Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has called on Christians to live truthfully, reject hypocrisy and remain free to do good, reflecting on Jesus’ teaching to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”.
The Pope shared this message during the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, in his first scheduled public appearance since being discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Saturday. He had undergone surgery the previous Tuesday to remove a portion of his right lung.
Thousands of pilgrims and visitors gathered in the square to welcome the Pope and participate in the weekly Marian devotion.
In his reflection before the Angelus, Leo XIV explained the meaning of Jesus’ well known response to a question about paying taxes. The question was intended to trap Jesus, but his answer exposed the hypocrisy of those who sought to test him while allowing him to avoid their trap.
The Pope said Jesus’ response offers an important lesson about the relationship between faith and responsibilities in human society. He explained that God does not stand apart from human history but comes to live within it. At the same time, God's kingdom does not remove the roles and responsibilities people have in their daily lives.
Leo XIV encouraged people to live without compromise, free from selfish ambitions and unjust motives. He urged them to place the Kingdom of God and His righteousness above personal interests.
The Pope also highlighted the contradiction between outward expressions of respect for Jesus and the intentions of those who approached him in the Gospel account. Their words appeared to praise him, but their motives were far from sincere.
Concluding his reflection, Leo XIV explained that giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God means being truthful, rejecting fear and hypocrisy, and remaining free to do good.
His message emphasised the importance of honesty and sincerity in both personal conduct and public responsibilities, while recognising that faith and engagement with the world are not necessarily in conflict.