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

Pope Leo XIV meets Father James Martin at the Vatican

Pope Leo XIV met in a private audience with Jesuit Father James Martin at the Vatican on Monday.

Man desecrates altar of St. Peter’s Basilica

A man urinated on the Altar of Confession of St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday before being taken away
A woman records Pope Leo XIV on her cellphone during the general audience on Sept. 9, 2026, in St. Peter’s Square. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News

Vatican calls for a renewal of attention in the age of clickbait

The World Day of Social Communications will be celebrated on May 9, 2027, the Sunday before Pentecost. The

Vatican Radio: 92 Years of Broadcasting for the Catholic Church

On February 12th, 1931, exactly at 4:30 p.m., Pope Pius XI inaugurated Vatican Radio by delivering the first

Vaticano Updates: Pope Francis Plans to Visit Turkey

Pope Francis has invited Orthodox leaders to jointly celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea in 2025.

Vatican News: Attacks on Clergy, Disney Special with Pope Francis & Vatican Embassy Close Nicaragua

In this week’s Vaticano Updates, we cover the most important news from Pope Francis and the Vatican. Learn

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTNVatican.com