In the Angelus this Sunday, Pope Francis recalled that Jesus is a King who is not “of this world,” since his power is not based on dominion, but “on his true word” that “transforms the world.”
“The world of Jesus, in fact, is the new, the eternal, that God prepares for all by giving his life for our salvation. It is the kingdom of heaven, which Christ brings to earth, pouring out grace and truth,” he highlighted this November 24 to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
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The Holy Father stressed that “it is the voice of the King of the universe, who saves us.”
Before praying the Angelus, Francis reflected on the Gospel of John (18:33-37), where Jesus dialogues with Pontius Pilate before his crucifixion. In this passage, the Holy Father delved into two words that, as he explained, take on a new meaning through the figure of Christ: king and world.
A different king
“The real power of Jesus, the incarnate Word, is in his true word, in his effective word, which transforms the world,” he stated. In his homily, Pope Francis highlighted how Pilate understood kingship from an earthly perspective, but Jesus redefined this concept. “Jesus is king because he is a witness: he is the One who tells the truth,” he stressed.
The Pontiff also recalled that the kingdom of Christ is not based on submission, but on love and dedication. “The world of which Jesus is King rescues creation ruined by evil with the strength precisely of divine love,” he stated. And he added: “Jesus saves creation, because Jesus liberates, Jesus forgives, Jesus gives peace and justice.”
A world transformed by divine love
The second central word in the Pope’s reflection was world. While Pilate’s world is ruled by force and power, Jesus’ world, Francis explained, is completely different. “Pilate’s world is one where the strong triumph over the weak, the rich, the poor, the violent, the meek… Jesus is King, but his kingdom is not of this world.”
The Pope invited the faithful to examine their own lives in light of the kingdom of Christ. “What is your soul like? Is there something heavy in there? Any old guilt? Jesus always forgives. Jesus never tires of forgiving. “This is the Kingdom of Jesus,” he stated.
Francis lamented that Pilate, despite having the incarnate Truth in front of him, did not open to it: “Pilate does not open to the truth, even if he has it in front of him,” he noted. However, he stressed that Christ came into the world precisely for those who listen to his voice. “It is the voice of the King of the universe, who saves us,” he stated.
A personal invitation
The Holy Father encouraged the faithful to reflect on their relationship with Christ as King of their lives. “Can I say that Jesus is my ‘king’? Or do I have other ‘kings’ inside my heart?” he asked. And he added: “Is His Word my guide, my certainty? Do I see in Him the merciful face of God who always forgives?”
Finally, the Pope entrusted those present to the Virgin Mary, asking for her intercession so that everyone can open themselves to the hope of the Kingdom of God: “Let us pray together to Mary, servant of the Lord, as we await with hope the Kingdom of God.”
Diego Lopez Marina
I was born in 1991. I have a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2015 I have worked as a digital journalist. I started my career at the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio. In 2016, I started as an editor at ACI Prensa and I have worked as a web editor since 2018. Starting in 2024, I write the newsletter for social media. I specialize in Catholic news focused on the defense of life and family, international politics, technology, popular culture and the Vatican.