As the Church marked the final hours of 2025, Pope Leo XIV offered a powerful reflection on history, hope, and God’s plan for humanity during the First Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
Presiding over the liturgy on December 31 at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Holy Father addressed roughly 5,500 faithful gathered to pray at the close of the civil year, according to Vatican News. He described the moment as uniquely rich, shaped both by the mystery being celebrated and by its position at the threshold of a new year.
An Urgent Message from Sister Sara – Please Watch
At the heart of Pope Leo’s homily was Saint Paul’s teaching from the Letter to the Galatians: “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Reflecting on this passage, the Pope said it points to “a great plan for human history—a mysterious plan, but one with a clear center, like a high mountain lit by the sun in the midst of a dense forest: the ‘fullness of time,’” according to Vatican News.
The Pope acknowledged that modern society feels weighed down by sin and confusion, noting a deep “need for a wise, benevolent, merciful plan.” Yet he warned that this divine plan stands in sharp contrast to other forces shaping the world today. He cautioned against “strategies aimed at conquering markets, territories, and spheres of influence; armed strategies, concealed beneath hypocritical rhetoric, ideological proclamations, and false religious motives,” according to Vatican News.
Before the recitation of the Te Deum, the traditional hymn of thanksgiving, Pope Leo turned the faithful’s attention to the Jubilee Year itself. He thanked God for what he called “the gift of the Jubilee,” describing it as “a powerful sign of his plan of hope for humanity and for the world,” according to Vatican News. He also expressed gratitude to all those who served pilgrims throughout the year, helping to make the Eternal City more welcoming, echoing a desire first expressed by Pope Francis at the Jubilee’s outset.
In his remarks, the Holy Father emphasized the unique role of Rome in salvation history. The Jubilee, he said, is “a great sign of a new world, renewed and reconciled according to God’s plan.” Rome’s importance, he explained, does not rest on worldly power or glory, but on the witness of the apostles and martyrs. As Pope Leo noted, the city holds a special place “not because of its glories, not because of its power, but because Peter and Paul and so many other martyrs shed their blood here for Christ,” according to Vatican News.
Concluding his reflections, the Pope voiced his hope that Rome would remain attentive to the poor and the weak, praying that the city, “animated by Christian hope,” would continue to serve “God’s plan of love for the human family,” according to Vatican News.
After the liturgy, Pope Leo XIV stepped into St. Peter’s Square to pray before the Nativity scene and personally greet the faithful and pilgrims—bringing the Jubilee year to a close with a gesture of prayerful closeness and pastoral care.
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.
