While the virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance are the marks of a righteous individual, the virtues of faith, hope and love emphasize a connection to other people fueled by belief in God and reliance on prayer, Pope Francis said.
"The Christian
Exercising the virtue of temperance is not a recipe for a boring life, Pope Francis said, but rather it is the secret to enjoying every good thing.
If one wants "to appreciate a good wine, savoring it in small sips is better than
While giving each person his or her due is fundamental for justice, the virtue of justice is not concentrated on the individual in isolation but on ensuring the common good of all, Pope Francis said.
Justice "is represented allegorically by scales, because it
Contemplating Christ's passion should inspire Christians to be more patient in the face of their own suffering and trials, Pope Francis said.
"There is no better witness to the love of Christ than meeting a patient Christian," Pope Francis said during his general
"War is always a defeat," Pope Francis said, urging people at his general audience to pray that leaders in war-torn nations would have the courage to negotiate for peace.
"We must make every effort to discuss, to negotiate to end war. Let's pray
The saints are not unreachable "exceptions of humanity" but ordinary people who worked diligently to grow in virtue, Pope Francis said.
It is wrong to think of the saints as "a kind of small circle of champions who live beyond the limits of
Pope Francis urged prideful people to recall one of Jesus' moral commandments to "never judge."
The sin of pride "ruins human relationships" and is an evil that "poisons the feeling of fraternity that instead should unite humanity," the pope wrote in the catechesis
Arriving in a wheelchair instead of walking with his cane, Pope Francis began his weekly general audience by telling visitors and pilgrims, "I'm still a bit sick," so an aide would read his prepared text.
The pope had canceled his appointments Feb. 24
The vice of "acedia," often translated as "sloth," can cause laziness, but it is much more than that; it is a lack of caring for anything and being bored with everything, even one's relationship with God, Pope Francis said.
"The demon of acedia
Feeling sad, disappointed or ashamed of oneself sometimes is normal and even can lead to conversion, but when people wallow in their sadness it becomes a dangerous vice, Pope Francis said.
"We all go through ordeals that generate sorrow in us, because life