(ONLY VIDEO) During the weekly catechesis, the Pope gave up the floor due to his bronchitis. Don Pierluigi Giroli gave voice to the words of Pope Francis reflecting on the humility of Jesus at birth.
COMPLETE CATECHESIS SUMMARY IN ENGLISH:
Dear brothers and sisters:
In our continuing catechesis on this Holy Year’s theme of “Jesus Christ our Hope”, we now reflect on the humility of the Son of God, who chose to enter our human history not with resounding proclamations but in poverty and simplicity. Born in Bethlehem, a town whose name means “House of Bread”, Jesus – the Bread come down from heaven to satisfy the hunger of the world (cf. Jn 6:51) – is laid in a manger because there is no room for him in the inn. The joyful news of the Saviour’s birth is proclaimed first to the lowly shepherds. Here we see that in God’s plan, “it is the humble and the poor who greet the event of the Incarnation” (Admirabile Signum, 5). Like the shepherds, may we rejoice in the marvel of God’s love, revealed in hiddenness and weakness, and confess our hope in the silent power of that love so that it may transform our lives.
I welcome the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors, especially those from England, Northern Ireland, Malta, Sweden, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and the United States. I greet in particular the seminarians from the Pontificial Irish College and I assure them of my prayers for their studies for the priesthood. With wishes that the present Jubilee of Hope may be for you and your families a time of grace and spiritual renewal. I invoke upon you all the joy and peace of the Lord Jesus.
