Pope Leo XIV Calls Christians to Respond to Hatred with Love and Strengthen Their Relationship with Christ

Vatican City, June 22, 2026: Pope Leo XIV urged Christians to deepen their personal relationship with Christ and witness to the Gospel with love, hope, and perseverance during his Sunday Angelus address at Saint Peter’s Square.

Reflecting on the Gospel passage from Saint Matthew, where Jesus sends His disciples on mission, the Pope said authentic evangelisation does not come merely from strategies or techniques but from a personal encounter with Christ nurtured through prayer, silence, and contemplation.

Referring to Jesus’ words, “What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops,” Pope Leo highlighted the connection between personal faith and public witness.

“He reminds us that proclaiming the Gospel is first and foremost a sharing of a personal encounter with Him, which is unique to each of us,” the Pope said.

Pope Leo explained that the strength of Christian mission depends not primarily on methods or resources but on the work of the Holy Spirit and the sincerity of each person’s response to God’s grace.

“The strength of any apostolate, in fact — beyond techniques and tools — comes from the work of the Holy Spirit within us and from the authenticity of our response,” he said.

Recalling the teaching of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Pope noted that preaching means “passing on to others what we have contemplated” (contemplata aliis tradere).

He emphasised that contemplation is not reserved only for saints, monks, or hermits but is a calling for every Christian. He encouraged the faithful to create moments of silence amid daily responsibilities to listen to God, reflect on life, and entrust their joys and concerns to Him.

Such moments, the Pope said, help believers grow in a “more firm and conscious faith” and become “credible and free disciples” who reflect the light of the Gospel.

Addressing the challenges faced by early Christian communities and believers today, Pope Leo acknowledged the temptation to become discouraged amid difficulties and opposition.

“Now, just as then, it is a challenge to remain faithful to Jesus’ teachings and to proclaim his word: to respond to hatred with love, to arrogance with meekness, and to discouragement with perseverance,” he said.

The Pope concluded by encouraging Christians to strengthen the roots of their faith and mission through a deeper relationship with Christ, whose message of “hope, love and peace” is greatly needed in the world today.

Courtesy: Vatican News