the pope’s general audiences constitute the spiritual heart of his regular Petrine teaching office.

What does a general audience with Pope Francis consist of?

On Aug. 7, Pope Francis resumed general audiences at the Vatican. Here’s an explanation of the nature and purpose of... Read more

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican during his Wednesday general audience on Aug. 7, 2024.

Pope Francis: ‘All things are possible’ when we invite God into our lives

Aug 7, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Francis’ reflections marked his fifth catechesis on the theme “The Spirit and the Bride: The Holy Spirit Guides the People... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

Pope Francis: Drug cartels are ‘traffickers of death’ and ‘murderers’

Jun 26, 2024

By Courtney Mares

“We cannot ignore the evil intentions and actions of drug dealers and traffickers. They are murderers!” Pope Francis said in... Read more

Pope Francis gives a thumbs up to those gathered at his general audience on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

At general audience, Pope Francis explains the correct use of Christian freedom

Jun 5, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Speaking in St. Peter’s Square during his weekly public audience, the pope gave the second lesson in a series of... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims as he arrives at his general audience on Wednesday, May 29,  2024, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Pope Francis opens new catechetical cycle on Holy Spirit’s role in salvation

May 29, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Titled “The Spirit and the Bride: The Holy Spirit Guides God’s People Toward Jesus Our Hope,” the new cycle will... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on May 15, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis at general audience: ‘Love is charity’

May 15, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Pointing to the Sermon on the Mount and repeating twice “love your enemy,” the pope noted that this teaching “embraces... Read more

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square during his Wednesday general audience on May 8, 2024.

Pope Francis: Hope ‘is a gift that comes directly from God’

May 8, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“Christians have hope not through their own merit. If they believe in the future, it is because Christ died and... Read more

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for his Wednesday general audience on April 24, 2024.

Pope Francis: Theological virtues are the ‘fundamental attributes’ of a Christian life

Apr 24, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Holy Father bolstered his analysis by looking to the legacy of St. John Paul II. Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his general audience on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Pope Francis: ‘A Christian without courage’ is ‘a useless Christian’

Apr 10, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“A Christian without courage, who does not turn his own strength to good, who does not bother anyone, is a... Read more

Pope Francis holds a rosary and New Testament that belonged to a slain 23-year-old Ukrainian soldier as he appeals for peace during his general audience on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

Pope Francis makes peace appeal while holding rosary of slain Ukrainian soldier

Apr 3, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Speaking in St. Peter’s Square on April 3, the pope revealed that the rosary belonged to a boy named Oleksandre,... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square gathered for his weekly general audience on April 3, 2024.

Pope Francis on Gaza conflict: ‘Without justice, there is no peace’

Apr 3, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The pope buttressed his plea with a catechesis focused on the virtue of justice, noting that it is the building... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gather in Paul VI Audience Hall for his Wednesday general audience on March 27, 2024.

Amid Holy Week, Pope Francis points to ‘beautiful testimony’ of fathers who lost daughters

Mar 27, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Holy Father called attention to two men present at his general audience in the Paul VI Hall on Wednesday,... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on March 20, 2024.

Pope Francis highlights importance of prudence, calls for end to war

Mar 20, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“War is always a defeat. You can’t go on in war. We must make all efforts to negotiate, to negotiate,... Read more

Pope Francis appeared in a wheelchair at his general audience on Feb. 28, 2024.

Pope Francis: ‘Of all vices, pride is the great queen’

Mar 6, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“Those who give in to this vice are far from God, and the correction of this evil requires time and... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his Wednesday general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican on Feb. 28, 2024.

Pope Francis, weakened by ‘a bit of a cold,’ has aide read reflection before hospital visit

Feb 28, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The pope did not walk to his chair in the Paul VI Audience Hall on Wednesday as he normally does. Read more

Pope Francis delivers an address during his Wednesday general audience on Feb. 14, 2024, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Sloth is a ‘very dangerous temptation’ akin to apathy

Feb 14, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

During his Feb. 14 Wednesday general audience, Pope Francis reflected on the human dimension of the vice of acedia, more... Read more