But the faithful in the pews need to do their part, too, the Pope said at his weekly general audience.

Catholics need to read the Bible more regularly so they can better understand the Mass readings, and they need to be patient with the homilist, especially if the sermon is boring, meandering or hard to understand, he said.

"How many times do we see some people asleep, chatting or going out to smoke a cigarette during the homily," the Pope asked those gathered in the Paul VI audience hall.

A homily must be prepared well with prayer and study, and be delivered clearly and briefly – "it must not go longer than 10 minutes, please," he said.

Continuing his series of audience talks on the Mass, Pope Francis spoke about the proclamation of the Gospel and the homily.

Whoever gives the homily must recognise that it is not about himself, but that he is "giving voice to Jesus, he is preaching the word of Jesus," Francis said.

The homily is not a lecture, a lesson, a catechesis or just small talk, he said; it is the minister continuing a dialogue the Lord has already established with his people so that his word may become part of their lives.

"The word of the Lord ends its journey becoming flesh in us, translating itself into action, as happened in (the lives of) Mary and the saints," he said.

Just as the preacher must try to offer "a real service" to all those gathered for Mass, the Pontiff said, the people in the pews must do their part, above all by paying attention and listening with a proper attitude – free from "subjective pretences" and prejudices, "knowing that every preacher has virtues and limitations."

FULL STORY

Homilies must help people reflect, not send them to sleep, Pope says (The Tablet)