In the first Angelus of the year, Pope Francis gave a brief homily in which he explained the meaning of Mary as “Mother of God.”
The pope said in addition to giving birth to Jesus, thanks to her faith, Mary was the first disciple and that broadens her maternity.
POPE FRANCIS
“As a mother, Mary has a special role – she places herself between her Son Jesus and people in their situations of privation, in situations of poverty and suffering.”
As it was the World Day of Peace, the Holy Father asked governments to be generous to migrants and refugees who escape their countries in search of peace.
POPE FRANCIS
“To get that peace, which is a right of all, many of them are willing to risk their lives on a journey that in most cases is long and dangerous. They are willing to face exhaustion and suffering.”
Despite the cold, it was a feast day in Italy, and many people still gathered in St. Peter's Square – at least 40,000 of them.
