Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful to trust in God’s mercy and remain open to ways of love and justice that may go beyond human expectations during his Sunday Angelus address in St Peter’s Square.
Reflecting on the day’s Gospel, Pope spoke about Jesus’ parable of the labourers in the vineyard. The story tells of workers who were hired at different times of the day, with some working from morning and others joining only a few hours before sunset. Yet the landowner paid them in the same way, beginning with those who had arrived last.
Pope Leo said the parable shows that God’s ways are different from human calculations. He recalled the words of the Prophet Isaiah that God’s thoughts are not human thoughts and His ways are not human ways.
Pope said this message is also a call to turn away from wrongdoing and return to the Lord, who offers mercy and forgiveness. He explained that Jesus’ parables reveal the newness of what God offers, while also showing how people can resist a more generous understanding of justice and love.
Pope Leo noted that the resentment of those who had worked throughout the day could easily have been avoided. However, he said the deliberate order of payment in the parable points to a wider message about God’s goodness being offered to everyone, rather than only to those who believe they have earned a particular place or reward.
He said people can discover greater joy, wisdom and hope when love is allowed to go beyond calculation, mercy extends beyond ideas of merit, and peace replaces rivalry.
Pope Leo also described it as a grace to be God’s co workers by serving in His vineyard and working for His Kingdom. In this context, he said there should be no room for envy or division when God’s newness becomes visible.
Pope urged the faithful to seek the Lord, turn away from wrong paths and place their trust in His mercy. He concluded by pointing to the Blessed Mother as an example of trust in God, saying she can help believers hope in God and allow His ways and thoughts to shape their own lives.