Marking the 75^th Anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, Pope Francis recalled his own visit there in 2016 to reflect and pray in silence. “In our world…we find it hard to pause, to look within and to listen in silence to the plea of suffering humanity….May the anniversary of the unspeakable cruelty suffered here serve as a summons to pause, to be still and to remember…We need to put the rich [shared] heritage that Jews and Christians possess at the service of others.”  Pope Francis ended with a prayer for humankind to make the earth a better place by sowing seeds of peace:  “If we do not do this, then who will?”  Vatican News, Jan 20, 2020

“Many times we complain about difficulties and think that our sins, our limitations cannot be forgiven.   It is at that moment when we can hear the voice of the Lord, ‘I comfort you, I am near you.’ Allow yourself to be consoled by the Lord. Ask for forgiveness, be courageous, open the door for Him to embrace you with the tenderness of a father and a brother.”  Homily, Dec. 10, 2019