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This morning’s General Audience took place at 10.00 in the Paul VI Hall, where the Holy Father Leo XIV met with groups of pilgrims and faithful from Italy and all over the world.

In his address in Italian, the Pope focused on the theme “The Documents of Vatican Council II. The Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum . God speaks to men as to friends” (Reading: Jn 15:15).

After summarizing his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father addressed special greetings to the faithful present.

The General Audience concluded with the recitation of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.

Catechesis. The Documents of Vatican Council II. The Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum . 1. God speaks to men as to friends

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

We have started the cycle of catechesis on Vatican Council II. Today we will begin to look more closely at the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum , on the divine Revelation. It is one of the most beautiful and important of the Council and, to introduce it, it may be helpful to recall the words of Jesus: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” ( Jn 15:15). This is a fundamental point of Christian faith, which Dei Verbum reminds us of: Jesus Christ radically transforms man’s relationship with God, which is henceforth a relationship of friendship. Therefore, the only condition of the new covenant is love.

Saint Augustine, commenting on this passage of the Fourth Gospel, insists on the perspective of grace, which alone can make us friends of God in his Son ( Commentary on the Gospel of John, Homily 86 ). Indeed, an ancient motto stated: “ Amicitia aut pares invenit, aut facit ”, “friendship is born between equals, or makes them so”. We are not equal to God, but God himself makes us similar to Him in his Son.

For this reason, as we can see in all the Scripture, in the Covenant there is a first moment of distance, in which the pact between God and mankind always remains asymmetrical: God is God and we are creatures. However, with the coming of the Son in human flesh, the Covenant opens up to its final purpose: in Jesus, God makes us sons and daughters, and calls us to become like Him, albeit in our fragile humanity. Our resemblance to God, then, is not reached through transgression and sin, as the serpent suggests to Eve (cf. Gen 3:5), but in our relationship with the Son made man.

The words of the Lord Jesus that we have recalled – “I have called you friends” – are reprised in the Constitution Dei Verbum , which affirms: “Through this revelation, therefore, the invisible God (see Col 1:15; 1 Tim 1:17) out of the abundance of His love speaks to men as friends (see Ex 33:11; Jn 15:14-15) and lives among them (see Bar 3:38), so that He may invite and take them into fellowship with Himself” (no. 2). The God of Genesis already conversed with our first parents, engaging in dialogue with them (cf. Dei Verbum , 3); and when this dialogue was interrupted by sin, the Creator did not cease to seek an encounter with his creatures and to establish a covenant with them. In the Christian Revelation, that is, when God became man in his Son in order to seek us out, the dialogue that had been interrupted is restored in a definitive manner: the Covenant is new and eternal, nothing can separate us from his love. The Revelation of God, then, has the dialogical nature of friendship and, as in the experience of human friendship, it does not tolerate silence, but is nurtured by the exchange of true words.

The Constitution Dei Verbum also reminds us of this: God speaks to us. It is important to recognize the difference between words and chatter: this latter stops at the surface and does not achieve communion between people, whereas in authentic relationships, the word serves not only to exchange information and news, but to reveal who we are. The word possesses a revelatory dimension that creates a relationship with the other. In this way, by speaking to us, God reveals himself to us as an Ally who invites us into friendship with Him.

From this perspective, the first attitude to cultivate is listening, so that the divine Word may penetrate our minds and our hearts; at the same time, we are required to speak with God, not to communicate to him what He already knows, but to reveal ourselves to ourselves.

Hence the need for prayer, in which we are called to live and to cultivate friendship with the Lord. This is achieved first of all in liturgical and community prayer, in which we do not decide what to hear from the Word of God, but it is He Himself who speaks to us through the Church; it is then achieved in personal prayer, which takes place in the interiority of the heart and mind. Time dedicated to prayer, meditation and reflection cannot be lacking in the Christian’s day and week. Only when we speak with God can we also speak about Him.

Our experience tells us that friendships can come to an end through a dramatic gesture of rupture, or because of a series of daily acts of neglect that erode the relationship until it is lost. If Jesus calls us to be friends, let us not leave this call unheeded. Let us welcome it, let us take care of this relationship, and we will discover that friendship with God is our salvation.

Today, the Court of Cassation issued two rulings on the appeals lodged by the Prosecutor, in one case taking note of Professor Alessandro Diddi's declaration of abstention from the proceedings and in the other confirming the inadmissibility of the Prosecutor’s appeal as ruled by the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal will hold its next hearing on 3 February.

This morning, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience:

- Their Excellencies Messrs.  Matteo Rossi and Lorenzo Bugli, Captain Regents of the Republic of San Marino, and entourage;

- Archbishop Mario Enrico Delpini, metropolitan of Milan, Italy;

- Mr. Davide Prosperi, president of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation;

- His Eminence Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major;

- Msgr. Jain Mendez, Holy See Permanent Observer at the World Tourism Organization;

- Dr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA);

- Fr. Pascal Ahodegnon, O.H., prior general of the Hospitaller Order of the Brothers of Saint John of God (Fate Bene Fratelli);

- Members of the “Commissão Episcopal Pastoral para Ação Missionária e Cooperação Intereclesial”, Brazil;

- Ms. María Corina Machado.

The Holy Father Leo XIV received in Audience today, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Captains Regent of the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, Their Excellencies Messrs. Matteo Rossi and Lorenzo Bugli, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

During the cordial talks, held at the Secretariat of State, the excellent existing bilateral relations were evoked, as well as the contribution of the Church to San Marino society.

The conversation then turned to the ongoing international crises, with particular reference to the conflict in Ukraine, collaboration in the sphere of multilateral diplomacy, and the importance of interreligious dialogue in promoting peace.

From the Vatican, 12 January 2026

This morning, in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the representatives of the organizations that collaborated on the Jubilee.

The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

Dear brothers and sisters, welcome!

“How much good there is in the world!”. I am taking these words of His Excellency Archbishop Fisichella, because you are the proof: how much good there is in the world! Thank you! Thank you, truly!

I greet His Excellency Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the authorities present and the representatives of civil and ecclesiastical bodies which in various ways contributed to the Jubilee of Hope, which came to an end four days ago. Special mention goes to the Government of the Italian Republic, the Government Commissioner, the Municipality of Rome – in particular the Mayor and his organizational structure – and the Lazio Region; as well as to the Security Forces, the Prefecture, which coordinated the work, the Civil Protection and the numerous voluntary associations, and the “Jubilee 2000” Agency. I express special gratitude to the Dicastery for Evangelization – Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World, and to the other Dicasteries involved, the Vatican Gendarmerie, the Pontifical Swiss Guard, the Governorate of Vatican City State, the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the various Commissions – pastoral, cultural, communication, ecumenical, technical, economic –, to the Confessor Priests, to the representatives of the Dioceses and Episcopal Conferences, to the experts of various categories who participated in the individual events, and to the five thousand “Jubilee Volunteers” of all ages and backgrounds.

I express to all of you my heartfelt gratitude for your work, both during the demanding preparatory stages and throughout the Jubilee Year. You have made a multifaceted contribution, often hidden, always demanding and full of responsibility, thanks to which more than thirty million pilgrims were able to make the Jubilee journey and participate in the celebrations and events, in an atmosphere of festivity and at the same time of composure, recollection, order and organization. Thanks to you, Rome has offered everyone its welcoming face, that of an open, cheerful and at the same time discreet and respectful community, helping everyone to live this great moment of faith fruitfully.

The visit to the tombs of Peter and Paul, of the other Apostles and Martyrs, the journey towards the Holy Door, the experience of forgiveness and of God’s mercy, were for many people moments of fruitful encounter with the Lord Jesus, in which they were able to experience first-hand that “hope does not disappoint” ( Rm 5:5), because He is living and walks in us and with us – in the salent moments of existence as in everyday normality – and because, with him, we can arrive at our destination. Saint Augustine writes, in this regard, that “Hope is very necessary for us in our exile … When the traveller, after all, finds it wearisome walking along, he puts up with the fatigue precisely because he hopes to arrive. Rob him of any hope of arriving, and straightaway his strength is broken for walking” ( Sermon 158, 8). With your work, you helped many people to find and rediscover hope, and to resume the journey of life with renewed faith and intentions of charity (cf. 1Ts 1:2-3).

I would like to recall, in particular, the presence in Rome, on the occasion of the Jubilee, of so many young people and adults from all nations. It was beautiful to experience their enthusiasm first-hand, to witness their joy, to see the seriousness with which they prayed, meditated and celebrated, to observe them, so numerous and diverse, yet united, orderly (thanks also to your valuable service!), eager to get to know one another and to experience together moments of grace, fraternity and peace. Let us reflect on what they showed us. We are all, at various levels, responsible for their future, in which lies the future of the world. Let us ask ourselves, then, in light of what we have seen: what do they really need? What truly helps them to mature and give the best of themselves? Where can they find true answers to the deepest questions they carry in their hearts? Young people need healthy role models who point them towards goodness, love and holiness, as shown to us by Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Piergiorgio Frassati, who were canonized last September. Let us keep before us their clear and lively eyes, full of energy and at the same time so fragile: they can be of great help to us in discerning with wisdom and prudence the serious responsibilities that we have towards them.

In the Bull of Indiction of the Holy Year, Pope Francis concluded his powerful call to hope by saying: “Let us even now be drawn to this hope! Through our witness, may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it. May the way we live our lives say to them in so many words: ‘Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart and hope in the Lord!’” ( Ps 27:14)” ( Spes non confundit , 25). May this be the mandate we carry with us, as a fruitful continuation of the work accomplished, so that the many seeds of goodness that, thanks also to your help, the Lord has sown in so many hearts in recent months, may grow and develop.

At the end of this meeting, I am happy to be able to give each of you, as a small token of gratitude, the Jubilee Crucifix: a miniature of the cross with the glorious Christ that accompanied the pilgrims. May it remain with you as a reminder of this experience of collaboration. And so I bless you and wish you all the best for this new year. Thank you!