Vatican City: Pope Leo on Sunday invited Christians to reflect deeply on their baptism and to live it with joy and consistency, reminding them that God is close to human life and does not remain distant from the world.

Addressing thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square under a bright winter sun, Pope led the Angelus prayer on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The celebration, observed on the Sunday after Epiphany, marked the close of the Christmas season and the beginning of Ordinary Time in the Church’s liturgical calendar.

Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo said this new phase of the liturgical year invites believers to walk together with the Lord, to listen to his word, and to imitate his acts of love toward others.

Reflecting on the Gospel account of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, Pope said the event calls every Christian to renew the promises made at baptism. He explained that this sacrament frees people from sin and makes them children of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Commenting on the Gospel of Matthew, Pope Leo noted that the baptism of Jesus reveals the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit acting together in history. Through this moment, he said, the Spirit is given to humanity as a source of salvation and new life.

Pope stressed that God does not observe the world from a distance. Instead, he enters human history, sharing in people’s wounds, struggles, and hopes through the Word made flesh. Jesus’ decision to be baptized alongside sinners, he added, shows the depth of God’s mercy.

Pope Leo said baptism brings believers into the life of the Church, describing it as the People of God made up of men and women from every nation and culture, united and renewed by the Spirit.

He encouraged the faithful to remember the gift they have received through baptism and to give witness to it with sincerity and joy. He also recalled that earlier in the day, he baptized twenty newborns in the Sistine Chapel, welcoming them as new members of the Christian community.

Concluding his reflection, Pope described baptism as a sacred sign that remains with believers throughout life. He said it is a source of light in times of darkness, reconciliation in moments of conflict, and at the end of life, a doorway to heaven.