From a window in the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed his Sunday Angelus greeting, reflecting on “fundamental criteria for thought and action” found in the day’s liturgy.
St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans sums up every commandment into one: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Rom 13:9). The image added to this point is taken from the verse before, stressing that everyone should “owe no one anything, except to love one another.”
Pope Leo pointed out that Jesus taught us how to ask for and offer forgiveness of debts. Yet, the Pope stressed, “there is one debt we owe to one another that does not enslave us: the debt of mutual love.” The care, goodness, and attention each person receives makes us freer and more able to be responsible.
Two ways to love
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus offers two ways for Christians to practice mutual love.
The first is being able to give and receive fraternal correction. “This is a delicate art, too often forgotten, that calls for frankness and a gradual approach,” Pope Leo explained.
Being able to speak honestly with each other—one on one, then with a small group, then the entire community—involves facing reality and transforming issues and conflicts into chances for growth.
“Complaining and speaking ill of others are easier, but they accomplish nothing and leave many situations paralyzed,” the Pope continued, “The Gospel, instead, teaches us the freedom that comes through charity.”
The second way calls everyone to love each other as brothers and sisters. For Jesus, this transforms even prayer into an agreement—both when there is a conflict and when asking God for something.
Crowds gathered in the Square to listen to Pope Leo’s Angelus address (@Vatican Media)
In the Gospel for the day, Jesus says, “If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven” (Mt 18:19). Pope Leo highlighted how this promise suggests that desires, sorrows, and hopes can be shared and prayer can help people grow in unity.
“Without faith, each person might feel alone and become suspicious of others, seeing them as strangers and enemies,” he explained. Through grace, we each become brothers and sisters who can live in harmony: “meeting one another, forgiving one another and listening to one another in the Lord.”
The Pope closed asking Mary to teach us all to teach us “the joyful debt of fraternal love.”
being capable of fraternal correction and loving one another as brothers and sisters.
Source: Vatican News