Reflecting on Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, The Pope says Christian love is a courageous choice rooted in hope, not an escape from suffering
Newsroom (27/08/2025, Gaudium Press )During his weekly General Audience, Pope Leo XIV delivered a profound reflection on Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, emphasizing that Christian love is a courageous choice rooted in hope, not an escape from suffering. Continuing his catechesis for the Jubilee Year of Hope, the pontiff drew from the Gospel account to underscore God’s presence in moments of fear, injustice, and loneliness.
A Free and Courageous Act
Focusing on the moment of Jesus’ arrest, Pope Leo highlighted the depiction in St. John’s Gospel, where Jesus does not flee or cower but steps forward boldly, declaring, “I am he.” The pontiff noted that this response, evoking God’s divine name, “I am,” reveals Jesus’ strength and freedom. “Jesus is not a victim of the arrest because He lets Himself be taken,” Pope Leo explained. “He is the giver of a gift, embodying a hope of salvation for our humanity.”
This act, the Pope stressed, was not born of weakness but of a mature love unafraid of rejection. Jesus’ surrender to the guards was a deliberate choice, demonstrating that “even in the darkest hour, one can remain free to love to the end.”
God’s Presence in Darkness
Pope Leo drew attention to the mysterious moment when Jesus’ words cause the soldiers to fall to the ground, a scene recalling the divine power of God’s name in biblical revelation. This moment, he said, affirms God’s presence precisely when fear and injustice loom largest. “In the darkness of night, when all seems to be falling apart, Jesus shows that Christian hope is not evasion but decision,” the Pope declared. He emphasized that such hope stems from a life of deep prayer, where one seeks not exemption from suffering but the strength to persevere in love.
The pontiff also noted Jesus’ selflessness during the arrest, as He focused on protecting His disciples rather than Himself. “This reveals that His sacrifice is truly an act of love—He is taken so His friends might go free,” Pope Leo said, calling this a model for Christians today.
A Lifetime of Preparation
Pope Leo underscored that Jesus’ courage in this “dramatic and sublime hour” was the culmination of a lifetime of preparation. Far from being untroubled, Jesus faced the weight of His impending suffering but pressed forward, knowing His sacrifice was an act of love. “This is what true hope consists of: not in trying to avoid pain, but in believing that even in the heart of the most unjust suffering, the seed of new life is hidden,” the Pope said.
A Call to Gospel Logic
Applying this to contemporary life, Pope Leo urged the faithful to embrace the “logic of the Gospel” over self-preservation. “Only what is given flourishes; only the love that becomes free can restore trust even where everything seems lost,” he said. Referencing the young man who flees naked during Jesus’ arrest, the Pope acknowledged the temptation to abandon the Gospel’s demanding call to love when caught off guard by life’s challenges. Yet, he contrasted this with the image of a young man clothed in a white robe announcing the resurrection, symbolizing the hope and renewal God offers despite human failings.
A Life of Response
Concluding his catechesis, Pope Leo encouraged the faithful to let their lives be “a response to the good we have received.” While acknowledging that not everything can be controlled, he affirmed that choosing to love freely each day is enough. “Our hope remains that even in the darkest of days, God’s love is there, sustaining us and ripening the fruit of eternal life that awaits us,” he said.
The Pope’s message resonated as a call to courage and trust, inviting believers to see love not as an escape from hardship but as a transformative decision grounded in faith.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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