Some favorite Pope moments

Some of my favorite images and words from some of the Pope's recent visit to the United States.  So much joy shared!

"We are celebrating the feast of the family," he told the crowd. "Families have a citizenship that is divine. The identity card that they have is given to them by God so that within the heart of the family truth, goodness and beauty can truly grow."

"Some of you might say of course, Father, you speak like that because you're not married," he said.

"Families have difficulties. Families -- we quarrel, sometimes plates can fly, and children bring headaches. I won't speak about mother-in-laws," he quipped.

"However, in families, there is always light" because of the love of God's son.

"Just as there are problems in families, there is the light of the resurrection," he said.   

"The family is like a factory of hope," he said.

"In the family, there are indeed difficulties" and children bring challenges, too, he said.

"But those difficulties are overcome with love," he said. "Hatred is not capable of dealing (with) or overcoming any difficulty. Division of hearts cannot overcome a difficulty; only love can overcome."

http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2015/pope-delights-philly-crowd-with-spontaneous-talk-on-families.cfm

Faith opens a “window” to the presence and working of the Spirit. It shows us that, like happiness, holiness is always tied to little gestures. “Whoever gives you a cup of water in my name will not go unrewarded”, says Jesus (cf. Mk 9:41).

These little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family; they get lost amid all the other things we do, yet they do make each day different. They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children. They are little signs of tenderness, affection and compassion. Like the warm supper we look forward to at night, the early lunch awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work. Homely gestures. Like a blessing before we go to bed, or a hug after we return from a hard day’s work. Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs which make us feel at home. Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life, and life to become faith.

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/09/27/popes-homily-at-world-meeting-of-families-mass-full-text/

There are some things we really need to take care of: the children, and grandparents. Children, whether they are young or older, they are the strength that moves us forward. We place our hope in them.

Grandparents are the living memory of the family. They passed on the faith, they transmitted the faith, to us. To look after grandparents, children, is the expression of love. The people that does not care for its children or grandparents is a people that has not future. Because it doesn’t have the strength or the memory to go forward.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/sep/26/pope-francis-visits-philadelphia-us-tour-live

Do you know what the title was of the Pope that ought to be used? Servant of the servants of God. It’s a little different from the stars. Stars are beautiful to look at. I like to look at them in the summer when the sky is clear. But the Pope must be, must be the servant of the servants of God. Yes, in the media this is happening but there’s another truth. How many stars have we seen that go out and fall. It is a fleeting thing. On the other hand, being servant of the servants of God is something that doesn’t pass.

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=11026

Photos from http://abc7.com/religion/photos-pope-francis-in-the-united-states/998428/ and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3248871/Heartwarming-moment-Pope-Francis-blesses-17-year-old-girl-wheelchair-suffering-spina-bifida-wants-actress.html

Rainbows welcome Pope Francis: http://abc7.com/religion/rainbows-spotted-throughout-pope-francis-visit-to-us/1008705/