PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ

FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD – 21 JANUARY 2024

(Vatican City, 15 January 2024) – The fifth Sunday of the Word of God, a day instituted by Pope Francis on 30 September 2019, will be celebrated on 21 January 2024. The motto for this edition is taken from the Gospel of John: “Remain in my Word” (John 8:31). At 9.30 on Sunday 21 January, the Pope will preside over the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in St Peter's Basilica and, following this, with the aim of reviving the responsibility that believers have in the knowledge of Sacred Scripture, he will give those present the Gospel of Mark.

During the celebration, the ministries of Lector and Catechist will be conferred to lay women and men. In particular, two people will receive the ministry of Lector, and nine that of Catechist. They are lay faithful who intend to represent the People of God, and come from Brazil, Bolivia, Korea, Chad, Germany, and the Antilles. The event will be filmed live by Vatican Media and streamed on the Vatican News portal (vaticannews.va). It will also be broadcast live by the main television stations around the world; in Italy, by Rai 1, among others.

The Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World of the Dicastery for Evangelization, tasked by the Holy Father to promote the event, has made available online a free liturgical-pastoral Guide useful for living the Word of God and prayer in community, in the family, and personally. The text, available this year only in digital version, can be downloaded online in Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Polish at www.evangelizatio.va. It is a tool that offers proposals to encourage a profound encounter with the Word of God in community, in the family, and in daily life, and also includes articles, meditations, texts for Adoration and pastoral suggestions.

On Sunday of the Word of God, the Holy Father is expected to officially launch the Year of Prayer, in preparation for the Jubilee 2025. After promoting reflection on the documents and the study of the fruits of the Second Vatican Council in 2023, at the behest of Pope Francis, 2024 will be dedicated, in dioceses throughout the world, to rediscovering the centrality of prayer.

ACCREDITATION PROCEDURE

Journalists and media workers who wish to attend must apply up to 24 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at press.vatican.va/accreditamenti