On the last Sunday of each liturgical year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, or Christ the King. This year, the feast will be celebrated on November 21.
Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in 1925 with his encyclical Quas primas (“In the first”) to respond to growing secularism and atheism. He recognized that attempting to “thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law” out of public life would result in continuing discord among people and nations. This solemnity reminds us that while governments come and go, Christ reigns as King forever. READ MORE
USCCB novena prays for religious liberty ahead of Christ the King feast
SALT LAKE CITY (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops have urged Catholics to pray a novena for religious liberty in the nine days leading up to the feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, which this year is Nov. 21. Pope Pius XI instituted the solemnity in his 1925 encyclical "Quas primas" ("In the first"). He set aside a special day so that "the Catholic Church, which is the kingdom of Christ on earth, destined to be spread among all men and all nations, should with every token of veneration salute her Author and Founder in her annual liturgy as King and Lord, and as King of kings."
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee for Religious Liberty described the feast day as one "born out of resistance to totalitarian incursions against religious liberty" and asked it be a day when bishops and priests "preach about religious liberty, both here and abroad. For Christians, when our faith is repeatedly marginalized in public life, we can fall into the habit of compartmentalizing our lives," the USCCB website stated in its article "About Christ the King."
Quotes from Pope Francis
The Kingdom Demands Discipleship
Jesus is the center of creation; and so the attitude demanded of us as true believers is that of recognizing and accepting in our lives the centrality of Jesus Christ, in our thoughts, in our words and in our works."
– Homily of Pope Francis, Solemnity of Christ the King, November 24, 2013
The Kingdom is Humble
The kingdoms of this world at times are sustained by arrogance, rivalries and oppression; the reign of Christ is a 'kingdom of justice, love and peace.' For a Christian, speaking of power and strength means referring to the power of the Cross, and the strength of Jesus' love: a love which remains steadfast and complete, even when faced with rejection, and it is shown as the fulfillment of a life expended in the total surrender of oneself for the benefit of humanity."
– Angelus Address of Pope Francis, Solemnity of Christ the King, November 22, 2015