At the Angelus, the pope prayed for Ukraine and urged renewed efforts to end the war.<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV said Sunday that the Gospel \u201ccalls us to dare to trust,\u201d warning that fear and excessive caution can leave Christians \u201cparalyzed by indecision\u201d rather than ready to follow Christ.<\/p>\n
In his reflection before the noon Angelus in St. Peter\u2019s Square, the pope returned to the day\u2019s Gospel (Mt 4:12-22), asking two questions about Jesus\u2019 public ministry: When did it begin, and where did it begin?<\/p>\n
Leo noted that Jesus began preaching \u201cwhen he heard that John had been arrested,\u201d a moment that might appear \u201cinopportune.\u201d Yet, the pope said, \u201cit was precisely in this dark situation that Jesus began to bring the light of the Good News: \u2018The kingdom of heaven has come near.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn our lives, both individually and as a Church,\u201d he said, \u201cinterior struggles or circumstances we deem unfavorable can lead us to believe that it is not the right time to proclaim the Gospel\u2026 In this way, however, we risk becoming paralyzed by indecision or imprisoned by excessive prudence, whereas the Gospel calls us to dare to trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo highlighted Galilee as \u201ca predominantly pagan territory\u201d and a \u201cmulticultural region,\u201d explaining that the Messiah \u201ctranscends the borders of his own land to proclaim a God who draws close to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is a God who excludes no one,\u201d the pope said, \u201cand who comes not only for the \u2018pure,\u2019 but enters fully into the complexity of human situations and relationships.\u201d For that reason, Leo added, Christians \u201cmust overcome the temptation toward isolation,\u201d living the Gospel in every setting \u201cas a leaven of fraternity and peace among all individuals, cultures, religions and peoples.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the Angelus, the pope noted that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is the Sunday of the Word of God, established by Pope Francis \u201cto promote throughout the Church knowledge of Sacred Scripture and greater attention to the Word of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo expressed concern for Ukraine, saying the country is being hit by \u201ccontinuous attacks,\u201d leaving \u201centire populations exposed to the cold of winter.\u201d \u201cI invite everyone to intensify their efforts to end this war,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also marked World Leprosy Day, voicing his closeness to those affected and thanking those who care for patients, including the Italian Association of Friends of Raoul Follereau.<\/p>\n
The pope concluded by inviting prayers for peace \u201cin Ukraine, in the Middle East, and in every region where, unfortunately, there is fighting going on for interests that are not those of the people,\u201d adding: \u201cPeace is built on respect for peoples!\u201d<\/p>\n
The pope also recalled that Sunday closes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and said he would celebrate Vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls with representatives of other Christian denominations.<\/p>\n
This story\u00a0was first published\u00a0by ACI Stampa, EWTN News\u2019 Italian-language partner. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.<\/p>\n