The Gospel is Not an Event of the Past but of the Present. Actualization of the Sacred Scripture in the Homiletic Preaching of Pope Francis

Pope Francis treats the Sacred Scriptures as an experience rather than merely doctrine, striving through his ministry of the word to make listeners contemporaries of Jesus. The actualization of God’s word in Francis’ preaching involves adapting the salvific message to the current situation of the community, which requires the use of language that corresponds to the mentality and issues of the listeners. The aim of this article is to present, using selected homilies of the Pope as examples, the use of simple and understandable language that highlights the past deeds of God (signum memorativum), their present significance (signum representativum), and the future awaiting the faithful (signum prognosticum). This is essential for an authentic witness of faith, underscoring the truthfulness of homiletic preaching and the relevance of God’s word in the daily lives of believers.