Pope Leo XIV presided over the jubilee hearing in St. Peter’s Square, meeting pilgrims and faithful from all over the world. At the center of the catechesis the pontiff proposed a reflection entitled “Hoping is to guess. Ambrogio of Milan”inspired by the Gospel of Luca (10, 21-22).
Catechesis: the example of Sant’Ambrogio
“The Jubilee makes us pilgrims of hope,” said the Pope, focusing on the verb “intuition” as “movement of the spirit, intelligence of the heart that Jesus found in the little ones”. The sensus fidei Simple, he explained, is “like a sixth sense for the things of God”. Leone XIV recalled the story of Sant’Ambrogio, elected bishop of Milan in the fourth century by the people who sensed their spiritual stature, despite being still catechumen. “Do you see what a great gift made by the little ones to the Church?” He observed, underlining how Ambrogio, who then became father and doctor of the Church, was able to renew the liturgy and lead to the conversion Sant’Agostino. “Intuire is a way of hoping, let’s not forget it,” reiterated the pontiff, inviting the faithful to live their call by becoming Christians in everyday life: as parents, workers, religious or lay people committed.
International greetings
As usual, the Pope summarized catechesis in different languages. In English he encouraged catechists to cultivate the relationship with Jesus in the faithful; In German he recalled the willingness to respond to God’s personal call; In Spanish he invited to serve the Church by irradling hope; In Portuguese he urged to announce the Gospel especially to children; to the Poles he asked to let himself be guided by sensus fidei of the people of God.
The appeal for Ukraine
During the hearing, Leone XIV recalled the beatification in Bilki, Ukraine, of the Greek-Catholic priest Pietro Paolo Oros, killed in 1953 “in hatred to faith”. The Pope invoked his intercession because the Ukrainian people “persevere with fortress in faith and hope, despite the drama of the war”. A particular greeting was aimed at Italian pilgrims, including the dioceses of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Privorno with the Bishop Mariano Crociata, Acerenza with the Archbishop Francesco Sirufo and Vicenza with the bishop Giuliano Brugnotto. The Pope encouraged them to grow “rooted in listening to the Word of God and in personal and community prayer”. The groups of renewal in the spirit of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, the Vicaria of Fossombrone, the soldiers of the 46th Aerial Brigade of Pisa, the autonomous Italian banking federation and the order of the Nursing professions of Arezzo were also remembered. Finally, the Pontiff addressed a thought to young people, the sick and newlyweds: “Christ, the Holy Door who introduces us to the Father, is always at the center of your life, so that you can be convinced and joyful of his love”.
