Universal Church

On Sunday, May 25, 2014, Pope Francis celebrated mass in Manger Square in Bethlehem in the presence of more than ten thousand people, among them the representatives of our kehillot.

Rome Reports published a short video clip that summarizes the Pope’s pilgrimage in images.

At the Wednesday, May 28, 2014 general audience Pope Francis spoke about his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Here is the text of his address:

A beautiful short video of Saint John Paul II’s voice.

On the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, the feast of the Jerusalem kehilla, Father Rafic in his homily quoted from the most recent book of Pope Benedict XVI on the Infancy Narratives in the Gospels (see here).

Pope Benedict explains joy in the light of faith.

Throughout the Year of Faith, we will publish short texts from the writings of Pope Benedict and other theologians on faith. We begin here with a short text from Benedict XVI’s letter, Porta Fidei (The Gate of Faith).

Throughout the Year of Faith, we will publish short texts from the writings of Pope Benedict and other theologians on faith. We publish here a second short text from Benedict XVI’s letter, Porta Fidei (The Gate of Faith).

Throughout the Year of Faith, we will publish short texts from the writings of Pope Benedict and other theologians on faith. We publish here a fourth short text from Benedict XVI’s letter, Porta Fidei (The Gate of Faith).

On July 11th, the Pope celebrates the feast day of his patron – St. Benedict. During his first general audience as Pope, back on April 27th, 2005, he explained why he chose that name. He also talked about why he finds the life of St. Benedict so meaningful.

Cardinal Leon Suenens (1904-1996), former Archbishop of Brussels-Malines, Belgium, was one of the fathers at the Second Vatican Council. His influence on the Council was notable and he was close to Pope John XXIII. We publish a text of his on hope and the Holy Spirit.

Three years ago, on the first feast of Saint Joseph that pope Benedict celebrated as Pope, he spoke in his homily on the importance of the Sabbath for the human person. He emphasized the essential nature of rest in the life of modern man who is so often addicted to work. The following is a fragment of the homily.

In preparation for Lent, Pope Francis addressed a letter to all Catholics.

Here is the Pope’s homily for the mass of Christmas eve in the Vatican.

Just before Christmas, Pope Francis addressed a letter to the Christians of the Middle East.

Each Christmas the Pope speaks to the city of Rome and the world on Christmas Day. Here is the message of Pope Francis for Christmas 2015.

Here is the text of Pope Francis' message for the 48th World Day of Peace, which is celebrated on January 1, 2015, with the theme: "No longer slaves, but brothers":

Pope Francis published his message for the 101st World Day of Migrants and Refugees in 2015.

On June 8, 2014, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed Pope Francis and the assembled delegations at the invocation for peace.

On June 8, 2014, Pope Francis addressed the assembled delegations during the invocation for peace. We publish here the full text of his address: