Pope calls upon families to read the Bible

October 06, 2014

At his Sunday Angelus address, delivered just after the opening of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis called upon families to read the Bible.

“For the family to be able to proceed well, with trust and with hope, it must be nurtured by the Word of God,” he said.

“Today, as the Synod for the Family opens, with the help of the Pauline brothers there is a Bible for every family,” he said as Bibles were distributed to those in attendance. “Not to just put it on a shelf, but to keep it on hand, dip into it often, both individually and together, husband and wife, parents and children, perhaps in the evening, especially on Sundays. In this way the family will grow and walk in the light and the strength of God’s Word.”

Following the Angelus, Pope Francis praised newly beatified Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich as a “faithful disciple of Christ who led an intense spiritual life” and noted that in Italy, October 5 is the “Day for the Demolition of Architectural Barriers” for the disabled. “I encourage everyone who is striving to ensure equal chances in life for all,” he said

Pope Francis also paid tribute to St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a physician who suffered death rather than undergo treatment that would have resulted in the death of her unborn child, as a “holy mother of a family [and] witness to the Gospel of life.”

 

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Further information:

• Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus (Holy See Press Office)
• Pope encourages all families to read the Bible (Vatican Radio)