The special Jubilee Year event was dedicated to those who have faced profound hardship, bereavement, or suffering
Newsroom (16/09/2025, Gaudium Press )Pope Leo XIV presided over a poignant prayer vigil for the Jubilee of Consolation in St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday evening, urging some 9,000 pilgrims to find solace in a steadfast faith in Christ, transforming pain into forgiving love rather than violence.
The special Holy Year event was dedicated to those who have faced profound hardship, bereavement, or suffering. The Pope led the assembly in a Liturgy of the Word, which featured heartrending testimonies from two women who endured the traumatic loss of loved ones, yet found paths to reconciliation.
Testimonies of Forgiveness Through Faith
Diane Foley, mother of the late American journalist James Foley, shared her journey of faith following her son’s brutal murder in 2014. James, a Christian and independent conflict journalist, was kidnapped in Syria in 2012, subjected to starvation and torture, and publicly beheaded by members of the so-called Islamic State. Ms. Foley recounted her struggle to avoid bitterness, drawing inspiration from the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose son was also unjustly killed. “Mary’s example taught me to walk in faith and trust in God,” she said.
Years later, Ms. Foley met Alexanda Kotey, one of her son’s killers, after his arrest and trial in the United States. She described how Kotey expressed deep remorse during their encounter. “God gave me the grace to see him as a fellow sinner in need of mercy, like me,” she said, highlighting her path to reconciliation.
Lucia Di Mauro Montanino shared a similarly moving story of loss and redemption. Her husband, a security guard, was murdered by a group of young men in Naples, Italy. Years after the youngest perpetrator, 17-year-old Antonio, was sentenced to 22 years in prison, he sought her forgiveness. “In front of me, I found a boy who was trembling, crying, asking forgiveness,” Ms. Di Mauro said. “The only possible thing was a long embrace.” When Antonio was released early under supervision, she supported him and his new family, helping him rebuild his life. “Reconciliation requires an active encounter,” she said. “It allowed Antonio to build a new life and me to make sense of my husband’s death.”
God’s Presence in Dark Times
In his address, Pope Leo XIV reflected on humanity’s deep need for consolation amid personal losses and global conflicts. “In times of darkness, even when all outward appearances suggest otherwise, God does not abandon us,” he said. He emphasized that suffering often leaves people searching for comfort, sometimes finding only tears—a response he described as a valid expression of humanity’s silent cry.
The Pope acknowledged the human tendency to question the existence of evil and God’s role in it. He encouraged turning to Sacred Scripture to move from doubt to faith, urging pilgrims to transform their questions into prayers for justice and peace. “Consolation is found when faith stands ‘firm and stable,’ where it was once ‘unformed and hesitant’ like a boat in a storm,” he said. “Where there is evil, we must seek the comfort and consolation that can overcome it.”
Forgiveness as a Path to Peace
Drawing on the testimonies of Ms. Foley and Ms. Di Mauro, Pope Leo underscored that “pain must not give rise to violence.” He described forgiveness as a transformative act that offers a glimpse of God’s Kingdom, breaking cycles of hatred and establishing justice rooted in divine mercy. “The Church, some of whose members have unfortunately hurt you, kneels with you today before our Mother,” he said, calling for tenderness in protecting the vulnerable.
The Pope invited all to allow God’s comfort to guide them through pain, rather than relying solely on personal strength. He reassured the faithful that loved ones lost to death “are not lost and do not fade into the void,” but are held close by the Lord, the Good Shepherd.
A Call for Global Peace
In closing, Pope Leo XIV made a heartfelt appeal to end the violence, hunger, and wars causing widespread suffering. “Even in the midst of so much arrogance,” he said, “we are certain that God will inspire hearts and hands to provide help and consolation: peacemakers who can comfort those who are in pain and sadness.”
The vigil, a centerpiece of the Jubilee of Consolation, left pilgrims with a message of hope: that faith, forgiveness, and love can transform even the deepest wounds into opportunities for healing and renewal.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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