“Yes, the hope of the world is in fraternity!”, assured Pope Francis this December 31, 2024, during the celebration of the first vespers of the Solemnity of Saint Mary, Mother of God and the Te Deum of gratitude for the year passed.
From St. Peter’s Basilica, the Holy Father he reflected on the motto of the Jubilee 2025, “Pilgrims of Hope”, highlighting that one of the key paths for all Catholics in the new year is to live “fraternity” in a special way.
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However, the Pope raised an important question: “Does this perspective have a foundation? “Is the hope of a fraternal humanity just a rhetorical slogan or does it have a ‘rock’ foundation on which something stable and lasting can be built?”
The Holy Mother of God gives us the answer
“The answer is given to us by the Holy Mother of God, showing us Jesus,” said Pope Francis.
According to Francis, Mary teaches that “the hope of a fraternal world is not an ideology,” but has as its pillar Christ himself, “the incarnate Son, sent by the Father so that we can all become his children, and therefore, brothers and sisters among us.”
In addition, he assured the end of the year 2024 is also a time to give thanks, and be happy to live this time “celebrating the Holy Mother of God.” “She, who keeps the mystery of Jesus in her heart, also teaches us to read the signs of the times in the light of this mystery.”
A look at the Jubilee of Hope 2025
The Holy Father also highlighted the effort made in Rome to prepare for the 2025 Jubilee, thanking the workers and authorities for their dedication. However, he emphasized that the most important workshop is not in the physical works, but in the heart of each person.
“This workshop is one in which, every day, I will allow God to change in me what is not worthy of a son—change!—what is not human, and in which I will commit, every day, to live as brother and sister of my neighbor,” he exhorted.
Finally, Pope Francis asked for the intercession of the Virgin Mary to advance together on the path of fraternity and hope.
“May our Holy Mother help us to walk together, as pilgrims of hope, along the path of fraternity. The Lord bless us, all of us; forgive us our sins and give us the strength to continue forward on our pilgrimage in the coming year. Thank you,” he concluded.
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.