Pope's Angelus message, sent from hospital

Source: Vatican Media

In his Angelus address today, prepared by Pope Francis while he continues his treatment in the Gemelli hospital, the Pope thanked the faithful for their closeness in his "moment of frailty" and urged them to continue praying for peace in the world, just as they pray for him.

"From here, war appears even more absurd," he said, calling in particular for prayers for "tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and Kivu."

The Pope also expressed his gratitude to the doctors and healthcare professionals "for the attention with which they are taking care of me" and reflected on the hidden grace within his illness. "It is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord; at the same time, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share in body and spirit the condition of so many sick and suffering people," he said.

Finally, he expressed his deep appreciation for the prayers rising from the hearts of the faithful across the world. "I feel all your affection and closeness, and at this particular time, I feel as if I am 'carried' and supported by all God's people. Thank you all!"

The Pope assured the faithful of his prayers for them as well. "I pray for you too. And I pray above all for peace," he said.

In his reflection on today's Gospel Pope Francis noted that Jesus makes us reflect on two of the five senses: sight and taste.

Speaking about sight, the Pope explained that Jesus asks us "to train our eyes to observe the world well and to judge our neighbour with charity." He emphasised that only a gaze of care, rather than condemnation, allows fraternal correction to be a true virtue. "Because if it is not fraternal, it is not correction!" he added.

Turning then to taste, Pope Francis recalled Jesus' teaching that every tree is known by its fruit. "The fruits that come from man," the Pope explained, "are, for example, his words, which ripen on his lips." He went on to contrast "rotten fruits" - violent, false, and vulgar words - with "good fruits" - just and honest words that give flavour to our dialogues.

Finally, reflecting on these two aspects, the Pope invited the faithful to examine their own lives: "How do I look at other people, who are my brothers and sisters? And how do I feel looked at by others? Do my words have a good flavour, or are they imbued with bitterness and vanity?

Read the full text of Pope Francis' address here:

Dear brothers and sisters,

In this Sunday's Gospel (Lk 6:39-45), Jesus makes us reflect on two of the five senses: sight and taste.

With regard to sight, He asks us to train our eyes to observe the world well and to judge our neighbour with charity. He says: "Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye" (v. 42). Only with this gaze of care, not condemnation, can fraternal correction be a virtue. Because if it is not fraternal, it is not correction!

With regard to taste, Jesus reminds us that "every tree is known by its own fruit" (v. 44). And the fruits that come from man are, for example, his words, which ripen on his lips, since "for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks" (v. 45). Rotten fruits are violent, false, vulgar words; good ones are the just and honest words that give flavour to our dialogues.

And so we can ask ourselves: how do I look at other people, who are my brothers and sisters? And how do I feel looked at by others? Do my words have a good flavour, or are they imbued with bitterness and vanity?

Sisters and brothers, I am still sending you these thoughts from the hospital, where as you know I have been for several days, accompanied by doctors and healthcare professionals, whom I thank for the attention with which they are taking care of me. I feel in my heart the "blessing" that is hidden within frailty, because it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord; at the same time, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share in body and spirit the condition of so many sick and suffering people.

I would like to thank you for the prayers, which rise up to the Lord from the hearts of so many faithful from many parts of the world: I feel all your affection and closeness and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am "carried" and supported by all God's people. Thank you all!

I pray for you too. And I pray above all for peace. From here, war appears even more absurd. Let us pray for tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Kivu.

Let us entrust ourselves confidently to Mary, our Mother. Happy Sunday, and arrivederci.

LINK

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/03/02/250302a.html