Pope Leo XIV urges Spanish pilgrims to follow St. Thomas of Villanova’s example of prayer, service, and compassion during their Christmas pilgrimage to Rome.
Newsroom (30/12/2025 Gaudium Press ) In the heart of Rome, during the Octave of Christmas, Pope Leo XIV greeted a group of Spanish pilgrims from the Parish of Santo Tomás de Villanueva in Alcalá de Henares. The pilgrims had travelled nearly 1,900 kilometers to the Eternal City, carrying with them prayers, faith, and a deep devotion to their parish’s namesake.
The Pope’s joy was evident as he expressed heartfelt gratitude for their prayerful support of “the Successor of Peter.” But beyond formal words of welcome, Pope Leo offered something more enduring—spiritual direction rooted in the living example of St. Thomas of Villanova, a 16th-century Augustinian whose love for the poor and tireless apostolic work made him a figure of lasting inspiration.
The Model of a Saint
Pope Leo described St. Thomas as a man “open to God’s action,” whose profound interior life enabled him to hear the divine voice and serve with unwavering purpose. The Pope noted that the saint’s “holy restlessness”—a deep desire to remain always in God’s presence—remains a striking example in a hurried modern world that promises ease but often neglects depth.
Highlighting Alcalá de Henares’ efforts to preserve St. Thomas’s legacy, the Pope emphasized how the saint’s life invites believers to integrate prayer with service. St. Thomas’s humility, simplicity, and zeal for the Gospel, he said, remind all Christians to use their God-given gifts for the good of others.
Faith in Action
Known as “the almoner of God” for his love of the poor, St. Thomas’s compassion continues to animate parish life in Alcalá. Pope Leo pointed to the pilgrims’ charitable works as signs that the saint’s spirit still breathes within their community. He encouraged them to view their pilgrimage not merely as a journey to Rome, but as a living expression of faith—a continuation of the saint’s mission to make divine love tangible through action.
A Papal Blessing
As the audience drew to a close, Pope Leo XIV urged the pilgrims to follow “the footsteps of Christ” using the saints’ examples as their guideposts. With a final blessing, he invoked protection for their journey and their community: “May God bless you, and may Our Lady of the Val always accompany you.”
In his message, Pope Leo transformed a moment of encounter into a call to renewal, reminding the faithful that holiness is not reserved for the past but remains a living vocation—one that still calls believers, through prayer and service, to follow Jesus in the company of the saints.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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