Pope Francis has called for brevity in sermons, calling on priests to keep their homilies to a maximum of eight minutes so as to maintain the congregation’s attention and avoid them dozing off.
During his weekly audience on Wednesday, the 87-year-old pontiff emphasised the need for concise and engaging messages during masses
“The homily must be short: an image, a thought, a feeling, After that time attention is lost and people fall asleep, and they are right,” Pope Francis said
A homily typically follows a Bible reading and is intended to reinforce the day’s teaching.
The pope said lengthy sermons could be counterproductive.“
Priests sometimes talk a lot and you don’t understand what they are talking about,” he sakd.
The pope’s recent remarks on the duration of homilies have been positively received by many in the church, who recognise the need for more engaging and accessible messages during services.