Pope Leo: Embrace Lord Who Knocks at Our Door

Castel Gandolfo, July 20, 2025 — During his Sunday Angelus message, Pope Leo called on the faithful to welcome the Lord, who, as he described, "knocks at our door asking permission to enter." Speaking from Castel Gandolfo, the Pope reflected on the profound significance of hospitality, urging people not only to listen and welcome others but also to be open to being welcomed themselves.

Drawing from the day’s liturgical readings, Pope Leo referenced examples of hospitality from both the Old and New Testaments — Abraham and Sarah’s warm reception of divine visitors, and the Gospel account of Martha and Mary’s welcome of Jesus. He highlighted how these stories underscore the sacred interplay between offering and receiving hospitality.

The Pope emphasised that kindness, attentiveness, and openness form the foundation of true hospitality, but noted that humility plays a particularly vital role. Referring to the Gospel, he described how Martha, while generous and diligent in her service, risked missing the joy of being fully present with the Lord. In contrast, her sister Mary recognised the value of the encounter, choosing to sit and listen to Jesus.

“Our lives can only flourish,” Pope Leo said, “if we learn to be open to something greater than ourselves” — something that brings happiness and fulfilment. He urged the faithful to embrace attentiveness, recognising that each moment of genuine connection is a gift.

In his concluding remarks, the Pope invited everyone to slow down, to reflect, and to listen — just as Mary did — so that we do not, in his words, “fail to choose the better part.” He encouraged people to grow in the “art of hospitality,” which involves not only welcoming others but also allowing ourselves to be received. “We have much to receive, not only to give,” he noted, calling on the faithful to recognise the grace present in every true encounter — be it with God, fellow human beings, or the natural world.

Pope Leo ended his reflection with a prayer to the Virgin Mary: “Let us pray to Mary Most Holy, our Mother, who welcomed our Lord, bore him in her womb, and together with Joseph gave him a home. In her, we see the beauty of our own vocation — the vocation of the Church — to be a home open to all, and in this way to welcome her Lord, who knocks at our door and asks our permission to enter.”

Courtesy: Vatican News

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