The Pontiff then referred to the “other Reading” from Revelation (12:7-12).

But it is also a promise made in eternity”. A glory which, the Bishop of Rome clarified, “is promised in Daniel, is promised in Jesus. And the Holy Father used “the image of Jacob’s ladder: Jesus is at the centre of the glory, Jesus is the glory of the Father”. you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man’”.

Thus, the Pope continued, “to Nathaniel, who was astonished, Jesus says: ‘you shall see greater things than these. The day’s liturgy also reintroduces this reality in the Gospel. Here, Francis said, is “Jesus Christ, before the Father, in the glory of heaven”. And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him”. In fact, Daniel says: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. Thus, he explained, “there is glory” and “in the midst of this glory there is Jesus Christ”. The Pontiff began by pointing out that “the two Readings we heard - both that from the Prophet Daniel (7:9-10, 13-14) and that from the Gospel according to John (1:47-51) - speak to us about glory: the glory of heaven, the court of heaven, the adoration in heaven”. Pope Francis recalled the actual role of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael during morning Mass at Santa Marta. But we have the certainty of not being alone in this fight, because the Lord entrusted to the archangels the task of defending man. And unless we fight “we will be defeated”. The fight against the subtle plans of destruction and dehumanization brought forth by the devil - who “presents things as if they were good”, even inventing “humanistic explanations” - is “an everyday reality”.

Actual angels