Full transcript
0:00Leo XIV's visit to France is a huge
0:03success , reminiscent of the most
0:05magnificent pilgrimages of John Paul II
0:08. Millions of people , many young
0:11families , take to the streets to hear
0:14the words of the Holy Father , Leo . But
0:19perhaps the Pope’s most important
0:21words were not spoken to these
0:22beautiful crowds , but during an
0:24intimate meeting with the French
0:26bishops . For it was there that the Pope
0:29strongly urged them . Get involved in
0:32politics . The Church must speak out on
0:36every social issue . Moreover , it is the
0:39Church that has the authority to speak
0:41on these matters , not politicians . In
0:45other words , Leo XIV gave his bishops a
0:47clear signal that they are to be
0:49present in the cultural-political war ,
0:52and furthermore , that the Pope strongly
0:54supports them . And what do Polish
0:57bishops have to say about all this ?
1:02This meeting between the Pope and the
1:04French bishops , which I mentioned in
1:06the introduction , took place in Lourdes
1:08and was a beautiful testimony from our
1:10Holy Father that the Church cannot hide
1:13and cannot remain silent . So , if you
1:16have priests , catechists , or nuns among
1:18your friends , send them this video . Let
1:22them know that the Holy Father in Rome
1:24supports their public actions on behalf
1:26of the Church . Because Leo XIV spoke
1:29again about the fact that we must not
1:31agree to the removal of religion from
1:33schools . We must not agree to abortion
1:36or euthanasia . The Church's loud " no "
1:40must be heard on these matters . He was
1:44speaking in France , but it was as if he
1:46were describing the situation in Poland
1:48, as if he were pointing a finger at
1:50Nowacka or Tusk . Listen to the entire
1:53speech of Pope Leo XIV . I rejoice to
1:59meet with you , dear brothers in the
2:01episcopate , in this place blessed by
2:03heaven , just a few steps from the
2:05grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared
2:07to Saint Bernadette and where you
2:08regularly gather for your plenary
2:10meetings . By choosing this place , you
2:15clearly express your desire to entrust
2:17the Church in France to the care of the
2:20Mother of God , the Immaculate Virgin ,
2:22so as to lead it more surely according
2:24to the Lord's will . For there is no
2:27better path to Jesus than through Mary .
2:30Everything in her leads us toward her
2:31Son . In this way , you maintain the
2:34heritage you received from your fathers
2:36in faith , which reaches back to the
2:38very beginnings of the evangelization
2:40of your country . Devotion to the Mother
2:45of God took root here so deeply that
2:46France was very early called the
2:48kingdom of Mary . This special bond
2:54between your Nation and the Blessed
2:56Virgin found unique expression on
2:58February 10 , 1638 , when France was
3:00solemnly consecrated to her . I was able
3:05to see a beautiful representation of
3:07this event the day before yesterday in
3:09Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris . And my
3:11predecessor , Pius XI , referring to this
3:14vow , declared the Assumption of the
3:16Mother of God the patroness of France .
3:21This long path of trust and tender bond
3:23with Mary is marked by so many forms of
3:26piety and places bearing her name , so
3:28many heard pleas , often offered with
3:31tears , as well as sanctuaries ,
3:33pilgrimages , and cathedrals . It endures
3:37despite all adversities and testifies
3:39to the living faith of the people of
3:41God entrusted to you . Facing the great
3:45challenges of our times , I call upon
3:47you , dear brothers , to have courage ,
3:50boldness , and missionary creativity . Do
3:53not let yourselves be discouraged by
3:55the mistakes , inconsistencies , or even
3:57the failures that have marked the
3:59history of this pilgrim people . Always
4:04have the courage to acknowledge errors
4:06for the love of truth , and the resolve
4:08to bind wounds with the love of the
4:10Good Shepherd who knows his sheep and
4:12calls each one by name . Rise up , then ,
4:17rise up with hope and never cease to
4:19proclaim the Gospel . The history of the
4:23Church in France is rich , incredibly
4:26rich ; it is beautiful and fruitful .
4:28Therefore , it is worth drawing from it
4:30to build the future of both your
4:32communities and your country . The
4:36Church has witnessed the gradual
4:38shaping of your nation , and has even
4:40contributed to this process itself . And
4:44even today , it remains an important
4:47part of its culture , identity , and
4:49vocation before the world . Therefore ,
4:53the voice of the Church has every right
4:55to be present in the political debate
4:57in France . By its very nature , it
5:01possesses a prophetic authority . Even
5:04if it is not always listened to , it
5:06remains a voice that is expected . Even
5:11if it is not always followed ,
5:13especially on essential issues
5:15concerning the foundations of
5:16civilization , it remains an essential
5:18voice , and have no doubts about it . I
5:23know your determination and your
5:24courage . You clearly demonstrated them
5:27during the recent debates concerning
5:29the end of life . I encourage you to
5:33persevere on this path together with
5:34all people of good will who defend
5:36these same values . You currently live
5:42within a very specific context of
5:44secularism in the state , the fruit of a
5:46turbulent history that has now settled ,
5:48and which should allow the Church to
5:50fulfill its mission . The gradual
5:55undermining of this hard-won balance ,
5:57as is happening in other parts of the
5:59world , in the West , should not lead you
6:02to resignation . I encourage you to be
6:06vigilant in defending the freedom and
6:08rights of the Church . I encourage you
6:13to evangelize , to educate toward true
6:15freedom , and to publicly celebrate
6:17Catholic worship , so that love may be
6:19visibly practiced in the name of Jesus
6:22Christ . Pope Francis wrote to you on
6:27the occasion of the reopening of
6:29Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris . He wrote
6:33: " I encourage all the baptized who
6:35will joyfully enter this cathedral to
6:37feel a rightful pride and to reclaim
6:39their heritage of faith . " " This house
6:43where our Heavenly Father dwells is
6:45yours . " " You are its living stones . " "
6:51Those who preceded you in faith built
6:53it for you . " End of quote . Encouraging
6:59the baptized to reclaim their heritage
7:01of faith is part of your mission as
7:03shepherds today , and it serves the
7:05renewal of the Church in France . What
7:10the Lord has given you , Catholics of
7:12France , the eldest daughter of the
7:14Church , is certainly a reason for deep
7:17gratitude . An unbroken procession of
7:20saints continuing down to our own times
7:22. The flourishing of art , literature ,
7:25and science under the influence of
7:27faith and the action of the Holy Spirit
7:29. The steady maturing of the awareness
7:34of the inalienable value of the human
7:36person , their dignity , and the need to
7:38protect their rights and freedoms , as
7:40well as that remarkable missionary zeal
7:42that bore fruit to the ends of the
7:44earth . Yes , Jesus has given you so very
7:50much , and in His love , He desires to
7:52give you even more . Therefore , looking
7:58toward the future , Pope Francis added
8:01to these words : " May the rebirth of
8:03this magnificent cathedral of Notre
8:05Dame be a prophetic sign of the renewal
8:07of the Church in France . " And I , too ,
8:13believe that the time has come when
8:15many of our contemporaries are waiting
8:17to hear the hopeful message of the
8:19Gospel anew and to see the light of the
8:21risen Christ . " The message of peace ,
8:27whose source is Jesus , is all the more
8:30needed today because , both in France
8:32and in other Western countries , we
8:34observe a worrying polarization , a
8:36weakening of brotherhood and mutual
8:38kindness , a decline in the quality of
8:41social life , as well as rising violence
8:43, inequality , and poverty . " In the face
8:52of these challenges , the disappointment
8:54and confusion resulting from the false
8:56promises of a world that would have no
8:59place for God — in which He would be
9:00relegated to the private sphere and His
9:03grace deemed unnecessary for building
9:05the city — are becoming increasingly
9:07clear . Meanwhile , Jesus explicitly told
9:13His disciples : " Apart from me you can
9:16do nothing . " Young people , in
9:18particular , carry within them great
9:21aspirations . They are concerned about
9:24the world being entrusted to them and
9:26look to the future with anxiety , yet at
9:28the same time , they are ready to engage
9:30with courage and generosity in all that
9:32is beautiful , true , and good . Point
9:37them toward the way of the Gospel , the
9:39only sure path , though demanding , which
9:42has already produced such abundant
9:44fruit on this French soil . Yesterday in
9:48Paris , we spoke about the promising
9:50development of the catechumenate , which
9:52involves primarily young adults . It is
9:56a grace and a source of joy for the
9:58entire people of God . This grace must
10:03be nurtured with special care ,
10:05welcoming catechumens into living
10:07communities that practice charity and
10:09live in a spirit of solidarity , while
10:11ensuring them a solid doctrinal
10:13formation rooted in the Word of God , so
10:15they may be able to face challenges and
10:17doubts . For this renewal to take place
10:25and for a new missionary zeal — which I
10:27so deeply desire — to be born in France
10:30, there is only one roadmap , and it is
10:32always the same : making Jesus Christ
10:34better known and more deeply loved ,
10:37truly and passionately , incessantly ,
10:39incessantly and anew . In the current
10:46situation , you face several serious
10:48challenges , one of the most important
10:50being education . It is very valuable
10:54that your assemblies are delving into
10:56these issues . Education is , in fact , an
10:59extremely vast mission that encompasses
11:02many areas of life . I would like to
11:06focus on Catholic education , whose
11:08specific identity is sometimes called
11:10into question today . It is good that
11:13Catholic educational institutions are
11:15widely open also to those who do not
11:17yet share our faith . Such a generous
11:21welcome , combined with respect for the
11:24freedom of conscience of every person ,
11:26carries with it the promise of great
11:28fruitfulness for everyone , for society ,
11:30and for the Church herself . This does
11:37not mean , however , that Catholic
11:39education can in any way abandon its
11:42educational program , a program centered
11:44on Christ and directed toward the
11:46integral development of the human
11:48person in all its dimensions : spiritual
11:51, cultural , intellectual , moral , and
11:53social . It should therefore surprise no
12:00one that in every Catholic institution ,
12:02the opportunity is created to encounter
12:05Jesus Christ and to listen to His word .
12:10Even more so , no student should ever be
12:12marginalized in their classroom simply
12:14because they believe in Jesus . In
12:19recent years , you have determinedly
12:21faced the painful scourge of the abuse
12:23of minors committed by members of the
12:25clergy or within an ecclesial context .
12:30You have taken courageous steps to
12:32respond to this by listening to victims
12:35, seeking the truth , administering
12:36justice , offering forgiveness and
12:38reparations , and firmly committing to a
12:41culture of prevention and protection
12:43against these crimes . I thank you for
12:49what you have done , and I know that
12:50some moments were particularly
12:52difficult for your conference . It is
12:56necessary to consistently follow the
12:58chosen path , while maintaining the
13:00utmost vigilance . At the same time ,
13:03your priests need support and
13:04strengthening . I know that you surround
13:07them with fatherly care . For priestly
13:11vocations to be born , the presbyter
13:13must be expected , welcomed , and loved ,
13:15and his identity , shaped in the image
13:17of Christ , should be clearly shown and
13:20properly understood among the people of
13:22God for the joy of the Gospel and in
13:24service to His mission . It is also on
13:29my heart to mention the sad decline in
13:32the number of vocations to consecrated
13:34life , especially to contemplative life .
13:38It was with pain that I learned of the
13:40recent or impending closure of ancient
13:42and meritorious monastic communities ,
13:44which for centuries radiated their
13:46presence and played a significant role
13:48in history . Giving one's whole life to
13:53Jesus and following Him on such a
13:55demanding path assumes , alongside the
13:57action of grace , a particular
13:59generosity , deep rooting in faith , an
14:02intense interior life , and an
14:03exceptional closeness to the Lord .
14:08These conditions most often mature in
14:10Christian families , which deserve even
14:13greater care and support . Deepening and
14:18strengthening the life of faith in
14:20families is certainly one of the keys
14:22to overcoming many crises that the
14:24Church and our societies are
14:25experiencing today . It is precisely in
14:29the family that a person learns to live
14:32together , respect for others ,
14:34acceptance of diversity , mutual support
14:36, generosity , the selfless gift of self
14:39, and the spirit of sacrifice . Perhaps
14:43this is where the most important
14:45challenge that must be met lies . May
14:49Jesus live fully in the Catholic
14:51families of France and illuminate them
14:53with His presence . And to these
14:56challenges , there is added one more ,
14:58which may cause some anxiety about the
15:00future . The question of unity . In this
15:05context , let me remind you how
15:07essential it is that the disciples of
15:09Jesus find one another in love , in
15:11accordance with His prayer to the
15:13Father , that they may all be one , so
15:15that the world may believe that You
15:17have sent me . The Church in France is a
15:22small flock that must unite its forces
15:24in the service of its mission .
15:27Ideological divisions would render its
15:29witness fruitless . Tensions have always
15:33existed in the history of the Church ,
15:35but it is precisely when they emerge
15:37that we can more fully appreciate the
15:39gift of unity . And this unity does not
15:43mean a colorless uniformity , but
15:45ensures that different sensitivities ,
15:47as long as they are authentically
15:49Catholic , can naturally meet in a
15:51common profession of faith — a faith in
15:53obedience to legitimate pastors , and
15:55especially to the successor of Peter ,
15:57who is the lasting and visible
15:59principle and foundation of the unity
16:01of faith and communion . It is a dynamic
16:07unity , nourished by the tradition of
16:09the Church from the Fathers up to the
16:11Second Vatican Council and the teaching
16:13of the post-conciliar magisterium . At
16:16the same time , it is enriched through
16:18mutual dialogue that springs from faith
16:21and is conducted in a synodal spirit ,
16:23which we have been striving to develop
16:25more deeply of late . Dear brothers , the
16:28Church in France holds a special place
16:30in the heart of the Pope . How much I
16:33would like to convey to you the
16:34enthusiasm and hope that fills me when
16:36I think of you . The People of God in
16:40France are rich in living , fraternal
16:42communities open to the world , rich in
16:44young people full of zeal and engaged
16:47in numerous initiatives . Rich also in a
16:50heritage that sustains it and , at the
16:52same time , holds it to account . I am
16:55certain it will continue with zeal to
16:57fulfill its mission of proclaiming
16:58Jesus Christ and awakening love for Him
17:01, so that the world may have life .
17:05Entrusting your assembly , your diocesan
17:07communities , and your country to the
17:10maternal care of Our Lady of Lourdes , I
17:12joyfully impart my apostolic blessing
17:14upon you . And now , something truly
17:17exceptional . On the occasion of the
17:19beatification of Fulton Sheen , a new
17:21monumental book by Father Robert
17:23Skrzypczak is being released , dedicated
17:25to one of the greatest Catholic
17:27preachers of the 20th century . A man
17:30who was called God’s microphone for
17:32good reason . It is over 500 pages ,
17:35hundreds of extraordinary stories ,
17:37photographs , and priceless archival
17:39materials . The first part leads us
17:41through the life , work , mission , and
17:43teachings of Archbishop Sheen . And the
17:46second , written by Sheryl Hughes , shows
17:48him from a completely different
17:50perspective through the people he led
17:51to conversion . Artists , intellectuals ,
17:54communists , people of the media ,
17:56politics , and even show business . And
17:59that is exactly why this book is so
18:01relevant . Sheen perfectly understood
18:03the crisis of his era . He firmly
18:06opposed modernist tendencies , but he
18:08also stood against the left and
18:09attempts to water down the Catholic
18:11faith . He did not adapt the Church to
18:14the world . He showed the world the
18:17fullness of Catholicism and attracted
18:19millions of people . This book was
18:21prepared for the unique moment of
18:23Fulton Sheen's beatification . If you
18:26want to get to know a man who knew how
18:28to win modern media for the Gospel , do
18:30not wait . Order it now at the Biały
18:33Kruk store , because only with us and
18:36only during the pre-sale is the book 25
18:38PLN cheaper . The link is in the pinned
18:41comment and in the video description .
18:45The one I truly need is you , my King .
18:54You healed my wounds , you gave me new
18:56life . You filled the void in my heart .
19:07Now I exist for you . Oh my God , only
19:14you are worthy . M.