General audience

The Latest

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

Pope Francis at his general audience on May 17, 2023 (left) and a painting of St. Francis Xavier in the Church of the Gesù in Rome (right).

Pope Francis: Share the Gospel with zeal like St. Francis Xavier

May 17, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope dedicated his entire general audience to sharing the story of the daring 16th-century saint who risked his life... Read more

Pope Francis and the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Pope Tawadros II, led the general audience at the Vatican on May 10, 2023.

Pope Francis holds general audience with Tawadros II

May 10, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a change from the usual pattern of Pope Francis’ weekly public audience, the two leaders sat together on the... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St Peter’s Square on April 26, 2023.

Pope Francis: Monks and nuns are ‘the beating heart’ of evangelization

Apr 26, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope pointed to the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and other cloistered religious who sustain the life of... Read more

Pope Francis' general audience of April 19, 2023.

Pope Francis: ‘Every Christian is called to the witness of life’

Apr 19, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Persecution of Christians is not just a thing of the past, Pope Francis said. Read more

Pope Francis' General Audience in St. Peter's Square on March 29, 2023.

Pope Francis: ‘The true Christian is one who receives Jesus within’

Mar 29, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“You cannot be Christian only from the outside. No, Jesus must enter and this changes you...” Pope Francis said. Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on March 22, 2023.

Pope Francis: Christian witness requires consistency between how one lives and what one proclaims

Mar 22, 2023

By Courtney Mares

To effectively witness to the Gospel, Christians need to be consistent in what they believe, how they live, and what... Read more

Pope Francis at his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on March 15, 2023

Pope Francis: A Christian life based on achieving higher positions is ‘pure paganism’

Mar 15, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“When you conceive of the Christian life as an advancement, that the one above commands others ... that is not... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims from the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square on March 8, 2023.

Pope Francis: There is no option to be passive Catholics when it comes to evangelization

Mar 8, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“Every baptized person … whatever his position in the Church or level of education in the faith, is an active... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience in Paul VI Hall on Feb. 15, 2023.

Pope Francis: Bring the Gospel into the world without becoming worldly

Feb 15, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“For the Church, falling into worldliness is the worst thing that can happen,” the pope said. Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience in Paul VI Hall on Jan. 25, 2023.

Pope Francis unpacks Jesus’ good news: ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled’

Jan 25, 2023

By Zelda Caldwell

Pope Francis told Christians Wednesday that if they want to understand Jesus they should pay close attention to the “good... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience in Paul VI Hall on Jan. 18, 2023.

Pope Francis: Jesus is ‘the unsurpassed model of evangelization’

Jan 18, 2023

By Courtney Mares

At his weekly public audience, Pope Francis said that one of the best images to represent Jesus’ style of life... Read more

Pope Francis stops to pray before an image of Our Lady and the Child Jesus during his weekly general audience on Jan. 11, 2023.

Pope Francis: We don’t have to be perfect to evangelize

Jan 11, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Here is the message for us: we do not have to wait until we are perfect and have come a... Read more

Pope Francis at the Wednesday general audience on Dec. 28, 2022.

Pope Francis: The manger ‘is the throne of our King’

Dec 28, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

“The manger and the cross, this is the throne of Jesus,” Pope Francis said. Read more

Pope Francis looking at images from Ukraine at the general audience, Dec. 21, 2022

Pope Francis: Let us think of the Ukrainian children without heat this Christmas

Dec 21, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has urged Catholics not to forget the many children in Ukraine this Christmas who are suffering without electricity... Read more

Pope Francis arriving at the general audience at the Vatican, Dec. 14, 2022

This is why Pope Francis wants you to spend less money this Christmas

Dec 14, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis is inviting everyone to have “a more humble Christmas” this year. Read more

Pope Francis speaking at the general audience at the Vatican, Dec. 14, 2022

Pope Francis: Remain vigilant against pride and ‘well-mannered demons’

Dec 14, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis encouraged Christians Wednesday to be vigilant against spiritual pride and the temptations of “well-mannered demons.” Read more

Pope Francis speaking at the general audience on St. Peter's Square, Nov. 9, 2022

Pope Francis: Bahrain trip ‘a new step’ in Christian-Muslim dialogue

Nov 9, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

“The first visit of a pope in Bahrain represents a new step on the journey between Christian and Muslim believers... Read more

Pope Francis arriving for the general audience on St. Peter's Square, Oct. 26, 2022

‘Lazy, tepid, sad’: Pope Francis explains how desolation can be turned to good

Oct 26, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis explained on Wednesday how times of spiritual desolation — described by St. Ignatius of Loyola as feelings of... Read more