Pope Leo XIV Urges Christians to Bring the ‘Leaven of Selflessness’ to the World

Barcelona, June 9, 2026: Pope Leo XIV concluded the first leg of his Apostolic Journey to Spain on Tuesday by meeting with volunteers who helped organise and prepare for his visit, thanking them for their generosity and spirit of service.

Addressing the volunteers, the Pope expressed his heartfelt gratitude for their dedication, saying their efforts were carried out “out of love for the Lord, the Church, and the Pope.” He praised their willingness to serve, noting that many people immediately responded to the call for volunteers, with several taking time away from work and others dedicating months of preparation for the visit.

“Each of you gave what you could, offering your heart, hands, ideas, talents and smiles,” Pope Leo said. “May God reward you as only He knows how!”

The Pope encouraged Christians across the world to become the “leaven of selflessness” within society. Reflecting on Jesus’ parable of the yeast, he said acts of generosity and service reveal how Christians can transform communities through care and compassion.

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“Selflessness is like leaven that makes the human, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of a society grow,” he said, describing it as a distinctive sign of the “City of God.”

Pope Leo highlighted that in a world often driven by self-interest and the pursuit of profit, Christians are called to promote integral human development by serving others, including those who cannot offer anything in return.

He said Jesus brought the kingdom of heaven into the world like leaven, healing humanity through His sacrifice and the power of the Holy Spirit. After His death and resurrection, Christ sent His disciples to become signs and instruments of His kingdom of love, justice, and peace.

The Pope reminded the faithful that Christians spread the kingdom of God not only through preaching but, above all, through a life rooted in the Gospel.

Thanking the volunteers once again, Pope Leo said their work, inspired by the love of God, had helped bring society closer to the kingdom of God.

“This is the secret: the love of God, which moves the sun and the stars, also moves the hearts of those who have encountered the Lord Jesus,” he said, recalling Christ’s words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Concluding his address, Pope Leo encouraged the volunteers to carry the experience of service into their daily lives with humility, strong faith, and generosity.

Courtesy: Vatican News