It was the final stop of Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral tour to different parishes of Rome during this Lenten period. On the outskirts of the Italian capital, the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Ponte Mammolo warmly welcomed the pope to their church.
He presided over Mass on Laetare Sunday, the 'Sunday of joy' during Lent. In his homily he emphasized the absurdity of starting a war to resolve a conflict:
POPE LEO XIV
Currently in the world many of our brothers and sisters suffer because of violent conflicts, caused by the absurd claim of resolving problems and differences through war, when instead we must engage in tireless dialogue for peace.
He also referred to the Gospel passage about Jesus' healing of the blind man. Pope Leo posed a question and then immediately gave the answer—the question? What does it mean to look with the eyes of God?
POPE LEO XIV
It means, above all, overcoming the prejudices of those who, when faced with a suffering person, see only an outcast to despise, or a problem to avoid, withdrawing into the fortified tower of selfish individualism.
Once Mass had concluded—concelebrated with Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Vicar of Rome—the pope exchanged gifts with the different priests responsible for the parish.
It was a memorable meeting that concluded Pope Leo's first pastoral tour of the Diocese of Rome. Much of his focus will now turn to preparing for his first Holy Week and Easter as pope.
