Pope Leo called on the faithful to embrace the Lord’s invitation to enter their lives, emphasizing the virtues of humility, attentiveness, and openness in the practice of hospitality
Newsroom (21/07/2025, Gaudium Press ) In his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Leo called on the faithful to embrace the Lord’s invitation to enter their lives, emphasizing the virtues of humility, attentiveness, and openness in the practice of hospitality. Drawing from the day’s liturgical readings, the Pope reflected on the biblical models of Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament, and Martha and Mary in the New Testament, to illustrate the delicate balance of giving and receiving in authentic encounters.
Humility at the Heart of Hospitality
The Pope highlighted humility as a cornerstone of true hospitality, noting that kindness and generosity must be tempered with a willingness to receive. He pointed to the Gospel account of Martha, whose diligent service to Jesus was admirable but risked overshadowing the deeper joy of simply being present with the Lord. “Martha’s generosity was profound, yet she nearly missed the grace of the encounter,” the Pope observed, urging believers to avoid letting busyness obscure the essence of connection.
Openness to the Divine
Pope Leo stressed that human flourishing depends on openness to “something greater than ourselves.” He praised Mary, Martha’s sister, for her discernment in choosing to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen, recognizing the sacredness of the moment. “Our lives find happiness and fulfillment when we make space for the divine,” he said, encouraging the faithful to emulate Mary’s attentiveness to the Lord’s presence.
The Art of Slowing Down
In closing, the Pope invited Christians to cultivate the “art of hospitality” by slowing down and listening intently. “We must not fail to choose the better part,” he said, echoing the Gospel’s call to prioritize spiritual connection over frenetic activity. He emphasized that hospitality is a two-way exchange, requiring both the courage to welcome others and the humility to be welcomed in return. “Every genuine encounter—whether with God, others, or nature—is a gift freely offered,” he noted.
A Prayer to Mary
Concluding his message, Pope Leo turned to the Virgin Mary as the ultimate model of hospitality. “In her, we see the beauty of our own vocation, the vocation of the Church, to be a home open to all,” he said. He prayed that Mary, who welcomed and bore the Lord, would inspire believers to open their hearts to Christ, who “knocks at our door and asks our permission to enter.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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