Pope Leo XIV emphasized that hope is rekindled when one dares to probe deeper, moving beyond superficial realities to discover divine truths.
Newsroom (08/09/2025, Gaudium Press )Pope Leo resumed his special Saturday Jubilee Audiences this morning, delivering a catechesis centered on Jesus’ parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.” In a reflection marked by vivid imagery and spiritual depth, the Pope invited the faithful to dig beneath the surface of reality to uncover the hope found in Christ.
Drawing a parallel to the curiosity of children who delight in digging through the earth, Pope Leo described the search for the Kingdom of God as an act of breaking through “the hard crust of the world to see what lies beneath.” He emphasized that hope is rekindled when one dares to probe deeper, moving beyond superficial realities to discover divine truths.
St. Helena: A Model of Seeking
The Pope highlighted St. Helena, mother of the first Christian emperor, Constantine, as an exemplar of this search. Known for sponsoring excavations in the Holy Land to uncover relics of Jesus’ Passion, Helena was portrayed as “a woman who seeks, a woman who digs.” Pope Leo noted that her quest was likely shaped by personal hardships, from her humble origins to the sorrows she endured. Yet, her faith and commitment to charity never wavered. “She had decided to become a Christian,” the Pope said, “and always practiced charity, never forgetting the humble people from whom she herself had come.”
Helena’s “dignity and faithfulness,” the Pope added, remain transformative virtues, akin to a farmer’s labor, bringing humanity closer to the treasure of Jesus’ life.
Digging for the Kingdom
Pope Leo underscored that finding the Kingdom of God requires effort, likening it to cultivating one’s heart. “By digging, one finds; by lowering oneself, one draws ever closer to that Lord Who stripped Himself to become like us,” he said. Reflecting on Helena’s discovery of the relics of the Passion, particularly the Cross, the Pope described it as a treasure “beneath the crust of our earth.”
In a poignant conclusion, Pope Leo warned against “trampling heedlessly” on the treasure beneath our feet. Instead, he urged the faithful to adopt the humility and wonder of children, through which “we will come to know another kingdom, another strength.” He affirmed that God is always present, “below us, to raise us up on high,” offering hope and salvation to those who seek Him.
The Jubilee Audience, part of the ongoing celebrations for the Holy Year, drew thousands to St. Peter’s Square, where Pope Leo’s words resonated as a call to rediscover the transformative power of Christ’s life.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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