Pope Leo XIV continued his catechesis on the 2025 Jubilee theme, “Jesus Christ our Hope,” focusing on the healing of the paralytic.
Newsdesk (18/06/2025, Gaudium Press) — In his General Audience held in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV continued his catechesis on the 2025 Jubilee theme, “Jesus Christ our Hope,” focusing on the healing of the paralytic as recounted in the Gospel of Saint John (5:1-9). The pontiff urged the faithful to reflect on moments of personal stagnation and to seek renewal through Christ’s transformative grace.
Speaking to a diverse crowd of pilgrims, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the story of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda, a man immobilized for 38 years, resigned to his condition due to repeated failures to reach the healing waters. The Pope emphasized Jesus’ question to the man—“Do you want to be well?”—as a profound challenge to confront despair and reclaim agency. “This question is not superfluous,” the Pope said. “It invites us to rediscover our deepest desire for healing and to take responsibility for our lives.”
“Indeed, this man replies in a more articulate way to Jesus’ question, revealing his true vision of life. He says first of all that he has no-one to immerse him in the pool: so he is not to blame, but the others who do not take care of him. This attitude becomes the pretext for avoiding responsibility.”
Drawing on Saint Augustine’s insight, the Pope noted that the paralytic’s complaint of having “no one” to help him reflected a broader human tendency to deflect responsibility. “Jesus, the true ‘man’ who is also God, breaks through this fatalism,” he said, encouraging the faithful to view their past not as a burden but as a part of their journey they can carry forward with purpose.
The Pope likened the Bethesda pool to the Church, a “house of mercy” where the afflicted gather and where Christ offers hope. He called on the faithful to pray for those feeling “paralyzed” by life’s challenges and to seek the “Heart of Christ” as the source of true healing.
“Let us try to give voice to our desire to be healed. And let us pray for all those who feel paralyzed, who do not see a way out. Let us ask to return to dwell in the Heart of Christ, which is the true house of mercy!” the pope said in concluding the catechesis.
Appeal for Peace Amid Global Conflicts
In a poignant appeal, Pope Leo XIV addressed the ongoing devastation caused by wars, specifically mentioning Ukraine, Iran, Israel, and Gaza. Quoting the Second Vatican Council’s Gaudium et Spes, he condemned the savagery of modern warfare and echoed the warnings of Popes Francis and Pius XII: “War is always a defeat!” He urged world leaders to reject the temptation of advanced weaponry and to prioritize peace, emphasizing that “nothing is lost with peace, but everything may be lost with war.”
Greetings and Blessings
The Pope extended a warm greeting to English-speaking pilgrims from countries including England, Northern Ireland, Norway, Cameroon, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Canada, and the United States. He offered a special blessing to the “HOPE80” international delegation, which is launching the “Flame of Hope” pilgrimage to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, promoting reconciliation and peace.
Pope Leo XIV concluded by invoking divine wisdom, strength, and joy upon all attendees and their families, encouraging them to keep the “light of divine love and fraternity” burning brightly.
Raju Hasmukh with sources from
– Holy See Press Office, “General Audience of 18 June 2025 – Cycle of Catechesis – Jubilee 2025,” Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
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