On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Pope emphasized how God’s “immense love” transformed the Cross—an instrument of death—into a means of eternal life
Newsroom (15/09/2025, Gaudium Press )During his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, emphasizing how God’s “immense love” transformed the Cross—an instrument of death—into a means of eternal life. Speaking to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Holy Father drew from the day’s Gospel to underscore the redemptive power of Christ’s sacrifice and urged Catholics to embrace God’s love in their lives.
Addressing the significance of the feast, Pope Leo posed a question: “What does it mean for us today to celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross?” He turned to the Gospel of John, recounting Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus, a seeker in need of divine guidance. “Nicodemus seeks God and asks the Master of Nazareth for help,” the Pope said, noting that Jesus responded by revealing that the Son of Man must be “lifted up” on the Cross so that “everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”
The Pope explained that while Nicodemus may not have fully grasped Jesus’ words at the time, he would later understand their meaning at the Crucifixion. “God, to redeem humanity, became man and died on the Cross,” Pope Leo said, highlighting the transformative love that turned a symbol of suffering into one of salvation.
The Bronze Serpent: A Foreshadowing of Salvation
Delving deeper into the Scripture, Pope Leo referenced the “bronze serpent” from the Book of Numbers, which Moses raised on a pole to heal the Israelites bitten by poisonous snakes. This, he said, prefigured Christ’s Crucifixion. “God saved us by offering Himself as our companion, teacher, physician, and friend, even to the point of becoming the Bread broken in the Eucharist,” the Pope said. He described the Cross as “one of the cruelest instruments of death ever invented by man,” yet through God’s love, it became a source of life.
“This is why we celebrate its ‘exaltation,’” Pope Leo declared. “God’s love transformed the Cross from an instrument of death into a means of life, teaching us that nothing can separate us from Him, and that His love is greater than our sin.”
The Holy Father concluded his reflection by invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary, urging the faithful to pray that God’s saving love “may take root and grow within us” and inspire them to give themselves to others, just as Christ gave Himself completely.
Synod of Bishops: A Call to Unity and Mission
Following the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV marked the upcoming 60th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops, established by Pope St. Paul VI on September 15, 1965. Describing the synod as a “prophetic intuition,” the Pope noted its role in fostering communion between bishops and the successors of Peter.
“Tomorrow marks the sixtieth anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops,” he said. “I hope this anniversary may inspire a renewed commitment to unity, to synodality, and to the mission of the Church.”
The Pope’s words come as the Church continues to navigate its synodal process, emphasizing collaboration and shared responsibility in its global mission.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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