Pope Francis at General Audience: Church is our Mother
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience in St Peter’s Square
on Wednesday. The Holy Father continued his catechetical reflections on the Church,
focusing on the image of the Church as Mother. The Pope also greeted pilgrims from
several countries, including England, Wales, Kenya, Malta and the United States. Below,
please find the full text of the official English-language summary of Pope Francis’
catechesis, as well as his words of greeting to English-speaking pilgrims and visitors.
Listen:
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Dear
Brothers and Sisters: today I wish to continue our catechesis on the Church by reflecting
on an image used by the early Fathers and the Second Vatican Council: the Church as
our Mother. By reflecting on the human experience of maternity, we understand that
the Church is like our own Mothers. First, like our Mothers, the Church gives us
the gift of life. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we are reborn as children of
God and receive his life. While faith is a personal act, we also recognize that faith
comes to us through others – our families and communities who teach us how to believe.
Second, like our Mothers, the Church nourishes us, helps us to grow, teaches us the
path to follow, and accompanies us in life, especially in our illnesses and sufferings,
through the Sacraments and the Word of God. Third, it is also our mission to go forth
and share in the maternity of the Church by bringing others to a life of faith. And
so we ask ourselves, do we love the Church as our Mother, who helps us to grow as
Christians? And how do we go beyond ourselves in order to bring Christ to others?
As faithful children, let us bring the light of Christ to the ends of the earth.
I
offer an affectionate greeting to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present
at today’s Audience, including those from England, Scotland, Wales, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden, Germany, Malta, Kenya and the United States. May your stay in the Eternal
City increase your love for Christ and his Church, our Mother. God bless you all!