Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to reflect on their stewardship of God’s gifts, drawing from the parable of the unjust steward.
Newsroom (22/09/2025, Gaudium Press )During his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to reflect on their stewardship of God’s gifts, drawing from the parable of the unjust steward to emphasize the transient nature of worldly wealth and the enduring value of relationships with God and others. He also renewed his impassioned call for peace in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Catholic associations aiding the region’s suffering population.
Reflecting on the Parable of the Unjust Steward
Speaking to the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV meditated on Sunday’s Gospel, which recounts the parable of the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13). The parable, he explained, challenges believers to consider how they manage not only material possessions but “the most precious good of all, our very life.”
“We are not the masters of our lives or of the goods we enjoy,” the Pope said, emphasizing that all possessions are gifts entrusted by God to humanity’s care, freedom, and responsibility. He warned that one day, everyone will be called to account for how they have managed “ourselves, our possessions, and the earth’s resources.”
The Pope highlighted the steward’s shift in perspective after losing his position. Initially driven by self-interest, the steward ultimately secures his future by forgiving debts, sacrificing personal gain to build relationships. “The riches of this world are passing,” Pope Leo noted, citing Jesus’ call to “make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.”
He urged Christians to prioritize “true wealth,” defined as “friendship with the Lord and with our brothers and sisters,” over selfish accumulation. The Pope invited introspection: “Do we follow the path of selfishness, thinking only of ourselves? Or do we recognize everything as a gift from God, to be used to build a more just and equitable world?”
Concluding his reflection, Pope Leo invoked the Virgin Mary, praying that she “may intercede for us and help us to be faithful stewards of what the Lord has entrusted to us, administering it with justice and responsibility.”
Solidarity with Gaza and a Call for Peace
Following the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV turned his attention to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where Israeli military operations have intensified. He expressed gratitude to Catholic associations providing aid to the region’s beleaguered residents. “Dear friends, I appreciate your initiative and the many others throughout the Church that express closeness to our brothers and sisters suffering in that tormented land,” he said.
The Pope reiterated his unequivocal stance against violence, declaring, “There is no future based on violence, forced exile, or vengeance!” Associating himself with Church leaders in the Holy Land, he called for peace, stating, “Peoples need peace. Those who truly love them work for peace.”
According to Gazan health authorities, at least 60 Palestinians were killed on Saturday amid Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza City, which involves demolishing high-rise buildings and targeting underground structures. Reuters reports that Israeli forces have seized the city’s eastern suburbs, aiming to advance further. While Israel claims nearly 500,000 people have fled Gaza City this month, Hamas disputes this, estimating 900,000 remain, including fewer than 50 Israeli hostages.
The conflict, now in its second year, has claimed over 65,000 Palestinian lives since Israel’s invasion began in response to a Hamas attack in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage.
Consistent Appeals for Peace
Pope Leo’s remarks build on his consistent advocacy for peace. During last week’s Angelus, he expressed “deepest sympathy” for Palestinians in Gaza, decrying their “unacceptable conditions” and forced displacement. Invoking God’s commandment against killing, he declared, “Every human person has an inviolable dignity which must be respected and protected.”
He renewed his calls for a ceasefire, hostage release, diplomatic negotiations, and adherence to international humanitarian law, urging the faithful to join him in praying for “a dawn of peace and justice.”
The Pope’s message underscores his dual focus: a spiritual call to steward God’s gifts responsibly and a humanitarian plea for peace in one of the world’s most protracted conflicts.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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