Pope Leo XIV returned to preside over the general audience in Rome in the Paul VI Hall. The day before, he had returned in the evening from Castel Gandolfo, where he had spent a second vacation.
Inside, thousands of people were waving their national flags. Also, married couples were waiting for the Pope to give them his blessing.
The catechesis revolved around an episode from the Gospel that the Pope brought to the daily lives of the people. He spoke of the relationship between Jesus and Judas, and how Christ loved him even though He knew he would betray Him.
POPE LEO XIV
How many relationships break down, how many stories become complicated, how many unspoken words remain unspoken. Yet, the Gospel shows us that there is always a way to continue loving, even when everything seems irreparably compromised. Forgiving does not mean denying evil, but preventing it from generating more evil. It's not about saying nothing happened, but doing everything possible to ensure that resentment doesn't dictate the future.
At the end of the audience, the Pope made the following request.
POPE LEO XIV
As our land continues to be wounded by wars in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and many other regions of the world, I invite all the faithful to celebrate August 22nd in fasting and prayer, begging the Lord to grant us peace and justice and to dry the tears of those suffering because of the ongoing armed conflicts.
On August 22, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Mary, Queen of Heaven. The Pope requested that prayers be offered on that day for the end of the war.
CA
TR: GS
