Pope Francis remembered in his words after the Angelus the new Blessed Father Giuseppe Beotti, the victims of the explosion in Stepanakert, martyred Ukraine, the Synod of Bishops, and St. Therese of the Child Jesus. For all of them, he asked for prayers, especially the prayer of the Rosary, which today begins its month, and commitment to the missions.
After the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters,
Yesterday, Father Giuseppe Beotti, killed in hatred of the faith in 1944, was beatified in Piacenza. He was a pastor according to the heart of Christ who did not hesitate to give his life to protect the flock entrusted to him. A round of applause for the new blessed!
In these days, I am following the tragic situation of the displaced people in Nagorno-Karabakh. I renew my appeal for dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and hope that talks between the parties, with the support of the international community, might foster a lasting agreement to bring the humanitarian crisis to an end. I assure you of my prayers for the victims of the explosion in the fuel depot that occurred near the city of Stepanakert.
Today begins the month of October, the month of the Rosary and of the missions. I urge everyone to experience the beauty of praying the Rosary, contemplating the mysteries of Christ with Mary and invoking her intercession for the needs of the Church and of the world. Let us pray for peace in battered Ukraine and in all those lands wounded by war. Let us pray for the evangelization of peoples. And let us also pray for the Synod of Bishops during this month in which the first Assembly on the theme of synodality in the Church takes place.
Today is the feast of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, the Little Flower, the saint of confidence, the saint of confidence in ourselves. This coming 15 October, an Apostolic Exhortation on her message will be published. Let us pray to Saint Thérèse and to Our Lady: may Saint Thérèse help us have confidence and to work for the missions.
I greet all of you, people from Rome and pilgrims from Italy and from many countries. In particular, I greet the group from the Shrine of Our Lady of Revelation from Three Fountains in Rome, the faithful from a parish in Catania, the confirmation candidates from Porto Sant’Elpidio, the scouts from Afragola and the confraternities from Arcieri Storici and the Knights of Saint Sebastian. I extend a thought and encouragement to the National Association of Women who have had Breast Operations.
As you can see, beside me today are five children who represent the five continents. I would like to announce along with them that on the afternoon of November 6, in Paul VI Hall, I will meet with children from all over the world. “Let us learn from boys and girls” is the theme for this event, sponsored by the Dicastery for Culture and Education. It will be a meeting that will manifest the dream each of us has: to retrieve the pure sentiments of children for the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children. Children teach us how to be transparent in relationships, how to spontaneously welcome those who are strangers, and how to respect all of creation. Dear children, I too look forward to learning from all of you!
I wish all of you a good Sunday. And please, do not forget to pray for me. Enjoy your meal and arrivederci!
