«In the world there is «a widespread disease: the lack of trust in life. As if we had resigned ourselves to a negative fate, of renunciation. Life risks no longer representing a possibility received as a gift, but an unknown, almost a threat from which to protect oneself so as not to be disappointedthe”.
It is the heart of the reflection of Pope Leo XIV in the catechesis of the general audience on Wednesday in St. Peter’s Square in front of numerous faithful.
God, continued the Pontiff, «remains faithful forever to his plan of love and life; he does not tire of supporting humanity even when, in the wake of Cain, he obeys the blind instinct of violence in wars, in discrimination, in racism, in the multiple forms of slavery. Generating therefore means trusting the God of life and promoting the human in all its expressions: first of all in the wonderful adventure of motherhood and fatherhood», added Leone, «even in social contexts in which families struggle to support the burden of everyday life, often being held back in their projects and dreams. In this same logic, to generate is to commit to a solidarity economy, to seek the common good equally enjoyed by all, to respect and care for creation, offer comfort with listening, presence, concrete and disinterested help”.
The Pope therefore spoke of one «symphony of creatures» which «knows a wonderful “crescendo” culminating in the duet of man and woman: God created them in his own image and entrusted them with the mission of generating also in his image, that is, for love and in love».
Leo XIV explained that life “lights up” when we welcome it as a gift, accepting each new creature as part of a greater story. Even in difficult times – when poverty, war, discrimination increase fear – life remains a gift to be defended.
The Pope blesses a little girl during the general audience
(HANDLE)
For this reason, he added, «promoting humanity in all its expressions” means taking care not only of births, but of every person (poor, fragile, marginalized) so that everyone has the dignity they deserve, even when society seems to look the other way.
Referring to the death and resurrection of Christ, the Pope proposed a vision of hope that gives meaning to even the hardest events. Because “when life seems to be dying out, the Risen Lord continues to walk with us». In a world that often proposes the economy of profit, efficiency, results, and which only considers those who “give”, the Church is called to bear witness to an economy of solidarity. An economy that does not sacrifice people in the name of profit, but values every life as an irreplaceable good.
The Pope invited everyone to make a concrete commitment to give hope to those who have lost it, dignity to those who are excluded, care to those who are wounded: «Don’t be afraid to welcome and defend every child you conceiveto”, this is the appeal he addressed to the faithful, so that the value of life becomes a courageous choice and authentic service.
At the end of the general audience, the Pope announced that from Thursday until December 2 he will make his first apostolic journey outside Italy, to Türkiye and Lebanon.
The stage in Türkiyewith a pilgrimage to İznik (ancient Nicaea), on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the first Council of Nicaea, represents a symbolic gesture of memory and reconciliation between the Churches, an invitation to unity and dialogue.
Then the route towards the Lebanona country deeply wounded by economic crisis, instability and conflicts, long tormented but also the millenary cradle of coexistence between religions and cultures. There too, the Pope will bring a strong message: closeness to the Christian communities, prayer for those who suffer, solidarity with those who are excluded. “I ask you to accompany me with prayer”, the hope expressed by the Pope for this trip.
