Pope Leo XIV invites the faithful to invest life in sharing not only material goods but time, presence, and empathy.
Newsroom (11/08/2025 Gaudium Press ) In a stirring Sunday Angelus address to thousands gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Leo delivered a profound reflection on the Gospel of Luke, challenging Christians to examine how they are investing the “treasure” of their lives in service to others.
Drawing from Jesus’ words, “Sell what you own and give alms,” the Pope called on the faithful to share not only material possessions but also their time, talents, and empathy. “It is not only about sharing material possessions,” he emphasized, “but about putting into play our abilities, our time, our affection, our presence, our empathy.” He described each person as “a unique, priceless good in God’s plan—a living, beating capital” that must be nurtured and invested generously, lest it “dries up and loses its value.”
In a pointed warning, Pope Leo cautioned that this treasure can be squandered or exploited by those who treat it as “an object of consumption.” He stressed that the divine gift of life flourishes only in “space, freedom, and relationship,” sustained above all by love, which “transforms and ennobles every aspect of our existence, making us ever more like God.”
Reflecting on Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, where He would offer Himself fully on the cross, the Pope highlighted the works of mercy as “the safest and most fruitful bank” for investing one’s life. He evoked the Gospel image of the poor widow, whose two small coins made her “the richest person in the world” because of her selfless giving. Even the smallest act of mercy, he noted, carries infinite value.
Quoting Saint Augustine, Pope Leo underscored the transformative power of giving in love: “It will be changed, because the giver will be changed.” He illustrated this with vivid examples from daily life—a mother embracing her children, or lovers who feel like “a king and queen” in each other’s presence—inviting the faithful to recognize the eternal rewards of selfless love.
The Pope urged Christians to seize every opportunity to love, whether at home, in parishes, schools, or workplaces. This, he said, is the vigilance Jesus demands: “being attentive, ready, and sensitive to one another,” just as Christ is ever-present with humanity.
Concluding his address, Pope Leo entrusted this mission to Mary, the “Morning Star,” praying that she guide believers to be “sentinels of mercy and peace” in a world marked by division.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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