Pope Leo XIV has urged Catholics to recognize that a genuine life of prayer must lead to loving service, especially toward those experiencing poverty and hardship.
Meeting Friday with a delegation from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States, the Holy Father reflected on the spiritual foundation that should guide Catholic charitable work.
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo thanked members of the organization for the service they provide to people in need across the United States, describing their work as a visible expression of Christian faith.
“By freely offering your God-given gifts and talents,” Pope Leo said, “you give eloquent witness to your faith in service to the building up of the Kingdom of God.”
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in 1833 and is part of the wider Vincentian Family, whose organizations draw inspiration from the life and spirituality of St. Vincent de Paul. Its mission emphasizes both the spiritual growth of its members and personal service to the poor.
Pope Leo encouraged members to keep Christ at the center of that mission by continually deepening their relationship with Him.
“Saint Vincent de Paul demonstrated that prayer and social justice are not merely complementary but in fact are inseparable,” the Pope said, according to Vatican News.
The Holy Father also drew upon the teaching of St. Augustine, emphasizing that Christian care for those in need is ultimately centered upon Christ. Service motivated by genuine love, he explained, transforms not only the person receiving assistance but also the person who gives.
“We therefore believe that caring for others, when motivated by love, not only helps those in need, but also opens the heart of the giver to God’s grace,” Pope Leo said.
The Pope encouraged members of the Society to give generously of their time and to recognize Christ in the people they encounter through their ministry.
Through serving Christ in the poor, Pope Leo said, God’s grace will “steadily purify your hearts and minds, and you will more readily recognize Christ in your neighbor, both in those you serve and in those with whom you work.”
His message presented Catholic charitable service not simply as humanitarian assistance, but as an expression of a life rooted in prayer and relationship with Jesus Christ.
Pope Leo concluded by extending his greetings to members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and to the people they serve, encouraging them to continue a mission in which prayer, love of Christ, and care for one’s neighbor remain inseparably united.
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