Pope Francis reflects on the Holy Spirit and hope

May 31, 2017

Continuing his series of Wednesday general audiences devoted to Christian hope, Pope Francis spoke on May 31 about the Holy Spirit and hope.

“As we prepare to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, our catechesis on Christian hope now turns to the Spirit and his saving work,” the Pope told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “Saint Paul concludes his Letter to the Romans by praying that ‘the God of hope’ will make us ‘abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (Rom. 15:13).”

“As a gift of the Spirit, hope is both an anchor (cf. Heb. 6:18-19) giving us security amid the storms of life, and a ‘sail’ driving us forward towards the safe harbor of eternal life,” Pope Francis continued. “The Spirit bears witness within our hearts to the consoling truth of God’s promises and the inheritance that awaits us as his beloved sons and daughters (cf. Rom 8:16).”

The Pope added:

Filled with this hope, we can become, in the words of Cardinal Newman, “consolers in the image of the Paraclete… advocates, helpers and bringers of comfort” to others.

The Spirit, who brings hope to all creation (cf. Rom. 8:20-22), also inspires in us love and respect for this world in which we live. May this Pentecost find us, like Mary and the Apostles, gathered in prayer, and may the gift of the Holy Spirit make us “abound in hope.”

---

Previous general audiences on hope:

1. Isaiah 40: “Comfort, comfort my people…” (December 7)
2. Isaiah 52: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings…” (December 14)
3. Christ’s birth is the source of hope (December 21)
4. Abraham’s hope against all hope (December 28)
5. Rachel “is weeping for her children”, but... “there is hope for your descendants” (Jer. 31) (January 4)
6. The false hopes of idols (January 11)
7. Jonah: hope and prayer (January 18)
8. Judith, the Courage of a Woman Restores Hope to a People (January 25)
9. The helmet of hope (1 Thess. 5:4-11) (February 1)
10. Hope, Source of Mutual Comfort and Peace (1 Thess. 5:12-22) (February 8)
11. Hope Does Not Disappoint (February 15)
12. For in this hope, we were saved (cf. Rom. 8:19-27) (February 22)
13. Lent as a journey of hope (March 1; no audience March 8, during the Curia’s Lenten retreat)
14. Rejoice in hope (cf. Rom. 12:9-13) (March 15)
15. On Hope Founded in the Word (March 22)
16. Hope against All Hope (March 29)
17. On accounting for our hope (April 5)
18. Hopes of the world and hope of the Cross (cf. John 12:24-25) (April 12)
19. The Risen Christ our Hope (April 19)
20. “I Am with You Always” (April 26; May 3 audience devoted to Pope’s apostolic journey to Egypt)
21. The Mother of Hope (May 10)
22. Mary Magdalen, Apostle of Hope (May 17)
23. Emmaus, the Journey of Hope (May 24)

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• 2017.05.31 General Audience (YouTube Vatican)
• Pope Francis holds General Audience: English Summary (Vatican Radio)