Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus reflects on the Beatitudes as a way of life that restores joy, heals wounds, and makes the earth no longer the same.
Newsroom (09/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) In his Angelus address to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV turned to the Gospel passage that follows the proclamation of the Beatitudes, inviting the faithful to see in those words not a distant ideal but a living transformation of the world. He recalled that after listing the eight Beatitudes, Jesus does not leave his listeners with an abstract catalogue of virtues; instead, he speaks directly to those who put them into practice, telling them that thanks to them “the earth is no longer the same and the world is no longer in darkness.”
The Pope emphasized that this change begins with joy. True joy, he said, is what gives flavor to life and light to its darkest corners. It is not a fleeting emotion, but a stable disposition rooted in a concrete way of life: a way of inhabiting the earth and living together that must be consciously desired and chosen. That new way of life, he added, already shines in Jesus, in the rhythm of his words and the consistency of his deeds.
Drawing from the Gospel of Matthew, Pope Leo XIV recalled Jesus’ words: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:13–14). Genuine joy, he explained, is what makes life “taste” of something deeper and brings to light realities that were previously hidden. It springs from a life patterned on the Beatitudes—poverty of spirit, meekness, simplicity of heart, hunger and thirst for justice, mercy, and peace—which become powers of transformation and reconciliation.
Those who distance themselves from this path, the Pope observed, appear bland and dull, as if they have lost their flavor. Quoting Jesus’ warning that salt which has lost its taste “is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot” (Mt 5:13), he acknowledged the pain of losing joy and feeling worthless or broken. Yet he insisted that Jesus proclaims a God who will never discard anyone, a Father who knows each person by name and cherishes their uniqueness. Every wound, even the deepest, can be healed by welcoming the word of the Beatitudes and returning to the path of the Gospel.
Pope Leo XIV then turned to the prophet Isaiah, who lists concrete gestures that overcome injustice: sharing bread with the hungry, bringing the poor and homeless into one’s home, clothing those who are naked, and not neglecting one’s neighbors or those within one’s own household (Is 58:7). These acts, the Pope noted, are not merely moral duties but the very means by which “light breaks forth like the dawn” and “healing springs up speedily” (Is 58:8). On one side stands a light too strong to be hidden, like the sun that dispels darkness each morning; on the other, a wound that once burned but now begins to heal.
He went on to reflect that deeds of openness and attention to others rekindle joy, yet such simplicity also places believers at odds with a world that prizes power, success, and self‑assertion. Jesus himself, in the desert, was tempted to follow other paths—to assert his identity, to seek acclaim, and to have the world at his feet. Instead, he rejected every road that would have caused him to lose his true flavor, the one that believers rediscover every Sunday in the Bread that is broken: a life given freely and a love expressed in silence.
Addressing the crowd as brothers and sisters, the Pope invited them to be nourished and enlightened by communion with Jesus. Without boasting, he said, they would then be like a city set on a hill—visible not only in form but in spirit, inviting and welcoming. This city, he added, is the city of God, where everyone, deep down, longs to live and find peace. He concluded this part of his reflection by turning the community’s gaze and prayers to Mary, the Gate of Heaven, asking her intercession so that they might become and remain faithful disciples of her Son.
After the Angelus: Pastoral and Global Concerns
Following the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV spoke of the beatification the previous day in Huércal‑Overa, Spain, of Father Salvatore Valera Parra, a parish priest described as completely devoted to his people, humble and generous in pastoral charity. The Pope held up Father Valera’s example—his focus on what is essential—as an inspiration for today’s priests, encouraging them to live each day with simplicity and asceticism.
He then expressed sorrow and concern over recent attacks against various communities in Nigeria that had led to a heavy loss of life. The Pope offered his prayerful closeness to all victims of violence and terrorism and voiced hope that the competent authorities would continue to work with determination to ensure the safety and protection of every citizen.
On the memorial of Saint Josephine Bakhita, the Church celebrated the World Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Human Trafficking. The Pope thanked religious and all those committed to combating and eliminating contemporary forms of slavery, joining them in the affirmation that “peace begins with dignity.”
He also extended his prayers to the people of Portugal, Morocco, Spain—especially Grazalema in Andalusia—and southern Italy, particularly Niscemi in Sicily, who had been affected by floods and landslides. He encouraged these communities to remain united and supportive, placing them under the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary.
Turning to the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope welcomed Romans and visitors from Italy and many countries, greeting the faithful from Melilla, Murcia, and Málaga in Spain; those from Belarus, Lithuania, and Latvia; students from Olivenza, Spain; and those preparing for Confirmation in Malta. He also greeted young people connected from three oratories in the Diocese of Brescia.
Concluding his remarks, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to continue praying for peace. History, he said, shows that strategies built on economic and military power alone cannot secure a future for humanity. The future, he insisted, lies in respect and fraternity among peoples. With that message, he wished everyone a happy Sunday
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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