Dear brothers and sisters,

I am pleased to welcome you to this first general audience. I am resuming the cycle of Jubilee catecheses, on the theme "Jesus Christ, Our Hope," begun by Pope Francis . Meditating on the parables of Jesus helps us rediscover hope because they show us how God works in history. The central role of the sun in Van Gogh's painting "The Sower at Sunset" is a beautiful example of this.

Like all parables, the parable of the sower invites us to look beyond appearances and understand the power of the Word of God offered to all. The seed of the Word is sown everywhere, but it is made fruitful by the way it is received. This invites each of us, but also the entire Church and the world, to make our hearts fertile ground for receiving the Word of God.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Our catechesis today is dedicated to the evangelizing work of the Holy Spirit, or His role in the Church's preaching. This preaching focuses on the Kerygma, or initial proclamation, which must be at the heart of evangelizing activity and all ecclesial renewal. The Church must make its own what Jesus said in his public ministry and proclaim it through the anointing of the Holy Spirit and with confidence in the manifestation of His power. The two attitudes to cultivate are: prayer to ask for the Holy Spirit and preaching centered not on oneself, but on the Lord Jesus.

Dear brothers and sisters,

The divinity of the Holy Spirit was defined by the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople in 381. Saint Basil the Great affirmed the equality of the three persons of the Trinity, who receive the same glory and adoration. This definition was only a starting point. The worship and theology of the Church would proclaim the divinity of the Holy Spirit more explicitly over time.

Every Sunday we proclaim that the Holy Spirit is the one who gives us life. Just as at Creation, the breath of God gave natural life to Adam, today, through the new creation in the Holy Spirit, he gives us the life of Christ, the supernatural life of a child of God, which delivers us from sin and death. The life given by the Spirit is eternal; it is the promise of resurrection. Let us cultivate this faith in the Holy Spirit and give thanks to Christ, who obtained this precious gift for us at the cost of his life.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Leaving aside today's usual catechesis, I would like to think with you about those who are currently crossing seas and deserts of all kinds to reach a land where they can live in peace and security. As Bishop of Rome, I have often spoken of the tragedy of the Mediterranean, which has become a graveyard. The sea, like the desert, is also a biblical place laden with symbolism, especially in the context of the Exodus of God's People to the Promised Land. I repeat, the passage of migrants should be protected and based on justice, fraternity, and solidarity in order to prevent human trafficking. But I do not forget the dedication of so many good Samaritans who go to great lengths to help them.