Pope at Angelus: Mutual love is one debt that ‘does not enslave us’

Vatican City, September 6, 2026: Pope Leo XIV has called Christians to embrace mutual love as a “debt” that does not enslave but instead makes people freer and more responsible. During his Sunday Angelus greeting from the Apostolic Palace, the Pope reflected on the day’s readings and Jesus’ teaching on fraternal love.

Referring to St Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Pope Leo highlighted the commandment, “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Rom 13:9), and Paul’s call to “owe no one anything, except to love one another”.

The Pope recalled that Jesus taught his followers how to ask for and offer forgiveness of debts. However, he stressed that there is one debt Christians owe each other that “does not enslave us: the debt of mutual love”.

According to Pope Leo, the care, goodness and attention people receive from one another can make them freer and better able to act responsibly.

Two ways to practise mutual love

Pope Leo said Sunday’s Gospel presents two ways for Christians to live out this mutual love: fraternal correction and loving one another as brothers and sisters.

He described fraternal correction as “a delicate art, too often forgotten”, requiring “frankness and a gradual approach”. Christians should be willing to speak honestly with one another, beginning privately and, when necessary, involving a small group and eventually the wider community.

Such an approach, he said, allows people to face reality and turn conflicts and difficulties into opportunities for growth.

“Complaining and speaking ill of others are easier, but they accomplish nothing and leave many situations paralyzed,” Pope Leo said. “The Gospel, instead, teaches us the freedom that comes through charity.”

The second way is to love one another as brothers and sisters. Pope Leo connected this love with prayer, pointing to Jesus’ words in Matthew’s Gospel: “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).

He said prayer allows people to share their desires, sorrows and hopes while growing in unity.

“Without faith, each person might feel alone and become suspicious of others, seeing them as strangers and enemies,” the Pope explained. Through grace, however, people can become brothers and sisters who live in harmony by “meeting one another, forgiving one another and listening to one another in the Lord”.

Pope Leo concluded by asking Mary to teach Christians “the joyful debt of fraternal love”.

Courtesy: Vatican News