Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at the historic parish of Sant’Anna in Vatican City on Sunday morning, delivering a homily that called for an “inner revolution of the heart.” Reflecting on the Gospel, the Pope urged the faithful to resist the temptation of dividing loyalty between God and wealth, reminding them of Jesus’ words: “No one can serve two masters.”
In his homily, the Pope emphasized that the Christian life demands clarity of purpose: “This is not a temporary choice that can be revised at convenience. It is about deciding where to place our heart, whom we love faithfully, and what truly constitutes our good.” He warned against the risk of letting material wealth replace God in human lives, noting that the pursuit of possessions often fosters suspicion, rivalry, and exploitation instead of fraternity and trust.
The Mass took place in the 16th-century Church of Sant’Anna, a spiritual gateway at one of Vatican City’s principal entrances. Entrusted to the Augustinians since 1929, the parish has long served pilgrims, workers, and visitors who pass through daily. The Pope acknowledged the symbolic significance of this location, saying it represented the Church’s mission “on the border,” where hearts and doors must always remain open to prayer, charity, and listening.
He greeted with gratitude the Augustinian community, including parish priest Father Mario Millardi, Prior General Father Joseph Farrell, and former pastor Father Gioiele Schiavella. Expressing joy at presiding over the Eucharist, the Pope thanked parishioners and religious alike for sustaining the life and mission of this unique parish.
Pope Leo XIV reflected on how human needs for care, shelter, and food are genuine, but warned that “the thirst for wealth risks taking the place of God in our hearts.” He explained that the Gospel demands a radical choice one that leads to freedom: “Whoever serves God becomes free from wealth; but whoever serves wealth becomes its slave.”
He added that wealth, when used justly, becomes a common good, but when used for domination, it corrupts both society and the human heart. “The Word of God does not divide people into classes or rivals,” he said, “but calls everyone to an inner revolution of conversion.”
The Pope used the occasion to extend a prayer for world leaders, urging that rulers be freed from the temptation to exploit wealth for destructive purposes. “May wealth not be turned into weapons that destroy peoples or into monopolies that demean workers,” he pleaded. His words carried added weight as he lamented the violence and indifference crushing entire populations, particularly in regions torn by war.
Highlighting the need for Christian witness in a fractured world, Pope Leo XIV encouraged the faithful to persevere with hope. “We must not be passive before tragedies,” he said, “but proclaim with our lives that Jesus is the Savior, the One who frees us from all evil.” He concluded by invoking the Holy Spirit to transform hearts so that, nourished by the Eucharist, believers might become “witnesses of charity and peace.”
The Church of Sant’Anna holds a rich legacy within the Vatican. Originally linked to the papal grooms in the 16th century, it became a parish after the Lateran Pacts of 1929 and has since remained under Augustinian care. Over the decades, several Popes have visited its sanctuary from Pius XI in 1931 to John Paul II, who once affectionately called it “my parish,” and Pope Francis, who celebrated his first public Mass there in 2013.
By celebrating Mass in Sant’Anna, Pope Leo XIV joined this tradition, using the occasion to remind Christians that the path of discipleship requires clarity, courage, and a heart anchored in God alone.