Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has urged Christians to become witnesses of God’s mercy by sharing hope, faith, and compassion with those who are suffering, reminding the faithful that God’s grace is a free gift meant to be shared with everyone.
Speaking during the Angelus prayer in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday, Pope reflected on the Gospel passage from Saint Matthew, in which Jesus looks upon the crowds with compassion because they were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Pope said that Jesus continues to look upon humanity with the same loving and compassionate gaze today. He noted that Christ sees the many struggles people face across the world, including the wounds caused by war, social divisions, and the growing emptiness brought about by a culture focused only on material things.
“The Son of God looks at humanity,” Pope Leo said, explaining that Jesus sees the burdens people carry, the violence that weakens communities, and the suffering experienced by families and young people who are often drawn toward false ideals.
According to Pope, Christ’s compassion is more than simple sympathy. It is an expression of God’s desire to heal, redeem, and bring people closer to Him. Jesus not only sees human suffering but also responds to it with love and mercy.
Reflecting on the Gospel account, Pope Leo recalled how Jesus sent His disciples into the world to continue His mission of bringing comfort and hope to those in need. He said Christians today are called to carry out that same mission by serving others and sharing the Good News.
“Our task as Christians is to bring charity where there is misery, hope where there is affliction, and faith where there is distrust,” Pope said.
Pope Leo also pointed to the Gospel’s mention of the twelve apostles, including Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus. He said this detail serves as a reminder that human weakness and failure have always existed, even among Christ’s closest followers.
Despite this reality, Pope stressed that the Gospel remains a living and powerful message that continues to transform lives across generations. He said the message of Christ never grows old and remains a source of freedom, renewal, and hope for people everywhere.
“When the Gospel is proclaimed and lived out, evil crumbles,” the Pope said, comparing its power to the passing of darkness before the arrival of dawn and to death being conquered through Christ’s resurrection.
Pope emphasised that Jesus freely offers His love and salvation to all people. This gift, he explained, cannot be earned or purchased because it comes entirely from God’s mercy.
He described grace as the beautiful expression of God’s love, a love that seeks out every person wherever they may be and invites them into a deeper relationship with Him.
Concluding his reflection, Pope Leo encouraged Christians to become active witnesses of the Gospel by spreading God’s forgiveness, serving the poor, and working for justice in society.
Entrusting the faithful to the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he prayed that Christians would respond with courage and joy to the mission entrusted to them by Christ.
The Angelus message served as a reminder that God’s grace is given freely and abundantly, and that every believer is called to share that gift through acts of mercy, compassion, and faithful service to others.