Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has called on Christians around the world to respond to hatred with love, arrogance with humility, and discouragement with perseverance, stressing that true Christian witness begins with a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
Speaking to pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus, Pope reflected on a passage from the Gospel of Saint Matthew in which Jesus sends His disciples out on mission. He said the Gospel can only be shared effectively when it is first received and experienced deeply in the heart through prayer, silence, and contemplation.
Pope focused on Jesus’ words to His disciples: “What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.” He explained that these words highlight the importance of first listening to God in a personal and intimate way before sharing His message with others.
Pope Leo said that evangelisation is not primarily about strategies, techniques, or resources. Instead, it is rooted in a genuine relationship with Christ. He noted that every believer’s mission grows from personal experience and faith rather than from external methods.
According to Pope, the strength of Christian witness comes from the work of the Holy Spirit and from the sincerity with which believers respond to God’s grace. He said the Gospel becomes more convincing when it is lived authentically and shared as the fruit of a real encounter with Jesus.
Drawing on the teaching of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Pope Leo recalled that preaching means passing on to others what has first been contemplated. He said Christians are called to share with the world what they have discovered in prayer and in their relationship with God.
Pope also rejected the idea that contemplation is reserved only for saints, monks, or hermits. He stressed that every Christian is invited to spend time with God, even amid the demands and responsibilities of daily life.
He encouraged believers to create moments of silence each day to listen to God, present their concerns and joys before Him, and reflect on their lives in His presence. Such moments, he said, help deepen faith and make Christians more capable of witnessing to the Gospel in a meaningful way.
Pope Leo explained that a strong spiritual life enables believers to become credible and free disciples who can bring the light of Christ into every situation. He said prayer and contemplation strengthen the foundations of both faith and mission.
Turning to the historical background of Saint Matthew’s Gospel, Pope noted that the Evangelist wrote for Christian communities that were facing hostility and persecution. Those early believers often struggled with fear, weariness, and the temptation to lose hope.
Pope observed that many Christians in different parts of the world continue to face similar challenges today. Despite these difficulties, he said the call to remain faithful to Christ remains unchanged.
“Now, just as then, it is a challenge to remain faithful to Jesus’ teachings and to proclaim his word,” Pope said. He urged Christians to answer hatred with love, respond to arrogance with meekness, and overcome discouragement through perseverance.
Pope Leo concluded by encouraging the faithful to deepen their relationship with the Lord so that both their faith and missionary efforts may be firmly rooted in Him. Echoing the teachings of Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium, he stressed the importance of drawing strength from an intimate friendship with Christ.
He said the modern world is in great need of the message of hope, love, and peace that Christ offers, and he encouraged Christians to be faithful witnesses of that message through their words, actions, and daily lives.