Castel Gandolfo: Pope Leo XIV has encouraged Christians to remain open to God's word, saying that God never loses faith in people, even when they struggle or feel weak. Speaking during the Angelus prayer at Castel Gandolfo, where he is spending his summer break, the Pope reflected on the Parable of the Sower. He called on the faithful to use the summer months as a time for prayer, silence and deeper reflection on Scripture.
Addressing pilgrims gathered for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Pope Leo said the Gospel passage from Saint Matthew reveals the great generosity and trust of God, who continues to sow the seed of His word in every human heart. He explained that God never ceases to offer His love because He knowsHis power is greater than human weakness.
Pope said the parable is not simply about farming but about God's constant effort to reach every person. He noted that while some hearts may be closed, distracted or burdened by life's worries, others receive God's word with openness and allow it to produce lasting change.
At the heart of the Gospel message, Pope Leo said, is Jesus Christ Himself. He described Jesus as the Word made flesh and the seed that the Father continues to plant throughout the world. Through His life, death and resurrection, Christ continues to bring hope and new life to humanity.
Pope acknowledged that not everyone immediately accepts God's message. Some people, he said, are like hard paths where the seed cannot take root. Others are compared to rocky ground or places filled with thorns, where worries, distractions and difficulties prevent spiritual growth. Yet there are also hearts that are ready to receive God's word, allowing it to grow and produce acts of love, kindness and faith.
He stressed that God never becomes discouraged by human weakness. Instead, He continues to sow His word because He knows that every person has the ability to change. According to the Pope, God's confidence in humanity is based on His deep knowledge of every human heart.
Quoting Saint John Chrysostom, Pope Leo said that while a farmer would normally avoid scattering seed on rocky ground, God acts differently because He knows that even difficult hearts can be transformed. What may appear impossible from a human point of view is always possible through God's grace.
Pope said God's generosity is not based on blind optimism but on wisdom and perfect understanding. He sees goodness in every person, even when people fail to see it in themselves. Because of this, God continues to believe in each individual and in the person they can become through faith and trust in Him.
Pope Leo encouraged Christians not to lose hope in themselves or in others. He said that when people welcome God's word with humility and openness, it produces the fruits of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Referring to Saint Paul's Letter to the Galatians, he listed these fruits as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
He said today's world is in great need of these values, adding that societies can be renewed when people allow God's word to guide their actions and relationships.
As many people begin their summer holidays, the Pope also invited Christians to make good use of this period by strengthening their spiritual lives. While rest and recreation are important, he said holidays also offer an opportunity to spend time in silence, prayer and meditation on the Bible.
He encouraged families and individuals to create moments during the summer to listen to God's word, read Scripture and reflect on its meaning. Such practices, he said, help renew both body and spirit and prepare believers to return to their daily responsibilities with fresh energy and stronger faith.
Pope concluded by urging the faithful to become witnesses of the Gospel in their everyday lives. By allowing God's word to take root in their hearts, he said, Christians can help spread hope, love and peace while contributing to the growth of God's kingdom in the world.