“Let us go to Jesus, knock on Jesus’ heart, and say to Him, ‘Lord, if You will it, You can heal me.’” – Pope Francis.

Let us not lose the opportunity to give further proof of solidarity ... The only alternative is the selfishness of particular interests and the temptation of a return to the past.

Pontiff pays tribute to the “saints who live next door” describing the doctors, volunteers, religious sisters, priests and shop workers who continue to perform their duty as “heroes”.

“I would like to propose to all Christians that, together, we lift our voices towards Heaven,” said the pope, who will start saying the ‘Our Father’ in Rome on Wednesday at 10am Irish time. 

The Easter ceremonies will take place in Rome but it is still uncertain how these celebrations will be conducted and who will participate in them, as this is currently under review and evolving.

“Live this difficult moment with the strength of the faith, the certainty of hope and the ardour of charity,” said the pope in a message to all those affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

“The Church must consider whether to suspend masses and religious services,” said Italian consumer protection activist Carlo Rienzi.

“Love makes us patient,” says Pope. “So many times we lose patience, even me, and I apologise for yesterday’s bad example.”

Women’s bodies must be freed from consumerism. They must be respected and honoured, said Pope Francis in his homily on the first day of the year, which is dedicated to the figure of Mary, Mother of God.

“I encourage you to seek, in every poor person whom you encounter, his or her true needs, not to stop at their most obvious material needs, but to discover their inner goodness,” Pope Francis told the faithful.

Statement follows Pope Francis' unveiling in St Peter's Square of a sculpture depicting 140 refugees crammed aboard a small raft.

“I entrust to the Lord all those who have tragically perished, and I pray for the injured and all those who suffer as a result of this tragic event.”

The saints are close to us and they tell us the way of the Beatitudes is not about doing extraordinary things, but about following every day this way that leads us to Heaven.

Pope Francis urged people to “commit not to stop at making statements, but also to provide concrete food aid and to allow it to reach suffering populations.”

Refugees and migrants who have survived years of war, violence, and deadly journeys to safety are now freezing to death on Europe’s doorstep.

“She bowed down before those who were spent, left to die on the side of the road, seeing in them their God-given dignity; she made her voice heard before the powers of this world, so that they might recognise their guilt for the crime of poverty they created.”

“When I arrived at the break of day, I saw a destroyed village, screams, death... We are truly in a desperate situation" - Bishop Giovanni D'Ercole of Ascoli Piceno.

Refugees are people like everyone else, who have been deprived by war of their homes, their jobs, their parents and their friends, Pope Francis stresses.

The “pervasive crime, gangland killings and continued threat of paramilitary violence" as well as poverty & homelessness shows "much still needs to be done to create a culture of life & prosperity for all."

“This is why I want a Church which is poor and for the poor. They have much to teach us." Evangelii Gaudium [198]

“Don’t just prepare your rucksacks and your banners – but your hearts and minds as well”.

Pope appeals to Pakistan's civil authorities and social groupings to restore security and peace especially to the most vulnerable religious minorities.

The Easter message speaks especially to those seeking to escape from persecution and poverty.

“We need to be aware of our sins and have the courage to drop the stones that we aim at others and think about the wrong we do”.

“The commandment, ‘Thou shalt not kill’ has absolute value, and concerns both the innocent and the guilty,” Pope Francis said on Sunday.

“To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them."

Francis "conveys his closeness to the Greek people, with a special thought for the many families gravely beset by such a complex & keenly felt human and social crisis”.

Fourth deacon ordained for the Diocese of Meath as Navan prepares for next Sunday's ordination of Rev Robert McGivney.

“Jesus has compassion on those who mourn because the death of a loved one is never without pain for families. This is especially true of parents who lose a child": Pope

Polish saint showed the sick how to “carry the cross of suffering with joy” - Pope Francis.