Pope Francis’ remarks from his general audience on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Trump supporters and the marginalized. Republicans and Democrats. Catholic leaders and myself. How do I hold them all together?

We expect too much from politics, more than it can or should provide. Only prayer can transform us.

It’s easy to be mad at politicians, Father Conroy says. But they are human beings doing a hard job in a toxic environment. So we should pray for them, too.

Lord, I don’t know what it actually means for a year to go to hell. But if hell is hot, let 2020 burn.

A Reflection for the Fourth Wednesday of Advent