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Pope Francis Celebrates Mass in Philadelphia 11a-12pn ET

Aired September 26, 2015 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most of you know the story of Saint Katharine Drexel, one of the great saints raised up by this local church. When she spoke to Pope Leo XIII of the needs of the mission, the Pope, he was a very wise pope, asked her pointedly, "What about you? What are you going to do?"

Those words changed Katharine's life, because they reminded her that in the end, every Christian man and woman by virtue of baptism has received a mission. Each one of us has to respond as best we can to the Lord's call to build up his body, the church.

POPE FRANCIS, PONTIFF OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): I would like to dwell on two aspects of these words in the context of our particular mission to transmit the joy of the gospel and to build up the church, whether as priests, deacons, members, men and women of institutes of consecrated life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about you? I would like to dwell on two aspects of these words in the context of our particular mission to transmit the joy of the gospel and to build up the church whether as priests, deacons, or men and women members of institutes of consecrated life.

POPE FRANCIS: First, those words, "what about you" were addressed to a young person, a young woman with high ideals and they changed her life. They made her think of the immense work that had to be done and to realize that she was being called to do her part.

How many young people in our parishes and schools have the same high ideals, generosity of spirit and love for Christ and the church? I ask you, do we challenge them? Do we make space for them and help them to do their part? Do we find ways of sharing their enthusiasm and gifts with our communities above all, in works of mercies and concern for others? Do we share our own joy and enthusiasm in serving the Lord?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First those words, what about you were addressed to a young person, a young woman with high ideals and they changed her life. They made her think of the immense work that had to be done and to realize that she was being called to do her part. How many young people in our parishes and schools have the same high ideals, generosity of spirit and love for Christ and the church?

I ask them, do we challenge them? Do we make space for them and help them to do their part? To find ways of sharing is there enthusiasm and gifts with our communities, above all, in works of mercy and concern for others. Do we share our own joy and enthusiasm in serving the lord?

POPE FRANCIS: One of the great challenges facing the church in this generation is to foster in all the faithful a sense of personal responsibility for the church's mission and to enable them to fulfill that responsibility as missionary disciples as a leaven (ph) of the gospel in our world.

This will require creativity in adapting to changed situations carrying forward the legacy of the past, not primarily by maintaining our structures and institutions which have served as well but above all, by being open to the possibilities which the spirit opens up to us and communicating the joy of the gospel daily and in every season of our life.

[11:05:13] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One of the great challenges facing the church and this generations to foster in all the faithful a sense of personal responsibility for the church's mission and to enable them to fulfill that responsibility as missionary disciples as a leaven of the gospel in our world.

This will require creativity in adapting to changed situations, carrying forward the legacy of the past not primarily by maintaining our structures and institutions which have served us well but above all by being open to the possibilities which the spirit opens to us and communicating the joy of the gospel daily and in every season of our life.

POPE FRANCIS: What about you? It is significant that those words of the elderly pope were also addressed to a lay woman. We know that the future of the church in a rapidly changing society will call and even now calls for a much more active engagement on the part of the laity.

The church in the United States has always devoted immense effort to the work of catechesis and education. Our challenge today is to build on those solid foundations and to foster a sense of collaboration and shared responsibility in planning for the future parishes and institutions.

This does not mean relinquishing the spiritual authority with which we have been entrusted. Rather, it means discerning and employing wisely the manifold gifts which the spirit pours out upon the church. In a particular way, it means valuing the immense contribution which women, lay and religious have made and continue to make to the life of our communities.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about you? It is significant that these words of the elderly pope were also addressed to a lay woman. We know that the future of the church in a rapidly changing society calls and now calls for a much more active engagement on the part of the laity.

The church in the United States has always devoted immense effort to the work of catechesis and education. Our challenge is to build on those solid foundations and to foster a sense of collaboration and shared responsibility in planning for the future of our parishes and institutions. This does not mean relinquishing the spiritual authority with which we have been entrusted. Rather, it means discerning and employing wisely the manifold gifts which the spirit pours out upon the church. In a particular way, it means valuing the immense contribution which women, lay and religious, have made and continue to make to the life of our communities.

POPE FRANCIS: Dear brothers and sisters, I thank you for the way in which each of you has answered Jesus' question and which inspired your own vocation. What about you? I encourage you to be renewed in the joy of that first encounter with Jesus and to draw from that joy renewed fidelity and strength.

[11:09:51] I look forward to being with you in these days and I ask you to bring my affectionate greetings to those who could not be with us, specially the many elderly priests and religious who join us in spirit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dear brothers and sisters, I thank you for the way in which each of you has answered Jesus' question, which inspired your own vocation. "What about you?" I encourage you to be renewed in the joy of that first encounter with Jesus and to draw from that joy renewed fidelity and strength. I look forward to being with you in these days and I ask you to bring my affectionate greetings to those who could not be with us, especially the many elderly priests and religious who join us in spirit.

POPE FRANCIS: In these days of the World Meeting of Families, I would ask you in a particular way to reflect on our ministry to families, to couples preparing for marriage, and to our young people. I know how much is being done in your local churches, to respond to the needs of families and to support them in their journey of faith. I ask you to pray fervently for them and to pray for the deliberations of the forthcoming Synod on the Family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: During these days of the World Meeting of Families, I would ask you in a particular way to reflect on our ministry to families, to couples preparing for marriage, and to our young people. I know how much is being done in your local churches to respond to the needs of families and to support them in their journey of faith. I ask you to pray fervently for them and for the deliberations of the forthcoming Synod on the Family.

POPE FRANCIS: Now, with gratitude for all we have received and with confidence, assurance, in all our needs, let us turn to Mary, our Blessed Mother. With a mother's love may she intercede for the growth of the church in America in prophetic witness to the power of her son's cross to bring joy, hope, and strength into our world. I pray for each of you and I ask you, please, to pray for me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, with gratitude for all we have received and with confident assurance in all our needs, let us turn to Mary, our Blessed Mother. With the marvelous love may she intercede for the growth of the church in America in prophetic witness to the power of her son's cross to bring joy, hope, and strength into our world. I pray for each of you and I ask you, please, to pray for me. CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Pope

delivering his homily asking "Do not ask what the church can do for you but what you can do for your church". And again asking for prayer for the upcoming Synod of the Families, the important mission of this whole meeting here in Philadelphia.

We are going to take a quick break but we are going to be back for the offertory and for communion and for the rest of mass. So stand by.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:17:18] AMANPOUR: Welcome back to CNN's live coverage of the Pope's mass in Philadelphia at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. We are now still in the prayer of the faithful and we will continue with the mass, the offertory and communion service.

(MUSIC: PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL)

[11:19:49] POPE FRANCIS: Heavenly father, we come to you and play for the Blessed Virgin Mary. We ask her to bring you this and all our prayers through Christ, our lord.

CONGREGATION: Amen.

(MUSIC: OFFERTORY)

POPE FRANCIS: Pray brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty father.

CONGREGATION: May the lord accept this sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory his name, for our good and the good of all his holy church.

POPE FRANCIS: Beside all things remains the mystery of salvation, so that by its power, we may be set free with the charity of the Virgin Mary, mother of the church we may be closer to the work of (inaudible) through Christ our lord.

CONGREGATION: Amen.

(PRAYER IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(MUSIC)

(PRAYER IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)