Guardian angels exist – and help steer people to make the right decision, Pope Francis says.
"The doctrine on angels is not fantasist. No, it's reality," the pope said during his daily mass in the small chapel in his residence at the Vatican.
"According to Church tradition we all have an angel with us, who protects us and helps us understand things," he said in a message to mark the feast of the guardian angels Thursday.
And when we weigh our options about doing the right thing, "this is the voice of" our guardian angel – a "traveling companion," the pope said,
Catholic News Agency reported.
"Do not rebel: follow his advice," the pope urged. "No one walks alone and none of us can think that he is alone" because "this companion" is always with us.
"It is dangerous to chase away our traveling companion because no man, no woman can advise themselves…."
Pope Francis' sermon was in sharp contrast to former Pope Benedict's message in a 2012 book that included the assertion angels didn't make the famous Nativity declaration, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased" – and earned him a tabloid tag as the
"killjoy pope."
In his Thursday sermon, Pope Francis advised skeptics to ask themselves "how is my relationship with my guardian angel? Do I listen to him? Do I say good morning to him? Do I ask him to watch over me when I sleep?
"No one journeys alone and no one should think that they are alone," he said.
Agence France Presse contributed to this report.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.