#PopeFrancis "..we give God praise and thanksgiving for the gift that the Holy Year of Mercy.." Angelus FULL TEXT at Year of Mercy Closing

Pope Francis’ Angelus address following the Mass for the closure of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Dec. 8, 2015-Nov. 20,2016, on the occasion of the Feast of Christ the King

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Before the Angelus:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

At the end of this celebration, we give God praise and thanksgiving for the gift that the Holy Year of Mercy has been for the Church and for so many people of good will. I respectfully greet the President of the Italian Republic and the official delegations present. I express deep gratitude to the leaders of the Italian Government and other institutions for their cooperation and commitment. A warm thanks to the police, the operators of caregiving facilities, information centers, health professionals and volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. In particular, I thank the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, and those who have cooperated in various ways.

A grateful remembrance goes to those who have spiritually contributed to the success of the Jubilee: I think of many elderly and sick people, who prayed incessantly, even offering their sufferings for the Jubilee. I would especially like to thank the sisters, on the eve of Pro Orantibus Day [World Day of prayer for all contemplative cloistered religious], which will be celebrated tomorrow.

I encourage everyone to have a special remembrance for these, our Sisters, who are totally dedicated to prayer and need spiritual and material solidarity.

Yesterday in Avignon, France, Father Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus, of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, founder of the secular “Our Lady of Life,”a man of God who was attentive to the spiritual and material needs of his neighbors, was beatified. May his example and his intercession sustain our journey of faith.

I wish to warmly greet all of you who have come from various countries for the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. May the Virgin Mary help us all to keep heart and to render fruitful the spiritual gifts of the Jubilee of Mercy.

Angelus…

[Original Text: Italian] [Translation by Deborah Castellano Lubov]