Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the universe, solemnity

Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe

First Reading

They anointed David king of Israel.

From the Second Book of Samuel
2 Sam 5:1-3

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and they said: «Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them in. And the Lord has said to you, “You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over Israel”».
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

From Ps 121 (122)

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced when they said to me,
«Let us go to the house of the Lord!».
And now our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem! R.

To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord,
according to the ordinance of Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
In it are set up judgment seats,
the thrones of the house of David. R.

Second Reading

He has transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.

From the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians
Col 1:12-20

Brothers and sisters, giving thanks with joy to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions,
principalities or powers.
All things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! (Mk 11:9-10)

Alleluia.

The Gospel of today, November 23, 2025

Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

From the Gospel according to Luke
Lk 23:35-43

At that time, [after they had crucified Jesus,] the people stood by watching; the leaders, meanwhile, scoffed at him and said, «He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one!».
The soldiers also jeered at him, coming up to offer him sour wine and saying, «If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself». There was also an inscription over him, «This is the King of the Jews».
One of the criminals hanging there reviled him, saying, «Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!». The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, «Have you no fear of God, as you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal».
Then he said, «Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom». He answered him, «Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise».

The Gospel of the Lord.

Eugenio Ruberto

The Gospel of the day 23 November 2025

00:00 / 1:51

The Creed is said.

Pius XI

Pope from 1922 to 1939

Encyclical Letter Quas Primas, 1925 publishing house

“Prince of Peace” (Is 9:5)

If men, both in private and in public life, recognize that Christ is King, society will at last enjoy the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony. (…) If princes and magistrates duly appointed are persuaded that they rule, not by their own right, but by the mandate of the Divine King, they will exercise their authority in a truly pious and wise manner, and will show a holy and wise solicitude for the welfare of the commonwealth and the dignity of their subjects in framing laws and exacting their execution. As to the unity and harmony of the Christian commonwealth, it is certain that the vaster the territory over which the kingdom of Christ extends, and the more universally it embraces the human race, the more conscious men become of the bond of brotherhood which unites them. And this realization, as it puts an end to frequent conflicts, so it softens and diminishes their bitterness. If the Kingdom of Christ, as is justly due, should really embrace all mankind, why should we despair of that peace which the King of Peace brought to earth, the King, we say, who came «to reconcile all things» (Col 1:20), who came not «to be served but to serve» (Mt 20:28) and who, despite being the «Lord of all» (Eph 1:10), made himself an example of humility and primarily inculcated this virtue together with charity, and furthermore said: «My yoke is easy and my burden light»? (Mt 11:30)

The Words of the Popes

A single phrase appears on the cross: «This is the King of the Jews» (Lk 23:38). Behold the title: King. However, by observing Jesus, our idea of a king is turned upside down. Let us try to visualize a king: we will imagine a strong man sitting on a throne with precious insignia, a scepter in his hands and shining rings on his fingers, while uttering solemn words to his subjects. This, roughly, is the image we have in mind. But looking at Jesus, we see that it is the complete opposite. He is not sitting on a comfortable throne, but hanging from a gallows; the God who «casts down the mighty from their thrones» (Lk 1:52) works as a servant put on the cross by the powerful; adorned only with nails and thorns, stripped of everything but rich in love, from the throne of the cross he no longer instructs the crowds with words, he no longer raises his hand to teach. He does more: he does not point a finger at anyone, but opens his arms to all. Thus our King manifests himself: with open arms. (…) Only by entering his embrace do we understand: we understand that God pushed himself that far, to the paradox of the cross, precisely to embrace everything about us, even what was most distant from Him: our death – He embraced our death – our pain, our poverty, our fragility, and our miseries. And He embraced all this. He made himself a servant so that each of us might feel like a child. (Pope Francis – Asti Cathedral, Holy Mass on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe, November 20, 2022)