Pope Leo: God Never Discards Anyone

Vatican, Feb 9, 2026: Reflecting on Jesus’ words that follow the Beatitudes, Pope Leo on Sunday said that an encounter with Christ brings real joy, meaning, and light to everyday life, and that even in moments of discouragement, God the Father “cares for our names and our uniqueness.”

He reflected on how, after proclaiming the Beatitudes in the Gospel, Jesus goes on to speak to those who live them out, noting that through their witness “the earth is no longer the same and the world is no longer in darkness.” According to the Pope, true joy gives flavor and light to the darker areas of life. “This joy springs from a way of life, a way of inhabiting the earth and of living together that must be desired and chosen,” he said, adding that this new way of living is revealed in Jesus through His words and actions.

The Pope explained that encountering Jesus—who is poor in spirit, meek, pure of heart, and hungry for justice—changes a person permanently, making it impossible to return to a life that is dull and tasteless. In this encounter, “mercy and peace as powers of transformation and reconciliation” are released.

Turning to the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Pope Leo pointed to practical ways of confronting injustice, such as “sharing bread with the hungry, bringing the poor and homeless into our homes, clothing those we see to be naked, without neglecting our neighbors and those in our own homes.” When such actions are lived out, the prophet promises that “then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily” (58:8). The Pope explained that this image holds a double meaning: a light that cannot be hidden and dispels darkness, and a wound that is gradually healed.

“It is painful to lose flavor and give up joy,” the Pope observed, “yet it is possible to have this wound on one’s heart.” Referring to the Gospel warning about salt losing its taste and being thrown away, he reflected on how many people, “perhaps we ourselves,” may feel worthless, broken, or as though their light has been hidden.

Against this sense of despair, Pope Leo stressed that Jesus proclaims hope, affirming that God will never reject anyone. God knows each person by name and values their uniqueness. “Every wound, even the deepest, will be healed by welcoming the word of the Beatitudes and setting us back on the path of the Gospel,” he said.

The Pope added that simple, concrete gestures of openness and care for others help restore joy, even though such actions may run counter to the values of the world. He recalled how Jesus, tempted in the desert to choose easier paths, rejected anything that would cause Him to “lose his true flavor, the one we find every Sunday in the Bread that is broken, which is a life given and a silent love.”

In conclusion, Pope Leo encouraged everyone to remain “nourished and enlightened by communion with Jesus,” saying that, without self-promotion, believers can become “like a city set on a hill, not simply visible, but also inviting and welcoming: the city of God where everyone, deep down, desires to live and find peace.” He invited those present to entrust their prayers to Mary, the Gate of Heaven, asking her help to “become and remain disciples of her Son.”

Courtesy: Vatican News