At the end of the Holy Mass for the jubilee of catechists, the Pope prayed the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

“Yesterday in Würzburg, Germany, Engelmar Unzeitig was proclaimed blessed. A priest of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Marianhill, he was killed in hatred of the faith in the Dachau extermination camp, he opposed hatred with love and responded to ferocity with gentleness. May his example help us to be witnesses of charity and hope, even in the midst of tribulation”.

“I gladly join the bishops of Mexico in supporting the Church’s commitment and that of civil society in favour of family and life, which at this time require special pastoral and cultural attention all over the world. In addition, I assure the dear Mexican people of my prayers, for an end to the violence that has also affected some priests in these days”.

He went on to mention that today is World Day of the Deaf. “I would like to greet all deaf people, represented here too, and encourage them to give their contribution for a Church and society that are increasingly able to welcome all”.

Finally, he addressed special greetings to catechists, thanking them for their commitment to the Church in the service of evangelisation and in the transmission of faith, and asked the Virgin to help them in persevering on their journey of faith and to bear witness in their lives to what they transmit in catechesis”.