The Pope urged the faithful to find consolation in the divine support, describing the Christian journey as one marked by refreshment amid obstacles
Newsroom (15/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a message of profound reassurance, Pope Leo XIV emphasized during his weekly General Audience that Jesus Christ sustains believers through life’s inevitable hardships, quenching an innate thirst for fullness that worldly achievements cannot satisfy. Addressing thousands in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, the pontiff urged the faithful to find consolation in this divine support, describing the Christian journey as one marked by refreshment amid obstacles “like heavy stones” that threaten to derail it.
Continuing his ongoing catechesis series, “Jesus Christ, Our Hope,” Pope Leo XIV delved into the human condition’s inherent contradictions, painting a vivid portrait of emotional and existential flux. “At times, we feel joyful; at other times, sad. We may feel fulfilled or stressed, gratified or demotivated,” he observed. “We live busy lives, focusing on results, sometimes even attaining prestigious goals. Other times, we remain suspended—precarious—awaiting success or recognition that never comes.”
This paradox, the Holy Father explained, underscores a universal longing for happiness that often slips away. “In short, we find ourselves in a paradox: we long to be happy, and yet lasting happiness often eludes us,” he said, highlighting how such tensions expose human limitations while igniting an “irrepressible urge” to transcend them. Deep within, he noted, lies the sense that “something is always missing,” a void not meant for humanity’s ultimate fate.
“We were not created for lack, but for fullness—to rejoice in life, and life in abundance,” Pope Leo affirmed, rooting this assurance in Christian anthropology. Roles, power, and possessions, he cautioned, fall short of fulfilling this “infinite thirst for fullness” implanted by the Holy Spirit. True satisfaction, he insisted, stems from the certainty of divine sustenance—hope that transcends mere optimism, which “often collapses under the weight of disappointment.”
The Risen Christ as Living Wellspring
At the heart of this hope stands the Risen Jesus, whom Pope Leo described as the unbreakable guarantee of deliverance. “The Risen Jesus is the guarantee of this deliverance! He is the wellspring that satisfies our thirst,” he proclaimed, invoking Revelation 1:18 to portray Christ as “the Living One, the Lover of Life, the Victor over death.”
Drawing from St. Augustine’s Confessions, the pontiff evoked the sensory pull of divine encounter: “You exhaled fragrance, and I drew in my breath and pant for You. I tasted, and now I hunger and thirst. You touched me, and I burned for Your peace.” Christ’s Resurrection, he stressed, is no distant historical footnote but a “transformative mystery” offering eternal refreshment—a pure, ever-present source for the thirsty soul.
This divine presence addresses humanity’s core inquiries, the Pope continued: Does life have meaning? Can innocent suffering be redeemed? Jesus responds not with aloof theories but by walking alongside us on “a road that is often difficult, painful, and mysterious.” In moments of emptiness, when “our flask is empty” and despair looms, only He refills it, transforming aimless wandering into purposeful pilgrimage.
Acknowledging sin’s wounding effects—which can lead to falls, surrender, or hopelessness—Pope Leo XIV called for resilience: “We are not meant to remain fallen.” The Risen Christ, as companion and destination, ensures arrival at a heavenly home where love and salvation await.
“Without His love, life becomes aimless—a tragic journey without a true end,” he warned, while promising that Christian hope “promises and fulfills,” leading to a peace that endures beyond this world.
The audience, held under clear skies in the historic square, drew pilgrims from around the globe, many visibly moved by the pontiff’s words. As the catechesis concluded, Pope Leo greeted various groups, including newlyweds and the infirm, extending blessings and encouraging ongoing fidelity to Christ amid daily trials.
This reflection aligns with Pope Leo’s broader emphasis on hope in an era of global uncertainties, echoing themes from his encyclicals on faith and human dignity. The full text of the audience is available on the Vatican website.
- Raju Hasmukh with files of Vatican News
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