The Latest from Pope Francis!
POPE FRANCIS
Sunday, 2 March 2025
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Text prepared by the Holy Father from the hospital
Dear brothers and sisters,
In this Sunday’s Gospel (Lk 6:39-45), Jesus makes us reflect on two of the five senses: sight and taste.
With regard to sight, He asks us to train our eyes to observe the world well and to judge our neighbour with charity. He says: “Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye” (v. 42). Only with this gaze of care, not condemnation, can fraternal correction be a virtue. Because if it is not fraternal, it is not correction!
With regard to taste, Jesus reminds us that “every tree is known by its own fruit” (v. 44). And the fruits that come from man are, for example, his words, which ripen on his lips, since “for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks” (v. 45). Rotten fruits are violent, false, vulgar words; good ones are the just and honest words that give flavour to our dialogues.
And so we can ask ourselves: how do I look at other people, who are my brothers and sisters? And how do I feel looked at by others? Do my words have a good flavour, or are they imbued with bitterness and vanity?
Sisters and brothers, I am still sending you these thoughts from the hospital, whereas you know I have been for several days, accompanied by doctors and healthcare professionals, whom I thank for the attention with which they are taking care of me. I feel in my heart the “blessing” that is hidden within frailty, because it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord; at the same time, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share in body and spirit the condition of so many sick and suffering people.
I would like to thank you for the prayers, which rise up to the Lord from the hearts of so many faithful from many parts of the world: I feel all your affection and closeness, and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am “carried” and supported by all God’s people. Thank you all!
I pray for you too. And I pray above all for peace. From here, war appears even more absurd. Let us pray for tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Kivu.
Let us entrust ourselves confidently to Mary, our Mother. Happy Sunday, and arrivederci.
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The Entire Church Is United in Prayer
Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 with bronchitis, which later developed into pneumonia in both lungs.
On February 24, the Vatican announced that at 9:00 p.m. local time, there would be a Rosary prayed for the Pope in St. Peter’s Square. The first such event was led by the Pope’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Even though the Rosary is prayed in Italian, it is easy to join in with your own language and unite with the Universal Church in prayer for the Holy Father.
To join a livestream of the Rosary being prayed daily for Pope Francis, click the Vatican Media image below.
It will go live daily at the time of the Rosary: 7:30 p.m. in Rome, 2:30 p.m. in Florida.
