In front of a square packed with faithful, Pope Leo XIV, inspired by today’s Gospel, recalled the figure of John the Baptist and how he teaches us to “put ourselves aside”, he who was able to recognize his own smallness. A precious suggestion, even more so for us who live in the world of appearing at all costs. Leone, however, reiterated that he is looking for joy not based on “surrogates of happiness”but “on knowing that we are loved and wanted by our Father who is in heaven”.
Finally, he remembered the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which ends on January 25th, whose theme is taken from the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians, One body and one spirit as one and the hope to which you were called. Inviting all Catholic communities to strengthen their prayer in these days for the full visible unity of all Christians. A commitment to unity that must be accompanied consistently with that for peace and justice in the world.
The prayers and reflections of this year’s week were prepared for 2026 by an ecumenical group coordinated by Department for Interreligious Relations of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Here is the full text of the Angelus.
Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!
Today the Gospel tells us about John the Baptist who recognizes Jesus as the lamb of God, the Messiah. “Behold the Lamb of God,” he says, “he who takes away the sin of the world.” And he adds “I came to baptize with water so that he might be revealed to Israel”.
John recognizes Jesus as the Savior, proclaims his divinity and mission to the people of Israel and then steps aside. Having completed his task, as these words of his attest: «after me comes a man who is ahead of me because he was before me». The Baptist is a man much loved by the crowds, precisely to be feared by the authorities of Jerusalem. It would have been easy for him to exploit this fame. Instead, he doesn’t give in to the temptation of success and popularity at all.
In front of Jesus he recognizes his own smallness and makes room for His greatness. He knows that he has been sent to prepare the way for the Lord and, when the Lord comes with joy and humility, he recognizes his presence and withdraws from the scene. How important his testimony is for us today: in fact, approval and consensus, visibility are often given excessive importance such as to influence people’s ideas, behaviors and states of mind; to cause suffering and division, to produce ephemeral, disappointing, imprisoning lifestyles and relationships.
In reality, we don’t need these happiness surrogates. Our joy and our greatness are not based on fleeting illusions of success and fame, but on knowing that we are loved and wanted by our Father who is in heaven. It is the love that Jesus tells us about, that of a God who still comes among us today not to amaze us with special effects but to share our effort and take on our burdens, revealing to us who we really are and how much we are worth in his eyes.
Dear ones, let us not allow ourselves to be distracted by his passing. Let’s not waste time and energy chasing what is only appearance. THEwe learn from John the Baptist to keep the spirit alert, loving simple things and sincere words. Living with sobriety and depth of mind and heart, being satisfied with what is necessary and possibly finding every day a special moment in which to stop in silence to pray, reflect, listen: in short, to go into the desert to meet the Lord and be with him.
May the Virgin Mary, a model of simplicity, wisdom and humility, help us in this.
Dear brothers and sisters, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins today. The origins of this initiative date back two centuries and Pope Leo XIII greatly encouraged it. Precisely one hundred years ago, for the first time, suggestions for the octave of prayer for Christian unity were published. This year’s theme is taken from Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, One body and one spirit as one and the hope to which you were called. The prayers and reflections were prepared by an ecumenical group coordinated by the Department for Interreligious Relations of the Armenian Apostolic Church. I therefore invite all Catholic communities to strengthen their prayer in these days for the full visible unity of all Christians. Our commitment to unity must be consistently accompanied by our commitment to peace and justice in the world.
Today I would like to recall, in particular, the great difficulties he suffers the population of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congoforced to flee their country, especially towards Burundi, due to violence and to face a serious humanitarian crisis. We pray that dialogue for reconciliation and peace will always prevail between the parties in conflict.
I also wish to assure you of my prayers for the victims of the floods that hit southern Africa in recent days. I extend a warm greeting to all of you Romans and pilgrims. I am pleased to greet the group from Pigot School in Wargrave, England. as well as the Fratres group of the parish community of Compite. I greet the faithful from various countries, families and associations. Thank you for your presence and your prayers. I wish everyone a good Sunday.
