Vatican City: In a powerful Angelus address delivered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV reminded the faithful that calling God “Father” comes with the responsibility of mirroring His compassion. Highlighting the Gospel reading where Jesus teaches the Our Father, the Pope emphasized that this prayer binds all Christians and reveals both God’s love and our true identity as His children.
Reflecting on the significance of the Lord’s Prayer, the Pope said it must be recited not only with lips but with a heart that reflects God’s gentleness. “We are called to say ‘Father’ with childlike trust and boldness, but also with a heart transformed by His mercy,” he said. Quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he noted how the Our Father simultaneously reveals the face of God and the truth about ourselves.
The Pope then pointed to images from the Gospel a friend rising at midnight to help another, and a parent giving good things to their children as powerful representations of God’s unwavering readiness to respond. “Even when His answers puzzle us, He responds with divine wisdom that transcends human reasoning,” he said. “In every moment of uncertainty, He remains our strength and our light.”
Yet, Pope Leo warned against hypocrisy in prayer. Drawing from the teachings of Saint Cyprian of Carthage and Saint John Chrysostom, he cautioned: “You cannot call God your Father while nurturing a heart of cruelty and indifference.” True prayer, he stressed, must be accompanied by acts of mercy, patience, and love.
“Let us not dishonor the name ‘Father’ by being harsh to others,” the Pope urged. “Instead, let us allow God’s love to reshape us, so that His image is reflected in our lives like a mirror.”
Concluding his address, Pope Leo encouraged all believers to take inspiration from the day’s liturgy to feel the embrace of God’s love and to extend that love generously, with sincerity, discretion, and mutual care.