Pope Francis on Wednesday held his first weekly general audience for pilgrims after they were halted for the month of July, and used the encounter to continue a series of reflections on Christian hope.
At the general audience, held in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, Francis reflected on the sacrament of baptism, calling it "the gateway to hope".
All Christians should know the date of their baptism, the pontiff said, saying this was "the most beautiful plea we can make to each other".
"When we were baptized we received a candle that was lit...as a sign of Christ’s victory over the darkness of sin and death," he said.
"As Christians, let us remind each other that we have been reborn as children of the light, and, faithful to our baptismal calling, let us share the new hope that Jesus brings."
Francis sent special greetings to a group of Iraqi Christians who attended Wednesday's general audience with the Bishop of Babylon Shlemon Warduni, along with pilgrims from Japan, Nigeria and the US.
"Upon all of you, I invoke the grace of the Lord Jesus, that you may be a sign of Christian hope in your homes and communities," Francis said.
