Pope Leo XIV reminded the faithful this week that no matter how dark the moment, it is never too late to love and forgive. Speaking at his weekly General Audience inside the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father reflected on Christ’s Passion, urging Christians to see forgiveness as the heart of true hope.
“Let us ask today for the grace to be able to forgive, even when we do not feel understood, even when we feel abandoned,” Pope Leo said, according to Vatican News.
PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS – FREE PRAYER PDF DOWNLOAD
Love to the End
Continuing his catechesis on the Jubilee theme “Christ our Hope,” Pope Leo turned to the Gospel account of the Last Supper. He recalled the moment when Jesus offered bread to Judas, the very disciple who was about to betray Him.
“It is not only a gesture of sharing,” the Pope explained, “but rather it is much more; it is love’s last attempt not to give up” (Vatican News).
To love until the end, Pope Leo stressed, is the key to understanding the heart of Christ. “A love that does not cease in the face of rejection, disappointment, even ingratitude” is the love Christians are called to imitate.
Forgiveness Before Repentance
Pope Leo reflected on how Jesus, fully aware of the betrayal unfolding before Him, chose not to retreat in anger or accusation but instead persisted in love.
“He has understood that the freedom of the other, even when it is lost in evil, can still be reached by the light of a meek gesture, because He knows that true forgiveness does not await repentance, but offers itself first, as a free gift, even before it is accepted” (Vatican News).
The Pope acknowledged that Judas did not accept this gift, but even so, Christ’s act of love is a sign of salvation. “That morsel is our salvation: because it tells us that God does everything—absolutely everything—to reach us, even in the hour when we reject Him” (Vatican News).
Forgiveness as Hope
For Pope Leo, this teaching is not an abstract reflection but a lived invitation for today’s Christians. Broken relationships, painful betrayals, and lingering resentment all demand a decision: to either let evil have the last word, or to choose love that forgives.
“To forgive,” he said, “does not mean to deny evil, but to prevent it from generating further evil. It is not to say that nothing has happened, but to do everything possible to ensure that resentment does not determine the future” (Vatican News).
He added that forgiveness, even when rejected, frees the one who gives it. “It dispels resentment, it restores peace, and it returns us to ourselves” (Vatican News).
A Way Forward
The Pope concluded by urging the faithful to trust in the power of forgiveness, especially in moments of misunderstanding or abandonment. “Jesus, with the simple gesture of offering bread, shows that every betrayal can become an opportunity for salvation, if it is chosen as a space for a greater love” (Vatican News).
In a world marked by wounds, betrayals, and division, Pope Leo XIV’s reminder is clear: love never gives up, and forgiveness always keeps the door of hope open.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
