Pope Francis has written another Apostolic Exhortation, this one on the universal call to holiness, called Gaudete et exsultate — “Rejoice and be glad!” — which takes its title from the words of Jesus in the sermon on the mount as recorded in the Gospel according to St Matthew, specifically in the final “ninth” beatitude, which Christ addressed directly to the disciples, regarding the reward that awaits them and all who bear persecution for the sake of the Gospel. There’s a lot to say about this latest Exhortation — a lot of good to note in it, and a few things to note that do come to more than quibbles — a full rehearsal of which would run to considerable length. Here are the points that seem to be most salient after a first reading — “hot takes” as the kids say. First and foremost, Gaudete treats topics and themes we have come to recognise as hallmark concerns of the Holy Father. From the universal call to holiness as something to be lived in the suburbs and niches of everyday life, to the duty of perseverance that manifests itself in the stiff-necked stick-to-it-iveness of the habitual sinner who refuses to surrender to discouragement, to the responsibilities that all the baptised faithful share toward the less fortunate, the document is “classic” Francis. The Italians have an expression: la lingua batte dove il dente duole — “the tongue laps at the sore tooth”. If Gaudete is any indication, we may surmise that Pope Francis has several sore teeth. We knew that already, though. The interesting thing is the almost defiant tone with which he returns to them. In paragraph 102, the Holy Father writes: