Opus Dei

Pope Francis' message for World Youth Day 2015, which will be celebrated by many dioceses on Palm Sunday, March 29, in preparation for the international World Youth Day in Krakow in 2016.

In his February 11 general audience, Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the family, praising parents who have the generosity to raise a large family.

Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the family in his February 4 general audience. "Last time I spoke about the danger of 'absent' fathers; today I would like to look instead at the positive aspect."

In his January 28 general audience, Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the family, speaking about the importance of the father's role in every family.

With Pope Francis' homily before over 6 million people in Manila's Rizal Park, on Santo Niño Sunday. "We are all God's children. That is what the Santo Niño tells us. He reminds us of our deepest identity."

On January 16, in a Meeting with Families in Manila, Pope Francis warned against a "new ideological colonization" seeking to destroy the family and praised Paul VI for strongly defending openness to life.

On January 14 Pope Francis canonized Joseph Vaz, the first Sri Lankan saint. "Constantly united with the crucified Lord in prayer, he could become for all people a living icon of God's mercy and reconciling love."

On Sunday December 28, feast of the Holy Family, Pope Francis met with 7,000 people belonging to an Italian association for large families.

On Wednesday December 17, his 78th birthday, Pope Francis began a series of general audiences on the topic of the family.

In his November 19 general audience, Pope Francis spoke about the "universal vocation to holiness" stressed by Vatican II: "Holiness is a gift, it is a gift that the Lord Jesus gives us, when He takes us to Himself, clothes us with Himself, and renders us like Himself."