Pope Leo XIV at Mass: “I Offer You the Little That I Have and Am”

Vatican, 26 May 2025: Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Mass as Bishop of Rome on Sunday evening at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, and greeted his new diocesan family.

Before arriving at the Cathedral, the Pope visited Rome’s Capitoline Hill, the seat of the city’s civic and democratic administration, where he was welcomed by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri. He thanked the Mayor and civil authorities for their warm welcome and expressed his hope that “Rome will always be distinguished by those values of humanity and civilisation that draw their lifeblood from the Gospel.”

At the beginning of his homily, Pope Leo XIV greeted the cardinals, bishops, priests, and faithful. He noted that “Rome is the heir to a great history, grounded in the witness of Peter, of Paul, and of countless martyrs,” and affirmed the city’s unique mission, as written on the Cathedral’s façade: Mater ómnium Ecclesiarum—Mother of all Churches.

He quoted Pope Francis, who often invited reflection on the maternal nature of the Church and its qualities: “tenderness, readiness for sacrifice, and that capacity for listening which not only makes it possible to help, but often to anticipate needs and expectations before they are even expressed.” Pope Leo XIV said these qualities should grow within the People of God—among the faithful, the pastors, and “above all, within myself.”

Listening to God and being Led by the Spirit

Commenting on the day’s readings, which described how the early Christian community opened itself to the pagan world to proclaim the Gospel, the Pope said the most important form of listening during that process was listening to the voice of God. He reminded the faithful that communion is built “on our knees,” through prayer and continuous conversion. This, he said, allows each person to hear within themselves the voice of the Spirit crying “Abba, Father,” and then to recognise others as brothers and sisters.

He added that the Gospel reinforces this message, showing that we are not alone in life’s decisions. The Holy Spirit supports us by teaching and reminding us of everything Jesus said.

First, the Spirit teaches by deeply engraving the Lord’s words in us—not on tablets of stone but on our hearts. This gift helps us grow into being “a letter of Christ” for others. The Pope said that we are better able to proclaim the Gospel when we allow the Spirit to transform us—purifying us inwardly, making our words simple and sincere, our desires honest and pure, and our actions generous.

He then spoke about the second verb: “to remind.” This means turning the heart back to what we have lived and learned, to understand it more deeply and appreciate its beauty.

Courtesy: Vatican News