World Day of Consecrated Life, 2025

On February 1, the first Vespers of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and World Day of Consecrated Life, were celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica as part of the Jubilee of Hope.  Pope Francis, who presided over the vespers, addressed the consecrated, saying: “In a liturgical context characterized by the symbol of light, all of you, sisters and brothers who have chosen the path of the evangelical counsels, have consecrated yourselves, as “Spouses before the Spouse…enveloped by his light”.

The Holy Father continued his homily, reflecting on religious vows as three aspects that can help in becoming bearers of “light” in today’s world.  Speaking of poverty, he explained that it has “its roots in the very life of God, eternal and total gift of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit”, emphasizing that the consecrated person must be a “bearer of blessing” through the free and generous use of all things.

Facing chastity, the Pontiff warned about the challenges in “a world often marked by distorted forms of affectivity”, where “the principle of ‘what I like’ ” prevails.  The Pope highlighted that consecrated chastity offers “a way of healing from the evil of isolation, in the exercise of a free and liberating way of loving”.

He presented obedience as an “antidote” to solitary individualism, emphasizing the importance of “listening to ourselves before answering” and “welcoming the word of the other as a message, like a treasure”. 

The Holy Father concluded by emphasizing the importance of the “return to the origins”, not “returning to a museum”, but as a return to Christ, remembering that “we have lost a little the sense of worship” and that the renewal is realized “in front of the Tabernacle, in adoration”.

On February 2, in the Church of Santa Maria Mediatrice, the brothers of the General Curia celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord with a Eucharist presided over by Br. Massimo Fusarelli.  The celebration began with the blessing of the light, in which the Minister General, remembering that we are celebrating the Jubilee, invited us to be men of expectation and hope.  During the homily, speaking of the figure of Simeon, he emphasized that he has the Holy Spirit on him: “Thus, Simeon is a sign of the rest of faithful Israel that walks in search of the Lord”.  He also invited those present, like Simeon, to wait for the consolation of the Lord.  At the end of his homily, he conveyed best wishes to the brothers and nuns present, as well as all the religious and people who have consecrated their lives to the service of the Lord.

Leggi l'omelia di Papa Francesco