Pope Francis' General Audience:
English summary
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| General Audience in the library of the Apostolic Palace, 25 March 2020 |
A summary of the Pope's catechesis of the General Audience
given on the Solemnity of the Annunciation and the 25th anniversary of
Evangelium Vitae follows.
Dear Brothers and Sisters
Twenty-five years ago today, on the solemnity of the
Annunciation of the Lord, Saint John Paul II issued his Encyclical Evangelium
Vitae on the value and inviolability of human life. The Gospel
of life lies at the heart of Christ’s message, and resonates in a particular
way in the current context of a pandemic that threatens the human family.
With gratitude I call to mind the quiet witness of the many people who today
are doing all they can to help the sick, elderly, poor and lonely. They
are putting the Gospel of life into practice, like Mary who accepted the
angel’s message and then went to visit her elderly kinswoman Elizabeth.
The life we are asked to promote and protect is no abstract idea, but becomes
real flesh and blood in the unborn child, the terminally ill, the refugee and
the outcast. The Church feels in the depths of her heart every threat to
human life, for each person is unique and unrepeatable, in need of solidarity
and fraternal love. Today, I renew the appeal made by Saint John Paul II,
to “respect, protect, love and serve life, every human life! Only in this
way will you find justice, development, freedom, peace and happiness!” (Evangelium
Vitae, 5).
Holy Father's greeting
I greet the English-speaking faithful joining us through the
media, as we continue on our Lenten journey towards Easter. Upon you and
your families, I invoke the strength and peace that come from our Lord Jesus
Christ. May God bless you!
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