Pope Leo XIV: True Love Requires Detachment, Sacrifice and Hospitality

Vatican City, June 29, 2026: Pope Leo XIV said true Christian love requires detachment, self-sacrifice and hospitality as he reflected on the Sunday Gospel during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square.

Drawing on the Gospel of Matthew (10:37–42), the Pope said discipleship calls for a complete commitment to Christ, which transforms human relationships through His love.

He explained that love involves detachment, citing the example of an adult leaving parents to embrace married life. Likewise, parents should raise their children to become independent and discover fulfilment in life.

The Pope also stressed that genuine love demands sacrifice. In a world focused on possession, he said love bears fruit only through self-giving. He encouraged Christians to give their time, comfort and attention to others, recalling Jesus’ teaching that those who lose their lives for His sake will find them.

By embracing the cross and living according to the logic of self-giving, Christians can bring new life to their relationships, he said.

Pope Leo further highlighted hospitality as a concrete expression of love. Referring to Jesus’ instruction to His disciples, he said Christians are called to both offer and receive hospitality with generosity.

“Love is expressed through concrete choices and actions, by a commitment made up of small daily gestures, such as offering a glass of water to someone who is thirsty,” the Pope said.

Concluding his reflection, Pope Leo said welcoming those who come in Christ’s name is an act of welcoming both Jesus and the Father, adding that love for the Lord is inseparable from welcoming one’s brothers and sisters.

Courtesy: Vatican News