Pope Leo XIV delivered a homily centered on the themes of hospitality, service, and listening as foundational to building relationships with God and others.
Newsroom (21/07/2025, Gaudium Press ) On the third Sunday of his stay at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV presided over Mass for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time at the Cathedral of Albano, delivering a homily centered on the themes of hospitality, service, and listening as foundational to building relationships with God and others.
Opening his homily with a lighthearted remark, the Pope referenced a change in his travel plans: “As you know, I was supposed to arrive on May 12, but the Holy Spirit had other plans. Still, I’m truly happy to be here, and with this sense of fraternity and Christian joy, I greet all of you present.”
Drawing from the day’s readings, Pope Leo explored the theme of hospitality, beginning with the Genesis account of Abraham’s encounter with three visitors. He noted Abraham’s immediate and generous response, which transformed a quiet afternoon into a moment of divine connection. “The afternoon’s stillness is filled with gestures of love,” the Pope said, emphasizing how Abraham and Sarah’s hospitality paved the way for God’s promise of a son.
Turning to the Gospel account of Jesus’ visit to Martha and Mary, Pope Leo highlighted the “twin dimensions of hospitality” embodied by the sisters. Martha’s service and Mary’s attentive listening, he explained, are complementary rather than opposing actions. “It would be incorrect to see these two attitudes as mutually exclusive,” he said, urging the faithful to integrate both in their lives.
The Pope underscored that a relationship with God must precede and inform acts of service, which requires dedicated moments of silence and prayer. “This is a dimension of the Christian life that we particularly need to recover today, both as a value for individuals and communities, and as a prophetic sign for our times,” he said.
With summer offering a respite from daily routines, Pope Leo encouraged the faithful to embrace this season as an opportunity for reflection and connection. “Make good use of this time by leaving behind the whirlwind of commitments and worries to savor a few moments of peace,” he advised, advocating for acts of care and listening that foster a “culture of peace” and bridge divisions among individuals and communities.
Acknowledging the effort required to live out these values, the Pope emphasized their worth: “It is in these efforts that something worthwhile can be built in life.”
At the conclusion of the Mass, Pope Leo presented Bishop Vincenzo Viva of Albano with a chasuble, a gesture of appreciation for the diocese’s service. “We present this gift to His Excellency, an expression of our closeness to his diocesan Church, with the hope that the Lord’s blessing may always accompany you,” he said.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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