General audience

The Latest

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his May 3, 2017, general audience in St. Peter's Square.

After visit, Pope Francis says Egypt is a 'sign of hope'

May 3, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis recalled his recent visit to Egypt, saying that given its rich biblical and cultural history, the... Read more

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

Pope Francis: Everything passes – except God's love for us

Apr 26, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Wednesday Pope Francis said Christian hope, rather than coming from the empty promises of other human beings, is rooted... Read more

Pope Francis arrives to his March 22, 2017 general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis: When we want to give up, God helps us persevere

Mar 22, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis said each person must strive to imitate the perseverance and consolation of God, which not only... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience with pilgrims from China in St. Peter's Square on March 15, 2017.

What Pope Francis did when guards tried to stop these Chinese pilgrims

Mar 15, 2017

Pope Francis greeted and blessed a group of pilgrims from China who broke protocol and approached him during the Wednesday... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his March 15, 2017 general audience in St. Peter's Square.

How to love well according to Pope Francis: it starts with God

Mar 15, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Wednesday Pope Francis warned against the hypocrisy that comes from believing that the ability to genuinely love others is... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square for a Jubilee of Mercy audience June 18, 2016.

Lent isn’t just about penance – it’s also a time of hope, Pope Francis says

Mar 1, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis said that while Lent is certainly a time of mortification, it’s also a journey of... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience May 28, 2014.

This is the one thing Pope Francis says you can brag about

Feb 15, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

As children we are taught that bragging is bad, especially when we do it to people who have less than... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his Feb. 3, 2016 general audience in St Peter's Square.

The Resurrection is more than a wish – it's a reality, Pope Francis says

Feb 1, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Wednesday Pope Francis said the Christian belief in the Resurrection of Christ and in our own resurrection at the... Read more

Pope Francis arrives in St. Peter's Square for the general audience Sept. 21, 2016.

Trusting in God means letting go of what we want, Pope says

Jan 25, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Wednesday Pope Francis said having total faith and trust in God means recognizing that he always knows and wants... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square April 13, 2016.

Pope Francis: having an abortion to keep your figure is a big problem

Jan 11, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis issued strong words against worshipping idols, cautioning against the false hope that beauty, wealth and power... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to pilgrims during his Dec. 14, 2016, general audience.

Pope: the world desperately needs hope – and we are the messengers

Dec 14, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis Wednesday spoke about the hope that the Child Jesus brings at Christmastime, saying it is our duty to... Read more

Pope Francis laughing outside of St. Peter's Basilica during the general audience on April 1, 2015.

Pope Francis: Never forget to smile, even when life is hard

Dec 7, 2016

By Elise Harris

For Pope Francis, one of most needed virtues of modern time is hope, which is something he said must never... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his Nov. 30, 2016, general audience in the Paul VI Hall.

We have to pray for both the living and the dead, Pope Francis says

Nov 30, 2016

By Elise Harris

In his last set of catechesis on mercy, Pope Francis focused on the works of praying for the living and... Read more

Pope Francis arrives in St. Peter's Square for the general audience Sept. 21, 2016.

Pope Francis: we all have doubts, but living the faith helps

Nov 23, 2016

By Elise Harris

While the Jubilee might be over, Pope Francis hasn’t stopped talking about mercy, telling faithful Wednesday that the works of... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his Nov. 16, 2016, general audience.

Pope reminds Catholics to practice what they preach

Nov 16, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

The spiritual works of mercy – especially teaching the faith and putting up with the annoyances of others – are... Read more

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

Pope Francis: don't interrupt others – it won't end well

Oct 22, 2016

By Elise Harris

Dialogue is a key element of mercy, Pope Francis said Saturday, explaining that when we interrupt others in order to... Read more

Pope Francis meets with former prostitutes assisted by the Pope John XXIII Community in Rome Aug. 12, 2016.

God’s mercy overcomes human desperation, Pope Francis says

Sep 28, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis said that Jesus’ salvific mission reaches its culmination on the Cross in his conversation with the... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his Aug. 31 2016, general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Have the courage to ask for forgiveness, Pope Francis says

Aug 31, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis stressed the importance of having the courage to recognize our sins and ask God for forgiveness,... Read more

Pope Francis leads pilgrims in praying for the victims of an earthquake in Italy during his Aug. 24, 2016, general audience.

Pope tosses audience speech, prays rosary for victims of Italy quake

Aug 24, 2016

By Elise Harris

Instead of giving the usual catechesis during his Wednesday general audience, Pope Francis decided to postpone the speech, leading pilgrims... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his June 30, 2016 Jubilee general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Mercy without works is dead, Pope Francis says

Jun 30, 2016

By Elise Harris

In his Jubilee general audience for the month of June, Pope Francis focused his speech on the works of mercy... Read more