Home » Pope Francis welcomes Jubilee pilgrims: ‘Begin again with hope’

Pope Francis welcomes Jubilee pilgrims: ‘Begin again with hope’

Pope Francis greets pilgrims from his wheelchair during the Saturday Jubilee audience in the Vatican’s Audience Hall, Jan. 11, 2025 / Vatican Media

CNA Newsroom, Jan 11, 2025 / 07:15 am (CNA).

PopeFranciskickedoffthefirstSaturdayJubileeaudienceof2025byurgingpilgrimstoembracehopeasadivinestrengththatenablesnewbeginnings,drawinginspirationfromSt.JohntheBaptist. SpeakingtopilgrimsgatheredintheVatican’saudiencehallonJan.11,thepontiffemphasizedthathopeisnotmerelyacharactertraitbutratheratheologicalvirtuethatrepresents“strengthtobeaskedfor”fromGod. “ManyofyouarehereinRomeas‘pilgrimsofhope,’”PopeFrancissaid. “Indeed,theJubileeisanewbeginning,thepossibilityforeveryonetostartanewfromGod.WiththeJubileewestartanewlife,anewphase.” FaithfulreachouttogreetPopeFrancisashemakeshiswaythroughthecrowdintheVatican’sPaulVIAudienceHallduringthefirstJubileeaudienceof2025.Credit:VaticanMediaThepopehighlightedhowtheLatinword“virtus”meansstrength,explainingthathope,therefore,comesasagiftfromGodratherthanexistinga