In a world filled with noise, uncertainty, and spiritual exhaustion, many—especially the young—are asking a timeless question: What is the meaning of my life? During his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV addressed this very longing, offering a deeply consoling answer: Turn to God, and you will not be disappointed.
“God never gives up on us,” the Pope assured the faithful. “He is always ready to accept us and give meaning and hope to our lives, however hopeless our situation may seem and however insignificant our merits may appear” (according to Vatican News reporter Deborah Castellano Lubov).
Referencing the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (cf. Matthew 20:1–16), the Pope reflected on how God’s justice often surpasses human expectations. In the parable, those hired late in the day receive the same wage as those who worked all day. Some see this as unfair, but Pope Leo urged a different perspective: “He wasn’t unfair—he was simply generous. He didn’t look only at merit, but also at need.”
This generosity, he explained, reveals how God sees each person’s dignity, not just their accomplishments. “For God,” Pope Leo said, “justice means that everyone receives what they need in order to live.”
This divine generosity is not about favoritism, but about fullness of life. “He wants to give everyone His Kingdom,” the Pope emphasized, “with a life that is full, eternal, and joyful.” And in a world tempted to delay conversion or commitment, the Holy Father quoted St. Augustine’s poignant challenge: “Why then do you delay to follow the one who calls you, when you are sure of the reward but uncertain of the day?”
To those wrestling with discouragement, indifference, or fear, Pope Leo had a clear call: Act now. “Don’t wait, but respond with enthusiasm to the Lord who calls us to work in His vineyard,” he urged. “Don’t postpone—roll up your sleeves, because the Lord is generous and you won’t be disappointed!”
He directed this especially to young people, assuring them that the deepest desires of their hearts—identity, purpose, and meaning—will be fulfilled in friendship with Christ. “By working in God’s ‘vineyard,’” Pope Leo said, “you will find an answer to that deep question you carry within you: what is the meaning of my life?”
In closing, the Pope encouraged all the faithful not to lose hope when answers seem delayed. “Even in the dark moments of life,” he said, “when time passes without giving us the answers we seek, let us ask the Lord to come out again and find us where we are waiting for Him—for He is generous, and He will come soon!”
