Pope Francis makes surprise appearance on BBC’s Thought for the Day

Pope Francis today featured as the unexpected narrator for the BBC’s well-known religious-themed Thought for the Day radio segment, during which the head of the Catholic Church called on all to become “pilgrims of hope”. The Holy Father shared a Thought for the Day on hope and kindness and the importance of the forthcoming Jubilee The post Pope Francis makes surprise appearance on BBC’s Thought for the Day first appeared on Catholic Herald. The post Pope Francis makes surprise appearance on BBC’s Thought for the Day appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Dec 29, 2024 - 04:00

Pope Francis makes surprise appearance on BBC’s Thought for the Day

Pope Francis today featured as the unexpected narrator for the BBC’s well-known religious-themed Thought for the Day radio segment, during which the head of the Catholic Church called on all to become “pilgrims of hope”.

The Holy Father shared a Thought for the Day on hope and kindness and the importance of the forthcoming Jubilee year during Radio 4’s flagship Today programme.

Broadcast Monday through Saturday, the three-hour-long (two hours on a Saturday) news and current affairs radio programme features a short segment (usually around three minutes) that focuses on religious and spiritual matters. Thought for the Day takes the form of a first-person narration given by the likes of a religious leader or commentator from across the religious spectrum.

For many, especially non-Catholics, today’s appearance on Thought for the Day by the figurehead for the global Catholic Church would have been the first time that they have heard the Pope’s actual voice; the 88-year-old pontiff gave his narration in Italian, with his words overlaid by those of a translator speaking in English.

“I have been asked to speak to you of hope and kindness, for this I thank you,” says the 88-year-old pontiff at the opening of his Thought for the Day address. “Hope and kindness touch the very heart of the Gospel and show us the path to follow in our behaviour.

“A world full of hope and kindness is a more beautiful world; a society that looks to the future with confidence and treats people with respect and empathy is more humane,” the Pope said, before addressing the forthcoming Jubilee year in 2025.

“As you know, the Jubilee year began on December 24; it is a period in which we are all called to become pilgrims of hope.

“Even though we do not know what tomorrow my hold for us, we should not look to the future with pessimism and resignation.

“Wars, social injustices and the many forms of violence we are exposed to every day should not dishearten us nor draw us to scepticism and discouragement.

“We choose love and love makes our hearts fervent and hopeful. Those who love, even if they find themselves in uncertain situations, always view the world with a gentle gaze of hope.”

The Pope then proceeded to analyse the role of kindness offered in genuine compassion as opposed to potentially also serving an ulterior motive.

“Kindness is not a diplomatic strategy, neither is it a set of rules to ensure social harmony or to obtain other advantages,” the Pope said.

“Kindness is a form of love that opens hearts to acceptance and helps us all to become more humble. And how important humility is – humility lends itself to dialogue, helps to overcome misunderstandings and generates gratitude.”

The Holy Father then said that regarding humility he “would like to quote the great British writer” GK Chesterton, noting that the Catholic thinker was “held in high esteem” by the Argentinian poet Jorge Luis Borges.

He continued: “At the end of his autobiography, Chesterton wisely invites us to take the elements of life with gratitude and not for granted.”

Pope Francis then drew his Thought for the Day to a close by saying: “I would like to finish with a wish for hope, which is a theological virtue, together with faith and charity.

“I hope that during this Jubilee we can practise kindness as a form of love to connect with others. May the New Year bring us peace, fellowship and gratitude.”

The Pope concluded with the single Italian word: “Graci (thank you).”

While the BBC’s Thought for the Day segment features all manner of religious leaders and figures, from priests, rabbis and imams to Buddhists, Hindus and Hare Krishnas, it is fair to say that Catholic voices have not tended to feature as frequently as others.

Pope Francis was invited to deliver the Thought for the Day message today by the Today programme’s guest editor for 28 December, Professor Irene Tracey, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and a practising Catholic who has previously said “faith is important to me”.

During her guest editor slot for the Today programme, Ms Tracey made the topic of assisted suicide a focal point for the programme, while noting that “as a woman of faith” she could not support the assisted suicide Bill being considered by the UK Parliament.

It is the second time that the Argentinian pontiff has appeared on the Thought for the Day segment, notes the Guardian, having first spoken in October 2021 before the COP 26 climate summit.

Pope Francis initiated the Christmas celebrations in Rome by opening the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica in anticipation of the 2025 Year of Jubilee, during which tens of millions of pilgrims are expected to head to Rome for the centuries-old Catholic tradition that occurs every 25 years.

Photo: Pope Francis greets people after the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message and blessing given to Rome and the world as part of Christmas celebrations at St Peter’s square in the Vatican, Vatican City State, 25 December 2024. (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images.)