On the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Leo XIV delivered a profound reflection from St. Peter’s Square, emphasizing the call for Christian unity through shared witness, conversion, and above all, forgiveness. Addressing thousands of pilgrims gathered for the Angelus, the Pope underscored that the roots of the Church lie in the blood and testimony of Saints Peter and Paul pillars whose sacrifices continue to echo in the silent martyrdom of Christians across the globe.
Pope Leo drew attention to what he termed an “ecumenism of blood,” a powerful expression of unity not formed by doctrinal consensus but born from the mutual suffering and witness of Christians from all traditions. This unity, though not yet complete in visible communion, is deeply embedded in the lived experiences of believers facing persecution. “The Church of Rome, founded on the sacrifice of Peter and Paul, embraces the mission of nurturing this hidden, heartfelt communion with love,” he said.
Turning to Scripture, the Pope shifted focus to the Gospel account that highlights Peter’s foundational role, while affirming Christ as the ultimate cornerstone “the rock rejected by the builders, yet chosen by God.” In recalling the location of the two great basilicas of Peter and Paul originally outside the city walls Pope Leo reminded the faithful that the light of the Gospel often rises from the world’s overlooked and disregarded places.
He also warned that those who walk the path of Christ must be ready to journey through hardship. Citing the Beatitudes, Pope Leo noted that the way of the Gospel marked by humility, justice, and mercy is rarely the easy road, yet it is on this path that the divine glory is revealed in God’s friends, continually reshaped through grace and renewal.
The Pope stressed that sainthood emerges not from moral flawlessness, but from the power of divine mercy. “The New Testament does not hide the weaknesses or failings of the Apostles,” he explained. “What made them great was not perfection but forgiveness the mercy that shaped them anew.” He urged the faithful to embrace this truth: just as Christ never abandoned Peter or Paul in their failures, He continues to call each of us time and time again.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Jubilee Year, Pope Leo framed it as a timely reminder of God’s unending invitation to return, be renewed, and hope again. “Each conversion is a new beginning,” he affirmed.
In his closing words, the Pope extended a heartfelt appeal for unity starting within families and communities and radiating outward to the global Church. “The path to unity is forged through forgiveness and trust,” he said. “If Christ can place His trust in us despite our failings, surely we can learn to trust one another in His name.”
He ended by entrusting the Church to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saints Peter and Paul, praying that the Church may truly become “a home and a school of communion” in a world still fractured by division and pain.