Pope Francis December 2020

For a life of prayer

The heart of the Church’s mission is prayer.

Prayer is the key for us to be able to enter into dialogue with the Father.

Every time we read a short passage from the Gospel we hear Jesus speaking to us.

We have a conversation with Jesus.

We listen to Jesus and we reply.

And this is prayer.

By praying, we change reality.

And we change our hearts.

Our heart changes when we pray.

We can do many things, but without prayer, it does not work.

We pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ be nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer.

In silence, everyone, each one in heartfelt prayer.

Artificial intelligence is at the heart of the epochal change we are experiencing.

Robotics can make a better world possible if it is joined to the common good.

Indeed, if technological progress increases inequalities, it is not true progress.

Future advances should be oriented towards respecting the dignity of the person and of Creation.

Let us pray that the progress of robotics and artificial intelligence may always serve humankind… we could say, may it “be human.”

No one has been baptized a priest or a bishop. We have all been baptized as lay people.

Lay people are protagonists of the Church.

Today, it is especially necessary to create broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church.

And we must emphasize the feminine lay presence because women tend to be left aside.

We must promote the integration of women, especially where important decisions are made.

We pray that by the virtue of baptism, the laity, especially women, may participate more in areas of responsibility in the Church, without falling into forms of clericalism that diminish the lay charism.

We are squeezing out the planet’s goods. Squeezing them out, as if the earth were an orange.

Countries and businesses from the global north have enriched themselves by exploiting the natural resources of the south, creating an “ecological debt.” Who is going to pay this debt?

In addition, this “ecological debt” is increased when multinationals do abroad what they would never be allowed to do in their own countries. It’s outrageous.

Today, not tomorrow; today, we have to take care of Creation responsibly.

Let us pray that the planet’s resources will not be plundered, but shared in a just and respectful manner.

No to plundering; yes to sharing.

The life of sailors or fishermen and their families is very difficult.

Sometimes they are victims of forced labour or are left behind in distant ports.

The competition of industrial fishing and the problem of pollution make their work even more complicated.

Without the people of the sea, many parts of the world would starve.

Let us pray for all those who work and live from the sea, among them sailors, fishermen and their families.

The family ought to be protected.

It faces many dangers: the fast pace of life, stress…

Sometimes, parents forget to play with their children.

The Church needs to encourage families and stay at their side, helping them to discover ways that allow them to overcome all of these difficulties.

Let us pray that today’s families may be accompanied with love, respect and guidance, and especially, that they may be protected by the State.

We pray that those suffering from addiction may be properly helped and accompanied

Surely, you’ve heard about the drama of addiction.

And… have you also thought about the addiction to gambling, to pornography, to the internet… and the dangers of virtual space?.

Supported by the “Gospel of Mercy” we can alleviate, care for and heal the suffering associated with new kinds of addiction

Let us pray together that the Church in China may persevere in its faithfulness to the Gospel and grow in unity.

Today, the Church in China looks to the future with hope.

The Church wants Chinese Christians to be truly Christians, and to be good citizens.

They should promote the Gospel, but without engaging in proselytism, and they need to achieve the unity of the divided Catholic community.

We pray that the cries of our migrant brothers and sisters, victims of criminal human smuggling and human trafficking, may be heard and considered.

Migrants are often victims of criminal human smuggling and human trafficking.

Among other causes, this happens because of corruption on the part of people willing to do anything for financial gain.

The money from their dirty, underhanded business is blood money. I’m not exaggerating: it’s blood money.

We pray that Christians, followers of other religions, and all people of goodwill may promote together peace and justice in the world.

In a divided and fragmented world, I want to invite all believers, and also all people of good will, to reconciliation and fraternity.

Our faith leads us to spread the values of peace and mutual understanding, of the common good.

Thank you.