“in an age that urges us to focus on ourselves and our own interests, Thérèse shows us the beauty of making our lives a gift."

The apostolic exhortation, titled Laudate Deum (“Praise God”), is meant to address what Francis in the document calls the “global social issue” of climate change.

Pope Francis prayed that "the synod be a 'kairos' (moment) of fraternity, a place where the Holy Spirit will purify the church from gossip, ideologies and polarization.

Pope Francis tells the crowd that God is always seeking us and loving us.

"The relic we bless is simply a road sign, a finger that points us to the necessity, the urgency, the requirement to follow the Gospel in a radical way."

In his Angelus, the pope said forgiving is “not a good deed that we can choose to do or not do” but “a fundamental condition for those who are Christians.”

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

Pope Francis on Wednesday encouraged people to look for the quiet goodness in the world.

The pope noted that in the eyes of the world it might appear “absurd” to begin confronting societal problems by prayers on one’s knees of “adoration and reparation,” but that it is always effective.

Despite the incredible devastation and widespread fears that another anti-Christian riot would break out, hundreds of Catholics turned to the Eucharist.

"As Mary shows, the Gospel is communicated in simplicity," the pope said.

Day was a "restless" woman and one who "teaches us that God is not simply a comfort or a form of alienation to turn to amid life's difficulties, but that he abundantly meets our yearning for joy and fulfillment," the pope wrote in the foreword.

Having faith does not mean there will be no difficulties in life, either for individuals or for the church as a whole, Pope Francis said.

"Jesus knows the hearts of each one of you, the successes and the failures, he knows your hearts," Pope Francis said.

"Joy is not hidden, it's not kept under key, we have to look for it," he said, "and that is tiring."

"All of us in life have cried, and we cry still. And there is Jesus with us, he cries with us, because he accompanies us in the darkness that leads us to tears."

The "illusions" of the virtual world "attract us and promise happiness" but later show themselves to be "vain, superfluous things, substitutes that leave us empty inside."

"God is waiting for you and he wants to speak to each of you. Do not be afraid to listen to him and to speak to him, so pray," said the French soccer star.

Portugal will welcome pilgrims from every country around the world for WYD, except for one.

The pope responded to questions from young people around the world in the buildup to WYD 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Over 1,300 groups comprised of more than 28,600 individuals from ac...

Pope Francis affirms that the Eucharist “gives us the courage to go out of ourselves, and to open ourselves to others with love.”

The seminarian said that since he was little he wanted to be a priest.

It has always been an opportunity for young people from all over the world to personally encounter Christ and choose to give themselves completely to his service in the priesthood or in consecrated life.

Pope Francis invited the faithful to remember that “our lives, if we think about it, are filled with miracles.”