Pope reflects on Christ’s new commandment, lauds mothers, pro-life marchers

May 11, 2015

Reflecting on the day’s Gospel reading at Mass (Jn. 15:9-17), Pope Francis devoted his May 10 Regina Caeli address to Christ’s “new commandment” to “love one another as I have loved you.”

“He gave his life for his friends,” said Pope Francis, “friends who had not understood him, who in the crucial moment abandoned, betrayed, and denied him. This says to us that God loves us despite not being worthy of his love.”

“In this way, Jesus shows us the way to follow the path of love,” the Pope added. “The commandment of Christ is new because he first carried it out, he gave his flesh, and so the law of love is written once and for all in the human heart. And how is it written? Written with the fire of the Holy Spirit. And with this same Spirit, that Jesus gives us, we can walk on this road, too.”

Following the praying of the Regina Caeli, the Pope greeted various groups and praised participants in an Italian pro-life march.

Noting that the day is also Mother’s Day in many countries, the Pope said, “We remember with gratitude and affection all mothers … May the Lord bless them all, and may the Mother of God, to whom this month is dedicated, watch over them all.”

 

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Further information:

• Le parole del Papa alla recita del Regina Caeli (Holy See Press Office)
• Regina Coeli - 2015.05.10 (Vatican YouTube)
• Pope Francis at Regina coeli: God bless mothers, everywhere (Vatican Radio)
• Pope greets participants in Italy's March for Life (Vatican Radio)
• Zenit translation