General Audience – 17th June

Having returned from his visit to Spain, the Pope Leo XIV spent his weekly Wednesday audience at St Peter’s Square reflecting on his time abroad. On his time in the Canary Islands, he spoke about the “reality of a local Church which welcomes a large number of forced migrants, mainly from Africa.”

He continued, explaining that the reality of this Church helps us to understand the social mission of the Gospel: “exchanging the gifts of our respective cultures with each other, and in particular, the results produced in them by the fruitfulness of Christ’s message.” He added the one of these fruits is dialogue “between people and between peoples” which allows us to learn more about each other and appreciate each other. “This journey is not easy. It requires goodwill and God’s help, but it is the path that leads to the civilization of love.”

• How can we push ourselves into places of encounter in our daily lives?
• What good fruits can be born out of “exchanging the gifts of our respective cultures” with other people?

Angelus

Sunday 21st, June

Reflecting on the gospel of the day during one of his regular Sunday Angelus, the Holy Father spoke of the need for contemplation when living the life of faith. He described it as something that isn’t “reserved only for a few saints or for monks and hermits.” Affirming that we are all able to do it, providing we can set aside quiet moments in our daily lives to listen to God’s voice.

He goes on to explain that these periods of contemplation and meditation allow us to have a more firm and conscious faith, which “consequently [helps us] to be credible and free disciples, men and women capable of reflecting the light of the Gospel in every setting and every situation of life, and of bearing witness to it even where its value is not understood or accepted.”

Living the life of faith means that we must be disposed to allow God to bear fruit in our lives. This fruit is not simply doing good deeds, but doing them with great love and care, rooted in the message of the Gospel.

Later in the Angelus address, Pope Leo continues:

“Now, just as then, it is a challenge to remain faithful to Jesus’ teachings and to proclaim his word: to respond to hatred with love, to arrogance with meekness, and to discouragement with perseverance.”

He explains that, for this very reason, we must “deepen the roots of our faith” through an intimate relationship with God. This relationship, one of a loving Father and His child, brings life and strength, allowing us to carry the message of the Gospel: hope, love and peace.

The following week, continuing his reflections on the Gospel readings, the Pope spoke of Matthew 10:37-42, during which he highlighted the need for simple hospitality and welcome as part of living out our faith in our daily lives.

He explained:

“Love is expressed through concrete choices and actions; by a commitment made up of small daily gestures, such as offering a glass of water to someone who is thirsty.”

Having explained this, the Holy Father insisted that:

“By welcoming those who come in Jesus’ name, we welcome him and the heavenly Father who sent him.  Indeed, love for the Lord always involves welcoming our brothers and sisters.”

Reaching across boundaries and showing our love for God and others by serving the vulnerable, we ourselves become a gift to others.