Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday said the Second Vatican Council calls Christians to live a deep and personal friendship with Jesus Christ as he continued his catechesis series during the weekly General Audience.
Reflecting on the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum on Divine Revelation Pope described it as one of the most beautiful and important documents of the Council. He recalled the words of Jesus from the Gospel of John where Christ tells his disciples that he no longer calls them servants but friends.
Pope explained that Dei Verbum reminds the Church of a central truth of the Christian faith that Jesus transforms the relationship between God and humanity. Through Christ this relationship becomes one of friendship rooted in love which is the foundation of the new covenant.
He noted that even though God remains the Creator and humanity remains created the coming of the Son in human flesh opens the covenant to its fullness. In Jesus God makes human beings his sons and daughters and invites them to become like him while still living with human weakness.
Pope Leo XIV stressed that this friendship requires listening and dialogue. He encouraged believers to listen to the Word of God so that it can reach both mind and heart and to speak with God in prayer not to inform him but to discover themselves more deeply.
Pope underlined the importance of daily prayer saying that friendship with the Lord cannot grow without time dedicated to prayer meditation and reflection. He said this begins with liturgical and community prayer where God speaks through the Church and continues in personal prayer within the heart and mind.
Drawing from everyday experience Pope warned that friendships can weaken or end through neglect. Jesus calls believers to friendship he said and this call should not be ignored. By welcoming and caring for this relationship he concluded Christians will discover that friendship with God is their salvation.