General audience

The Latest

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience Dec. 13, 2023, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: ‘The Christian must be open to the word of God and to the service of others’

Dec 13, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis on Wednesday closed his catechetical series on apostolic zeal, delivered during his recent general audiences. Read more

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience on Dec. 6, 2023, in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican.

Pope Francis at general audience: ‘The Spirit is the protagonist’ of evangelization

Dec 6, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis’ catechetical series on the essential components of the proclamation of the Gospel culminated with a fourth and final... Read more

Pope Francis greets members of the public attending his weekly general audience in Paul VI Hall in Vatican City on Nov. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis: Technological focus on efficiency dehumanizes today’s society

Nov 29, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

The desire for efficiency “absorbs the uniqueness of each into a bubble of uniformity,” Pope Francis warned. Read more

Pope Francis speaks at his Wednesday audience in Paul VI Hall on Nov. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis says he is ‘still not well,’ has aide read general audience speech

Nov 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis, who turns 87 in December, spoke softly into a microphone as he explained that he was “still not... Read more

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on Nov. 15, 2023.

Pope Francis: The Gospel is universal

Nov 22, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

During his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis highlighted the universal nature of the Church’s mission to... Read more

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on Nov. 15, 2023.

Pope Francis: Complaining Christians do not give a credible witness to the Gospel

Nov 15, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“Humanity abounds with brothers and sisters waiting for a word of hope,” Pope Francis said in St. Peter’s Square on... Read more

Pope Francis waves to the crowds at his general audience on Nov. 8, 2023.

Pope Francis: Secularized world is ‘invitation to communicate the joy of the Gospel’

Nov 8, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis on Wednesday drew upon the example of Venerable Servant of God Madeleine Delbrêl as a testament to conversion... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience at St. Peter's Square on Oct. 18, 2023.

Pope Francis stresses need to put Jesus at the center of our lives

Oct 18, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

At the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 18, the pope announced that Oct. 27... Read more

Josephine Bakhita.

Pope Francis highlights St. Josephine Bakhita’s example of forgiveness

Oct 11, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

The Sudanese-Italian saint’s life story is “an existential parable of forgiveness,” the pope said Wednesday. Read more

Pope Francis smiles during his general audience in St. Peter's Square Sept. 27, 2023.

Europe needs hope, Pope Francis says

Sep 27, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“How can we welcome others if we ourselves do not first have a horizon open to the future?” the pope... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 20, 2023.

Pope Francis lauds Catholic saint who fought to end slavery in Africa

Sep 20, 2023

By Courtney Mares

St. Daniele Comboni witnessed “the horror of slavery” as a missionary in the mid-19th century in what is now Sudan. Read more

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience on Sept. 20, 2023.

Pope Francis appeals for peace in Nagorno-Karabakh: ‘Silence the weapons’

Sep 20, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Speaking to more than 15,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said Wednesday that he was troubled by the... Read more

Pope Francis gives his general audience address in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sept. 13, 2023.

Pope Francis highlights life of service of Venezuelan blessed at general audience

Sep 13, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis on Wednesday presented the life of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros as an example of the Gospel in... Read more

Pope Francis greets newly married couples at the general audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Aug. 30, 2023.

Pope Francis: St. Kateri Tekakwitha is an example of patience in suffering

Aug 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Kateri Tekakwitha’s life shows us that every challenge can be overcome if we open our hearts to Jesus,” Pope Francis... Read more

Pope Francis smiles at pilgrims during his Wednesday general audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Aug. 9, 2023.

Pope Francis: Mary ‘never keeps us waiting’

Aug 9, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said he likes to invoke the Virgin Mary under the title of “Our Lady ‘in haste’” because of... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square on June 28, 2023.

Pope Francis: St. Mary MacKillop evangelized through Catholic education

Jun 28, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Commenting on the late June weather, Francis asked pilgrims at the start of the event “to be a little patient... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St Peter’s Square on May 31, 2023.

Pope Francis praises Matteo Ricci for proclaiming the Gospel in China

May 31, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope dedicated his entire catechesis to sharing the life of Venerable Matteo Ricci, a 16th-century Jesuit missionary in China. Read more

Pope Francis spoke about apostolic zeal and the example of Korean martyr St. Andrew Kim Taegon at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on May 24, 2023.

Pope Francis: St. Andrew Kim Taegon teaches us ‘we must not give up’

May 24, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“No matter how difficult the situation may be ... we must not give up,” Pope Francis said. Read more

Pilgrims wave a Chinese flag at the general audience with Pope Francis, Oct. 12, 2022.

Pope Francis: Pray that the Gospel can be freely shared in China

May 24, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

On May 24, the Catholic Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for China. Read more

Pope Francis takes a telephone call during the May 17 General Audience.

Pope Francis receives phone call during general audience

May 17, 2023

By Courtney Mares

After the pope greeted English-speaking pilgrims at his public audience on May 17, one of his assistants walked over to... Read more