Pope Leo XIV centered his weekly catechesis on a key idea: Baptism is not just an initiation rite, but the moment that defines the identity and mission of every believer. He explained this drawing on earlier words of Pope Francis:
POPE LEO XIV
The first sacrament, the one that seals our identity forever and of which we should always be proud, is Baptism. Through it, and with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, [the faithful] “are consecrated to form a spiritual temple and a holy priesthood.”
The Pontiff returned to the theme of the Second Vatican Council and, in particular, the constitution Lumen gentium. A document which, among other things, emphasizes the communal dimension of the Church.
For this reason, Leo XIV stressed that all the faithful, and not only those belonging to the clergy, must participate in the life and mission of the Church.
POPE LEO XIV
Through Baptism, all the faithful receive a common priesthood, which is enriched and strengthened in a special way by the sacrament of Confirmation. This consecration is at the foundation of the common mission that unites ordained ministers and lay faithful.
In a final message, he invited everyone to rediscover the value of belonging to the Church, blessed those present, and the Lord’s Prayer was sung.
