Castel Gandolfo: Pope Leo XIV has called on Christians to recognise that God’s grace reaches beyond familiar boundaries, urging the Church to reject discrimination and every barrier that harms human dignity.
Speaking to pilgrims gathered in Castel Gandolfo for the Sunday Angelus, Pope reflected on the Gospel story of the Canaanite woman who approached Jesus and pleaded for the healing of her suffering daughter. Her persistence, humility and deep faith, he said, offer an important lesson for the Church and for the world today.
Pope Leo began by referring to the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated the previous day. The feast invites Christians to reflect on Mary’s complete union with her Son, a bond that death itself could not destroy.
He explained that every Sunday points believers towards the same promise of new life. The resurrection of Jesus is not simply an event that happened in the past, he said, but a living reality that continues to draw people into a new relationship with God.
Turning to the Canaanite woman, Pope Leo noted that she came from outside the people of Israel and lived in a foreign land. Yet she approached Jesus with confidence and refused to give up when she faced obstacles.
The woman did not ask Jesus to do something for herself. Her only concern was her daughter, who was suffering. She recognised Jesus as the Messiah and addressed Him as the Son of David, showing a faith that had already begun to grow within her even though she did not belong to Jesus’ own people.
The Gospel account also shows how difficult her journey was. The disciples considered her a disturbance and wanted her to go away. Jesus initially appeared unwilling to respond to her request.
However, the woman continued to plead for her daughter. Pope Leo highlighted the surprising change that followed. Jesus allowed Himself to be moved by her faith and suffering and finally praised her, saying that her faith was great and granting her request.
For Pope Leo, this encounter has a message that goes far beyond the Gospel story. It challenges the Church to remain open to the unexpected ways in which God is already working in the lives of people.
Pope said divine grace can be active before the Church even recognises it. Christians therefore need to listen carefully and look beyond their own expectations. Encounters that seem to interrupt plans or challenge established ways of thinking can become opportunities to discover what God is communicating.
The Canaanite woman also teaches Christians the importance of humility and determination. Her faith did not disappear when she encountered rejection. Instead, she continued to trust and ask for help.
Pope Leo stressed that God’s table is prepared for everyone. No person should be treated as though they deserve only crumbs, because every human being has a place in the house of the Father.
This message, he said, should shape the way Christians look at society. Inequality, discrimination and barriers that deny people their dignity cannot be accepted when every person is a child of God.
Pope described the Church as the Church of Jesus Christ living in a troubled world that longs for peace. In such a world, Christians are called not only to speak about peace but also to become people who build it through compassion, welcome and charity.
At the end of his reflection, Pope Leo invited the faithful to turn to Mary and ask for her intercession. He recalled the Magnificat, Mary’s song of praise, describing it as a powerful and innovative hymn.
Mary, he said, sees reality through the eyes of God. Because of this, she does not lose hope even when faced with difficult circumstances. Instead, she responds with love and acts with charity.
The story of the Canaanite woman therefore becomes a reminder that faith can appear in unexpected places and among people who may initially seem to stand outside familiar boundaries. For Pope Leo, the Church must have the courage to recognise that work of God, welcome others with dignity and ensure that no one is pushed away from the table of His love.