General audience

The Latest

Pope Francis at the November 7, 2018 general audience.

Pope says entrepreneurship needed in face of 'scandalous poverty'

Nov 7, 2018

By Courtney Mares

“If there is hunger on earth, it is not because food is missing!” Pope Francis said in St. Peter’s Square... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience Oct 31, 2018.

Pope Francis calls faithful married love 'revolutionary'

Oct 31, 2018

By Courtney Mares

Faithful married love, in which a husband loves his wife like Christ loves the Church, is “revolutionary,” Pope Francis said... Read more

Pope Francis greets a married couple at a Wednesday General Audience.

Pope Francis: Marriage prep should be more than a few parish meetings

Oct 24, 2018

By Courtney Mares

In his general audience Wednesday, Pope Francis said that engaged couples require “careful preparation” for the lifelong fidelity that marriage... Read more

Pope Francis kisses a child at the general audience on Oct. 10.

Pope Francis: Abortion is like hiring a hitman

Oct 10, 2018

By Courtney Mares

In his general audience Wednesday, Pope Francis said that abortion “suppresses innocent and helpless life in its blossoming.” “Is it... Read more

Pope Francis during his general audience in St. Peter's Square June 20, 2018.

Pope Francis: We are God's children, not his slaves

Jun 20, 2018

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis said the ten commandments are not heartless rules imposed on mankind by an oppressive God, but... Read more

Pope Francis walks with young people during his general audience June 13, 2018.

What is the biggest threat young people face? Mediocrity, Pope says

Jun 13, 2018

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the greatest danger modern youth face is not the array of problems that surround them,... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his June 6, 2018 general audience.

Pope Francis: The Church is not just the bishops – it's everyone

Jun 6, 2018

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis Wednesday said that the sacrament of Confirmation is a gift meant to be shared with other people, both... Read more

Pope Francis during his general audience in St. Peter's Square May 23, 2018.

The Holy Spirit is the invisible gift of God, Pope Francis says

May 30, 2018

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis said Wednesday that confirmation is the sacrament in which Catholics are marked with a seal that solidifies their... Read more

Pope Francis baptizes 26 infants in the Sistine Chapel Jan. 10, 2016.

Pope: Nothing can erase baptism, that's why it only happens once

May 9, 2018

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis said Wednesday that nothing can take away a person's baptism or the identity they thereby gain as a... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his April 4, 2018 general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis: We should leave every Mass better than we entered

Apr 4, 2018

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis said the Eucharist is key to living an authentic Christian witness, and that those who leave... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his March 28, 2018 general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis: A person transformed by Christ cannot be corrupt

Mar 28, 2018

By Elise Harris

The Easter Triduum is the most important time of year for Christians, Pope Francis said Wednesday, and stressed that those... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on May 22, 2015.

Mass can't be bought – salvation is free, Pope Francis says

Mar 7, 2018

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis issued a harsh critique of the trend to ask parishioners for a financial contribution in order... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on March 22, 2017.

This little pilgrim got a big blessing from Pope Francis

Mar 3, 2018

By Elise Harris

When pilgrims in the Eternal City hope to get an up-close view of the pope, or even shake his hand,... Read more

Pope Francis venerates the cross on Good Friday 2015.

The first Christian altar was the cross, Pope Francis says

Feb 28, 2018

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis said Wednesday that having Mass centered around the altar is meant to remind faithful that the cross is... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany Jan. 6, 2018.

Mass-goers have a right to a well-prepared homily, Pope says

Feb 14, 2018

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis again offered some reflections and tips for the Liturgy of the Word, saying faithful who attend... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on May 22, 2015.

Pope tells priests to keep homilies brief: 'no more than 10 minutes!'

Feb 7, 2018

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis touched on a topic close to home for both parish priests and people in the pews,... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his April 26, 2017 general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Pope: Mass is for the Eucharist, not pictures. Put the phone away.

Nov 8, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Wednesday a fiery Pope Francis chastised those who spend Mass talking to others, looking at their phone or even... Read more

Pope Francis at The Liturgy of the Lord's Passion at St. Peter's Basilica on April 3, 2015.

Pope Francis prays for victims of Somalia massacre

Oct 18, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Wednesday, Pope Francis offered prayers for the more than 300 victims of a terrorist bombing in the African country... Read more

Pope Francis blesses pilgrims during his Oct. 11, 2017 general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Pope: Christians are never bored – they persevere with love

Oct 11, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis said Christians are never bored or hopeless, but know how to wait patiently – even when... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during his May 31, 2017, general audience.

Christians must be 'missionaries of hope,' Pope Francis says

Oct 4, 2017

By Elise Harris

True Christians are not sad or gloomy, but have the specific task of being bearers of hope, Pope Francis said... Read more