Pope Leo XIV urges believers, inspired by Saint Joseph’s piety and mercy, to open their hearts this Advent and pray that all children may live in peace.
Newsroom (21/12/2025 Gaudium Press ) On the fourth Sunday of Advent, St. Peter’s Square filled with pilgrims and families as Pope Leo XIV delivered his final Angelus catechesis before Christmas. Reflecting on the figure of Saint Joseph, the Pope called the faithful to rediscover the quiet strength of mercy, faith, and surrender to God’s providence — virtues that prepare the heart to welcome Christ this Christmas.
Saint Joseph, Model of Faith and Mercy
The Pope described Joseph as “a just man,” both devout and profoundly human, whose actions revealed mercy even in confusion. Before the Angel’s message revealed God’s will, Joseph chose compassion over judgment, embodying what the Pope called “the deepest meaning of religious observance: mercy itself.”
When God revealed to Joseph his role in salvation — to be the spouse of the Virgin Mother and protector of the Savior — the Pope said Joseph displayed “a great act of faith,” abandoning fear and placing his life fully in God’s hands. Quoting Saint Augustine, Pope Leo XIV noted that “through Joseph’s piety and charity, a son was born of the Virgin Mary, and he was the Son of God.”
Living with Piety, Charity, and Abandonment
Drawing inspiration from Joseph’s example, the Pope invited the faithful to practice these virtues during the final days of Advent: “forgiving, encouraging, giving a little hope to those with whom we live.” Such acts, he said, make us “a welcoming manger, a hospitable home, a sign of God’s presence.”
This, he added, is the heart of Christian preparation — to let faith and mercy educate us to meet Christ in one another. “Let us renew in prayer our filial abandonment to the Lord and his providence, entrusting everything to him with confidence.”
A Blessing for Children and the World
After the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV turned his attention to the youngest faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Square. More than 1,500 children from Rome, joined by groups from Spain and Hong Kong, held up their “bambinelli” — small figures of the Baby Jesus — to receive the Pope’s blessing before placing them in their home and parish nativity scenes.
“Dear children,” he said with affection, “please pray to Jesus for the Pope’s intentions as well. In particular, let us pray together that all the world’s children may live in peace.” His heartfelt words, delivered amid the festive crowd, drew sustained applause and smiles from the families gathered below.
The Pope concluded his address by extending a blessing “to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” before wishing all present “a happy Sunday and a holy, peaceful Christmas.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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