As he began his General Audience in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis was greeted with cheers.
During his catechesis, the Pope focused on the idea of hope. He specifically reflected on the hope that comes from Jesus' cross following His resurrection. Pope Francis encouraged all pilgrims to reflect on where their hope comes from.
POPE FRANCIS
Today, then, let us look to the tree of the cross so that hope may sprout in us: that everyday virtue, that silent, humble virtue, but that virtue that keeps us on our feet and helps us to move forward. Without hope one cannot live. We must think, where is my hope?
In order to find this hope, the Pope encouraged pilgrims to get rid of distractions both in and outside of their hearts.
POPE FRANCIS
We have so many useless things in our hearts and also outside the heart. Look at your stuff. Look at the stuff. Say, this is useful, useless, useful and clean it up. Look at the stuff in your soul. You laugh, but it's true. Look at the stuff in your soul. How many useless things do you have? How many stupid illusions? Let's go back to simplicity, to real things.
Before closing his General Audience with a blessing, Pope Francis also remembered all those affected by war, especially mothers who have lost their children.
POPE FRANCIS
As I look at Mary, Our Lady in front of the cross, my thoughts go to the mothers, the mothers of the Ukrainian and Russian soldiers who have died in the wars. They are mothers of dead children. We pray for these moms.
In a special way, the Pope also remembered all victims of war and violence. He once again asked for prayers for these people and for a conversion of hearts to peace.
KG
