Pope Francis has emphasized the importance of brevity and impact in homilies, advising priests to limit their sermons to 10 minutes. Speaking to diocesan liturgical directors on January 20, the pope stressed that lengthy, abstract homilies are a "disaster" and do not serve their intended purpose.
"Homilies are not academic conferences," Pope Francis remarked, recounting how some parishioners describe sermons as lengthy philosophy lessons. He encouraged priests to keep their homilies concise, suggesting they be "no more than eight to 10 minutes" and should include "a thought, a feeling, and an image" to ensure parishioners leave with something meaningful.
Highlighting the significance of preparation, the pope described homilies as "sacramentals" that should be "prepared in prayer" and delivered "with an apostolic spirit." However, he lamented that in general, homilies within the Catholic Church are often poorly executed.
The meeting in Rome was part of a formation course on liturgy titled "Living Liturgical Action Fully," held at the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy. During this event, Pope Francis also spoke on the role of the liturgical master of ceremonies, suggesting they should remain as inconspicuous as possible to allow Christ to be the focus of the Mass.
The pope emphasized that experts in liturgy should possess a strong pastoral sense to enhance a community's liturgical life, ensuring that religious celebrations encourage the "fruitful participation of the people of God" rather than focusing solely on the clergy. This pastoral approach aims to connect people with Christ and is central to the objectives of the Second Vatican Council.
"If we neglect this, we will have beautiful rituals, but without vigor, without flavor, without sense, because they do not touch the heart and the existence of the people of God," Pope Francis said.
He urged liturgical directors to engage with parishes, observe liturgical practices, and help pastors improve their preparations.
Pope Francis further advised that liturgical directors should offer parishes a liturgy that is adaptable and conducive to growth in liturgical life. He criticized the practice of improving liturgy only for a bishop’s visit, stating that consistency and genuine improvement are necessary.
"To go to parishes and not say anything when faced with somewhat sloppy, neglected, poorly prepared liturgies means not helping the community, not accompanying them," he added.
The pope's guidance underscores a vision for a more engaged and meaningful liturgical experience, focusing on the spiritual enrichment of the congregation through thoughtful, succinct, and heartfelt homilies.
