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