Skip to content

Pope Francis offers 5 commitments on the road to Christmas

Pope Francis proposed to the faithful 5 concrete commitments to live with intensity the remaining days of Advent 2022, and to prepare the heart for the birth of the Child Jesus through simple actions.

At the Angelus on December 12, 2021, and before the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Pontiff asked the question: “What can I do concretely?

In the same vein, he called to ask himself: “These days, as we approach Christmas, how can I do my part?

In response, he encouraged us to make “a concrete commitment, even a small one, that fits our life situation” and carry it forward to prepare ourselves for this Christmas.

Along these lines, he listed 5 commitments that the faithful can make to live with faith and hope this time of joy for the arrival of the Child Jesus:

1. Calling a lonely person on the phone.

2. Visiting an elderly or sick person.

3. Do something to serve a poor person, a person in need.

4. To ask for forgiveness, to forgive, to clear up any conflict or to settle a debt.

5. To take up prayer again and approach the Lord’s forgiveness.

“Brothers and sisters, let us look for something concrete and do it! May the Virgin, in whose womb God became flesh, help us”, he prayed.

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

I agree that EWTN will keep me informed about news, faith stories and how to best support their work. You will never receive e-mails from us that you do not want to receive. You can unsubscribe any time. For more information on how to unsubscribe, our privacy practices, and how we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy.

More news related to this article

Glimpses into life in Rumbek, South Sudan. The sun sets over a hut just before dusk. A family sleeps on the floor. A young girl carries water back to her hut. A boy's face scarred with leprosy smiles despite the constant pain. (photo: Colm Flynn / EWTN News In Depth)

The Forgotten Souls of South Sudan

Pope Francis recently shone a spotlight on South Sudan in East Africa, when he visited the fledgling country

The Heroism of the Ulma Family: A mission of Love, Life, and Faith

EWTN Rome correspondent Matthew Santucci spoke with Archbishop Adam Szal, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Przemyśl in

Pope Francis says poor health won’t keep him away from World Youth Day 2023

Just 40 days before World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, Pope Francis said he is ready to go and poor health will not keep him away.

First female Korean Ambassador to the Holy See appointed

Korea has a new ambassador to the Holy See. Hyunjoo Oh comes to the Vatican from the United

Pope: World Economic Forum meeting an opportunity to find ‘ways to build a better world’

On the occasion of the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Pope Francis
Society of St. Pius X clergy process during the consecration ceremony of four new bishops of the society on July 1, 2026, in Ecône, Switzerland. | Credit: Society of St. Pius X

SSPX rejects Vatican’s excommunication, calls it ‘objectively’ unjust and invalid

In a letter addressed to Pope Leo XIV, released on July 3, Father Davide Pagliarani, superior general of

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTNVatican.com