Abstract:
Pope Francis' discourses were at times taken out of context and thus resulted in divided reactions and interpretations, or worse, oppositions among Catholics and non-Catholics worldwide. Hence, a study of his pandemic homilies was put in order to attempt to avert confusion or false impression among his audiences by looking into the connection of ideas in such religious texts. Employing a discourse analysis, this study examined the coherence devices in 10 randomly selected homilies of the Catholic church's supreme pontiff as he fosters his sense of connection with his audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Findings reveal that there are four types of coherence devices, i.e., repetition of keywords, consistency of pronouns, use of transitional devices, and logical division order in his pandemic homilies. The aforementioned devices pertain to the cohesive and coherent interrelation of sentences or paragraphs within the textual context. The findings of this study have reinforced the imperative nature of coherence in textual communication, as it is crucial for the preservation of interlocutory connectivity. The discoveries of this investigation consequently generate ramifications for the examination of the structure and presentation of a sermon or other theological oration that could enhance the hypotheses and methodologies of preaching in scholarly, ecclesiastical, and ceremonial contexts. In consideration of the limited amount of linguistic research conducted on religious discourse, this study provides potential avenues for future investigation.
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