At the Apostolic Nunciature in Kinshasa on February 1, Pope Francis heard and responded to the stories of victims of violence in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He encouraged listeners to “say no to violence” and “no to resignation,” to “demilitarize their hearts,” and “say yes to peace” and “yes ...read more

On Wednesday, February 1, the second day of his visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pope Francis gave the homily at Holy Mass at Ndolo Airport in Kinshasa. Read the full text of his homily below:   Homily of His Holiness “Ndolo” Airport (Kinshasa) Wednesday, 1 February 2023   Bandeko, bobóto [Brothers and sisters, ...read more

On January 31, the first day of his apostolic visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Pope Francis gave an address to the president, members of government, diplomatic corps, and religious and civil authorities.  Read the full text of his address below:   Meeting with Authorities and Diplomatic Corps Address of His Holiness ...read more

It was April 11, 2019, in a library at Casa Santa Marta – the Pope’s own home. Selva Kiir, the Catholic president of South Sudan, stood next to Riek Machar, his incoming vice president, as well as other South Sudanese civil leaders. They were surrounded by Catholic, Anglican, and Presbyterian leaders from their country and ...read more

Pope Francis will visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo next week, landing in the capital Kinshasa on January 31. He plans to go as a “pilgrim of peace” to a country with a long history of conflict, but one in which the Church plays a critical peacebuilding role. To discover more, Marie Anne Torres, ...read more

Read the full text of Pope Francis' homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the 55th World Day of Peace on January 1, 2022. ...read more

Read the full text of Pope Francis' homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the 55th World Day of Peace on January 1, 2022. ...read more

? Do you ever get the feeling that you’re not in control of your life? So often we can try to take the driver’s seat, to be in charge of where we’re heading. We can be unsettled when something unexpected happens or disappointed when things don’t go our way. It’s a normal part of being ...read more

Come, Flower of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: save us without delay! When I think of this antiphon I can’t help but think of Mary. In fact, I would consider that this O Antiphon, O Radix Jesse, is inseparable from Mary. But O Radix Jesse, Root of Jesse, is a ...read more

Pope Francis continues his catechesis on discernment by returning to the theme of “desolation.” He says that “desolation is the clearest response to the objection that the experience of God is a form of wishful thinking, a simple projection of our desires,” because “the spiritual life is the relationship with God, the Living One who ...read more