After his apostolic journey to Spain, the Pontiff returns to appear in St. Peter’s Square for the usual appointment with theAngeluswhich we report in full.
Today’s Gospel (Mt 9.36 – 10.8) brings us a great gift, because it involves all those who listen to it in the gaze of Jesus: it is a story that testifies to the attention of his sight, as well as telling us what the Lord observes. We read, in fact, that Christ “seeing the crowds, felt compassion for them, because they were tired and exhausted” (v. 36). Having become our brother, the Son of God looks at people, he looks at humanity: he sees oppression that crushes and violence that takes away strength. He sees the wounds of wars and the emptiness of consumerism. He sees faces reduced to masks, families broken by evil and young people deluded by false ideals. Jesus sees and loves. He loves and suffers for us, with us: his compassion expresses not only fraternal closeness, but the desire for redemption.
In fact, he knows our heart and takes care of it: in the face of many people similar to “sheep who have no shepherd” (v. 36), Christ dedicates himself to all of them as a good shepherd and, as lord of the harvest, sends workers into the field of the world (see v. 38). What job do they have to do? Giving God’s comfort to those who suffer: bringing charity where there is misery, hope where there is affliction, faith where there is mistrust.
The Gospel reports the names of the first twelve “workers”: they are disciples made apostles, that is, missionaries and preachers. Among them there is Simon known as Peter, the first, and also Judas Iscariot, the last, to remind us that we can follow Jesus and betray him, but the Gospel remains a living and true word for everyone. The Good News that spans the centuries is identical, always young, fresh and liberating: “The Kingdom of heaven is near” (Mt 10.7)! Yes, he is close because in Jesus Christ God becomes close to every man and every woman, to every people and nation. When this Gospel is announced and practiced, evil collapses like an illness that ends (see v. 8), like a night that gives way to the dawn, like death conquered by the Risen One.
This is how Jesus’ gaze transforms reality: full of love, his initiative gives life to a new people, the Church, called to continue the mission of the apostles: “You have received freely, give freely” (v. 8). Yes, Jesus’ gift is completely free, because its value exceeds all measure: it is impossible to deserve it or “buy” it. This grace is the beautiful name of God’s mercy, which reaches us everywhere, to bring us to himself. “Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38)!
Dear ones, the task of evangelizing arises from the gift of God which in Christ becomes forgiveness for the world, service to those who are the smallest and poorest, commitment to justice. We ask for the help of the Virgin Mary, full of grace, so that we respond with joy and courage to the mission to which Jesus calls us.
The greeting to the faithful after the Angelus
After the Angelus, Leo XIV greeted the faithful welcomed as always in large numbers in St. Peter’s Square, also remembering the new blessed. Here’s what he said:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I’ll express it first my gratitude to the Lord for the Apostolic Journey that he allowed me to make to Spain. I thank the Spanish people who welcomed me with great enthusiasm and devotion. I am especially grateful to His Majesty the King; I affectionately thank the Bishops, all the communities I have visited and the entire Church in Spain. May God always bless Spain!
I would then like to mention some new Blesseds: the diocesan priests Wenceslas Drbola and John Bula, from Moravia; and Giovanni Świerc and eight companions, Polish Salesian priests. All were beatified as martyrs, because they were victims of persecution by totalitarian regimes because of their loyalty to Christ. Furthermore, yesterday, in Mato Grosso, Brazil, Nazareno Lanciotti, a Roman missionary priest, also a martyr, was beatifiedbecause in the name of the Gospel he defended the poorest. May the example and intercession of these courageous witnesses support the mission of priests and of the whole Church.
I assure you my closeness to the people of the Philippines hit by a strong earthquake a few days ago. I pray for the deceased and their families, for the injured and for all those who suffer due to this calamity.
And now I address my greetings to all of you, Romans and pilgrims from various countries!
I greet the members of the International Commission for Dialogue between the Disciples of Christ and the Catholic Church. May your reflections help us to grow in communion.
I greet all the pilgrims from the United States of America, especially the faithful from New Jersey and the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida.
I greet the confirmands of Bolgare, diocese of Bergamo, the “Casa di Maria” community – which Pope Francis called “the children of the Immaculate Conception” – and the parish groups of Santa Maria delle Grazie and Santa Francesca Cabrini in Rome.
I wish everyone a happy Sunday!
