The Pope: «Homilies must not exceed eight minutes or people will fall asleep»
The Pontiff reiterates a theme dear to him and Benedict XVI: «Priests sometimes talk a lot and it is not clear what about»
Per restare aggiornato entra nel nostro canale Whatsapp
«A homily must not last longer than eight minutes. After that time attention is lost, people fall asleep. And he's right."
Pope Francis lashes out against long homilies during the general audience in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
«The homily must be short – he said -. An image, a thought, a feeling." And instead "priests sometimes talk a lot and it is not clear what they are talking about", continued the Pontiff.
The maximum limit of eight minutes had been established by his predecessor Benedict XVI who, in October 2008, convened a general assembly of the Synod of Bishops dedicated to the "Word of God" . The rules for the perfect homily, according to Pope Ratzinger, started from the definition of a main theme and the recommendation "not to exceed eight minutes, the average concentration time of the listeners" .
(Unioneonline/D)
![epa12079169 Private security of the building stands guard at the scene of India's missile strike in Muridke, Punjab province, Pakistan, 07 May 2025. The Indian government said it conducted military strikes on nine sites in Pakistan in retaliation for a deadly militant attack on tourists in Kashmir. EPA/RAHAT DAR](https://immagini.unionesarda.it/version/c:OTFhNmMyOGYtODVhMC00:ODUxNTE0ZTUtYmQzYy00/image.webp?f=3%3A2&q=0.75&w=3840 "India Attacks Pakistan: "Raid Against Terrorist Sites", "Act of War". Risk of Escalation")
![epa12078431 US President Donald Trump (R) and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (L) meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 06 May 2025. EPA/FRANCIS CHUNG / POOL](https://immagini.unionesarda.it/version/c:NzBmMjdkOTQtM2FiZS00:MWQwYWM4ZmEtM2JmNC00/image.webp?f=3%3A2&q=0.75&w=3840 "Canadian PM Carney challenges Trump: "We are not for sale." The president: "Never say never"")
![](https://immagini.unionesarda.it/version/c:ZmM4NzBlMDQtMjNhNS00:MGM1ODFiYmItNzBkNS00/image.webp?f=3%3A2&q=0.75&w=3840 "Trump's announcement: "Tariffs on drugs within two weeks"")
![](https://immagini.unionesarda.it/version/c:ZDVkNGYxNmUtNDk1Yi00:NWUwY2I3NmItOWU1Yy00/image.webp?f=3%3A2&q=0.75&w=3840 "Israel, the plan to occupy Gaza: "We will conquer the Strip and we will stay there for a long time"")
![](https://immagini.unionesarda.it/version/c:NzkxZDg1NjQtYzljMi00:OWRjOTcxMjAtNWM1ZC00/image.webp?f=3%3A2&q=0.75&w=3840 "Israel approves Gaza "conquest" plan. Netanyahu: "It will be a massive invasion"")
