It is the first “summer” Angelus for Pope Leo XIV. At midday the Marian prayer was recited by Castel Gandolfoin front of the Apostolic Palace, in Piazza della Libertà, the heart of the town of Castelli Romani where the Pontiff is spending a few days of rest. Since the early hours of the morning, numerous faithful have reached the village to participate in the appointment with the Pope, who wanted to address a special greeting to the local inhabitants: «I greet the inhabitants of this beautiful village, Castel Gandolfo, in which I am spending a few days of relaxation».
From the place chosen for a period of vacation and recovery of energy, Pope Leo, who yesterday had lunch with some vulnerable people assisted by the Diocese of Rome in the Borgo Laudato Si’, however kept his gaze turned to the wounds of the world, once again denouncing the drama of the wars which continue to sow suffering: «Unfortunately, the winds of war are once again blowing into Middle East, Ukraine and numerous other parts of the world, sowing violence, terror and death, and once again striking many innocent people”, said the Pope.
In front of the faithful gathered in Castel Gandolfo, the Pontiff launched an appeal not to give in to resignation and the logic of violence: “Let us not let these winds extinguish the flame of hope and peace, even when it seems fragile and wavering.” And he once again indicated the path of dialogue as the only possible way to build peace: «I renew my hope that it will be followed with perseverance the path of dialogue, encounter and diplomacy, the only path capable of leading to a just and lasting peace, in which peoples can live reconciled, in mutual security and with respect for the dignity of every person.” In his greeting after the Marian prayer, Leo XIV also recalled the Sea Sundaywhich is celebrated today, dedicating a thought to those who work on the world’s routes: “My thoughts go to all the seafarers, fishermen and port workers in the world who, marked by the distance of their loved ones and sometimes by fear of the conflicts that cross the sea routes, support the trade and life of many peoples with patient and silent work”.
«God continues to believe in the soil of our hearts»
Before praying the Angelus, the Pope dedicated his reflection to the Sunday Gospel, with the parable of the sower told by the evangelist Matthew. At the center of Leone’s meditation is the trust in God who continues to spread his Word in the hearts of men, despite fragility and resistance. The seed, Leo XIV recalled, is Christ himself: «Jesus himself, the Word made man, who gave his life for our salvation, is the seed that the Father continues to scatter in the world so that, in dying, it bears much fruit».
The Pope then described the different terrains in which the seed of the Word can fall: «It is true, sometimes it encounters in us a hard, insensitive groundother times distracted, similar to the beaten ground of the paths, to the stony ground, to the bramble bushes; but there are moments in which he finds a receptive and fruitful land, and then miracles of love are triggered capable of changing everything else, as we have certainly experienced in our lives.”
God, the Pontiff underlined, never gives up because he knows the possibilities hidden in every person: «This is why the Father does not stop sowing, because he knows that the power of his love is stronger than our weakness». Quoting Saint John Chrysostom, Pope Leo recalled that God’s logic surpasses human logic: «How can it be reasonable to sow on thorns, on stony ground, on the road? In the case of seeds and earth it would not be reasonable, while in the case of souls and teachings this is very commendable».
And he added: “In the hands of God it is possible that the stony place is transformed and becomes fertile land, that the road is no longer trampled and is not exposed to all passers-by, but is rich soil, that the thorns are eliminated and the seeds enjoy a situation of great safety.”
God’s generosity, the Pope further explained, is never superficial: «She is not naive, but wise, and knows how to grasp in us the possibility of a good that sometimes not even we are aware of. The Lord, who knows the terrain of our heart well, better than we know it ourselves, never stops believing in us, in what we are and what we can become, day by day, if we abandon ourselves to Him with faith”, he added. From this mutual trust the fruits of the Holy Spirit are born: «From the generosity and trust with which the seed is sown and from the humility and availability with which it is received, the fruits of the Holy Spirit grow in us and spread, which are, as Saint Paul teaches: love, joy, peace, magnanimity, benevolence, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
“How much our world needs these fruits: to be filled and transformed by them!”, stated the Pope, inviting once again to experience the summer time as an opportunity to listen and pray.
The final invitation was to prepare, through this time of rest and reflection, to return to daily life with a new spirit: «Let’s commit ourselves, then, especially in these days of vacationto give space to listening, reading and meditating on the Word of God, cultivating, together with rest and healthy entertainmenteven significant moments of silence and prayer.”
«We will return to our usual occupations renewed in body and spirit, ready to announce the Good News of the Gospel and increasingly capable of cooperating in the growth of the Kingdom of God», concluded the Pope, entrusting the faithful to the protection of Mary: «May Mary, Queen of the Apostles and Star of evangelization, help us in this».
