• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Visitors gather in St. Peter's Square as Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio at the Vatican Feb. 12, 2023. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Pope: Jesus wants us to love fully, not flaunt facade of following rules

February 13, 2023
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Religious rules are good and necessary, but Jesus wants his disciples to go beyond the letter of the law and fully live out its meaning, Pope Francis said.

“The commandments that God has given us must not be locked up in the airless vaults of formal observance; otherwise, we are limited to an exterior, detached religiosity, servants of ‘God the master’ rather than children of ‘God the father,'” the pope said.

Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Feb. 12, 2023. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

“Jesus wants this: not to have the idea of serving a God the master, but the father; and this is why it is necessary to go beyond the letter” of God’s commandments, he said before praying the Angelus with visitors in St. Peter’s Square Feb. 12.

The pope reflected on what Jesus meant when, in the day’s Gospel reading (Mt 5:17-37), he told his disciples, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”

The pope said, “Jesus makes us understand that religious rules are necessary, they are good, but they are only the beginning: to fulfill them, it is necessary to go beyond the letter and live their meaning.”

For example, he said, when sacred Scripture says, “Do not kill,” not committing homicide is not enough for Jesus if that person still harms others with words.

“Do not commit adultery” is also “not enough if one then lives a love tainted by duplicity and falsehood,” the pope added. “This is not fulfillment.”

To not kill, steal or violate the other commandments is “formal observance, which is satisfied with the bare minimum, whereas Jesus invites us to aspire to the maximum possible,” he said.

Jesus’ message is clear, he said. “God loves us first, freely, taking the first step toward us, without us deserving it; and so we cannot celebrate his love without, in our turn, taking the first step toward reconciliation with those who have hurt us.”

“In this way there is fulfillment in God’s eyes, otherwise external, purely ritualistic observance is pointless, it becomes a pretense,” he said.

Pope Francis asked people to review how they live their faith: as a series of “calculations, formalism or a love story with God? Am I content merely with not doing harm, of keeping the ‘façade’ in good order or do I try to grow in love for God and others?”

Jesus showed the way “by giving his life on the cross and forgiving his murderers,” Pope Francis said, “and he entrusted to us the commandment most dear to him: that we love each other like he loved us.”

“This is the love that gives fulfillment to the law, to faith, to true life!” he said.

Read More Vatican News

Pope urges peace, warns against escalation in Middle East conflict

In video for Chicago’s celebration, Pope Leo urges youth to recognize the ways God is reaching out to them

Pope: Sport reveals beauty of God, teaches teamwork, humility and hope

Vatican can take 3 key steps to bring Ukrainian kids back from Russia, says child advocate

Pope sets Sept. 7 for joint canonization of Blesseds Acutis and Frassati

Pope’s brother says even as a baby, future pontiff had a spiritual ‘air’ about him

Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Carol Glatz

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Pope Leo to return to practice of ‘imposing’ pallium on new archbishops

  • Archbishop Lori announces appointments, including pastor and associate pastor assignments

  • Pope’s brother says even as a baby, future pontiff had a spiritual ‘air’ about him

  • Hundreds gather at Rebuilt Conference 2025 to ‘imagine what’s possible’ in parish ministry

  • Diversity is cause for strength, not division, pope tells Rome clergy

| Latest Local News |

Sister Joan Minella, former principal and pastoral life director, dies

Archbishop Lori offers encouragement to charitable agencies affected by federal cuts

Incoming superior general of Oblate Sisters of Providence outlines priorities

Archbishop Lori announces appointments, including pastor and associate pastor assignments

Oblate Sister Trinita Baeza, teacher and pastoral associate in Baltimore, dies at 98

| Latest World News |

Pope urges peace, warns against escalation in Middle East conflict

Minnesota lawmaker who once taught Catholic Sunday school shot and killed in apparent ‘politically motivated assassination’

In video for Chicago’s celebration, Pope Leo urges youth to recognize the ways God is reaching out to them

Pope: Sport reveals beauty of God, teaches teamwork, humility and hope

A pending element of tackling the abuse crisis: transparency

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • A Key Ingredient
  • Pope urges peace, warns against escalation in Middle East conflict
  • Minnesota lawmaker who once taught Catholic Sunday school shot and killed in apparent ‘politically motivated assassination’
  • In video for Chicago’s celebration, Pope Leo urges youth to recognize the ways God is reaching out to them
  • Pope: Sport reveals beauty of God, teaches teamwork, humility and hope
  • A pending element of tackling the abuse crisis: transparency
  • Vatican can take 3 key steps to bring Ukrainian kids back from Russia, says child advocate
  • Practice the ‘BeDADitudes’
  • Delaware garden of plenty provides food to needy, thanks to Vincentians, parishes

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en