During his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV encouraged Catholics to trust God’s timing and resist fear or hesitation when living and proclaiming the Gospel, even in difficult or uncertain circumstances.
Reflecting on the Gospel account of the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, the Holy Father drew attention to the moment Christ chose to begin preaching. According to Vatican News, Pope Leo XIV noted that Jesus began His ministry “when he heard that John had been arrested,” a time marked by tension and uncertainty. Rather than waiting for favorable conditions, Jesus entered what the Pope described as “this dark situation” and proclaimed hope, announcing that “the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
The Pope explained that this detail carries a powerful message for believers today. He said that personal struggles or challenging circumstances can cause individuals or even the Church to believe it is “not the right time” to act, decide, or proclaim the Gospel. However, such thinking can lead to spiritual paralysis. As Pope Leo XIV warned, “we risk becoming paralysed by indecision or imprisoned by excessive prudence, whereas the Gospel calls us to dare to trust.”
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He emphasized that God is always present and active, reminding the faithful that “God is at work at all times; every moment is ‘God’s time,’ even when we do not feel ready or when the situation seems unfavourable,” according to Vatican News.
The Holy Father also reflected on where Jesus chose to begin His ministry: Galilee, particularly Capernaum. Pope Leo XIV highlighted the region’s cultural and religious diversity, explaining that it was a crossroads of peoples and beliefs. By beginning there, Jesus revealed a mission that extended beyond narrow boundaries. As the Pope said, Christ is “a God who excludes no one,” entering fully into the complexity of human life and relationships.
From this perspective, Pope Leo XIV urged Christians to avoid isolation or withdrawal from the world. He stressed that the Gospel must be lived and proclaimed in every environment, calling it “a leaven of fraternity and peace among all individuals, cultures, religions and peoples,” according to Vatican News.
Concluding his message, the Pope encouraged Catholics to follow Christ with joy and generosity. Like the first disciples, he said, believers are invited to trust that every moment and every place in their lives is touched by God’s loving presence.
The Angelus reflection served as a reminder that faith is not meant to wait for perfect conditions, but to be lived courageously, wherever God calls His people to go.
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