Pope Leo XIV says the Kingdom of God is life’s true treasure, urges peace in the Middle East, and honors the elderly and Blessed Elias Hoayek.
Newsroom (27/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) Reflecting on the Gospel’s parables of hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, Pope Leo XIV urged Christians to recognize what truly matters in life, describing the Kingdom of God as a transformative gift capable of enlarging human existence and renewing relationships.
Speaking during his Angelus address at Castel Gandolfo, the pontiff centered his reflection on Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of Matthew, where the Kingdom of God is compared to a treasure hidden in a field and a pearl of immense value. According to the Pope, these images reveal the profound joy and surprise experienced by those who encounter something far greater than they had ever imagined.
He explained that the individuals in the parables willingly give up everything to obtain what they have discovered, not because they are making a sacrifice, but because they have found something of incomparable worth. In the same way, the call of Christ has always been presented in the Gospel as both free and urgent, inspiring wholehearted commitment from those who hear it.
Pope Leo emphasized that encountering the Kingdom of God represents a decisive turning point in life. Far from restricting a person’s freedom or possibilities, he said, God’s call opens the door to greater horizons. Any changes required of believers are not intended to diminish life but to expand it and lead it toward deeper fulfillment.
The Pope also highlighted the diversity of people featured throughout Jesus’ parables. The laborer who discovers the hidden treasure, the merchant who recognizes the value of the pearl, the fishermen, scribes, shepherds, farmers, women managing their households, kings, administrators and builders all represent different walks of life.
By choosing such varied figures, Jesus demonstrated that the Kingdom of God is accessible to everyone, Pope Leo said. Regardless of age, social status, wealth, gender or background, every person is capable of recognizing its beauty and responding to its call.
“This profound renewal,” he suggested, is universal. The Kingdom reveals itself differently to each individual while continually inviting all people toward the same fundamental transformation.
Applying the Gospel message to contemporary life, Pope Leo described the Church as a communion made up of people from different cultures, origins, talents and responsibilities. Their unity, he said, is found in Jesus Christ.
The Pope portrayed Christ as the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, as well as the net that gathers together those who were once separated. From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus brought together people who otherwise would never have met, offering a living example of God’s universal love.
He stressed that God shows no favoritism and freely extends his love to all, especially to those who are overlooked, marginalized or cast aside.
Drawing on the example of the biblical King Solomon, Pope Leo encouraged believers to pray for the gift of wisdom and discernment. Such wisdom, he said, enables people to recognize the true treasure worth pursuing above all else.
The Pope contrasted this spiritual vision with the pressures of contemporary consumer culture. He warned that modern society frequently creates new desires and offers solutions that ultimately fail to satisfy, sometimes even harming the human heart.
Against that backdrop, he urged Christians to rediscover what genuinely matters: a living relationship with God. Such a relationship, he said, opens the path to authentic joy and enriches human relationships, allowing people to love and interact with one another more fully.
Concluding the spiritual reflection, Pope Leo entrusted the faithful to the intercession of Mary, Seat of Wisdom, praying that she would direct humanity’s desire for life toward Jesus, in whom every longing finds fulfillment.
Tribute to a New Blessed of Lebanon
Following the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo turned his attention to several international concerns and events. He first welcomed the beatification of Elias Hoayek, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1899 to 1931 and founder of the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family.
The Pope praised the new blessed as a devoted pastor who guided the Maronite Church for more than three decades with dedication and sensitivity. Describing him as a man of dialogue and hope, Pope Leo noted Hoayek’s significant ecclesial, social and political leadership, recalling that he became known as the “Father of Greater Lebanon.”
He expressed the hope that the prayers and intercession of Blessed Elias would strengthen Maronite faithful around the world and help obtain peace for the people of Lebanon.
Renewed Appeals for Peace in the Holy Land and Middle East
A significant portion of the Pope’s remarks focused on ongoing conflicts in the Holy Land and the wider Middle East.
Expressing deep concern over escalating violence, he lamented the recent deaths of civilians in both the West Bank and Gaza. He issued a heartfelt appeal for a return to negotiations aimed at achieving a just political solution based on the equal dignity and equal rights of every person.
Pope Leo also called for the rejection of further military actions and unilateral decisions, particularly those that jeopardize respect for holy sites and the longstanding status quo governing places sacred to different religious communities.
Expanding his appeal to the broader region, the pontiff warned that intensified military operations have continued to bring destruction and suffering while placing countless civilian lives at risk. He specifically pointed to worsening shortages of drinking water and electricity as evidence of the growing humanitarian toll.
Calling for immediate action, he urged all parties involved to suspend attacks and reopen paths of dialogue and diplomacy so that lasting peace might finally be achieved throughout the region.
The Pope further invited the faithful to pray for all peoples affected by war across the world, asking that political leaders be guided toward reconciliation and peace.
Solidarity With Victims of Wildfires
Pope Leo also expressed his closeness to communities affected by devastating wildfires in various regions of France and Spain.
He offered prayers for those impacted by the disasters and acknowledged the efforts of emergency personnel engaged in relief and response operations.
Honoring Grandparents and the Elderly
Marking the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Leo reflected on the event’s theme, drawn from the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “I will never forget you.”
He encouraged Catholics to give thanks for the elderly and their contributions to both the Church and society. The Pope also called for renewed commitment to respecting and valuing older generations, emphasizing the need to ensure that they receive the care, attention and assistance they deserve.
Greetings to Pilgrims and Participants
The Pope concluded by greeting pilgrims gathered from Italy and around the world. Among those he welcomed were members of Opera della Chiesa, bishops accompanying them, children from the House of Mercy in Chortkiv, Ukraine, young people from the Parish of Manerbio, participants in an international youth gathering commemorating the bicentenary of Saint Jeanne-Antide Thouret, young pilgrims from Belgium, cadets from the Carabinieri Training School in Velletri and members of the Catholic Men Association of Cameroon.
He also offered a special greeting to participants in Castel Gandolfo’s traditional Sagra delle Pesche festival, who brought the fruits of their harvest for a blessing.
Looking ahead to the evening’s traditional Madonna Fiumarola procession along the River Tiber in Rome, Pope Leo invoked the intercession of Mary, praying that all participants, and indeed all believers, would receive the grace to live each day according to the teachings of the Gospel.
Concluding the gathering, the Pope wished the faithful a happy Sunday, leaving them with a message that connected the day’s themes: amid a world often distracted by fleeting desires and marked by conflict and uncertainty, the true treasure remains the Kingdom of God, a gift open to every person and capable of transforming lives.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
