Emphasizing the primacy of charity, Pope Leo XIV reminded the sisters that God’s gaze penetrates beyond external actions to the heart’s intentions
Newsroom (15/10/2025, Gaudium Press )Pope Leo XIV received a delegation of Augustinian Recollect Sisters from the Federation of Mexico on Wednesday, praising their evident joy as a gift from God and urging them to persevere as pilgrims on the path of faith.
In a brief address delivered in the Vatican ahead of his weekly General Audience, the Holy Father welcomed the sisters, who had journeyed to Rome during this Holy Year to deepen their encounter with Christ. “I can see that He has filled you with joy,” he observed, highlighting the radiant spirit that animated their pilgrimage.
Pilgrims Walking Joyfully Toward the Lord
Drawing on the teachings of St. Thomas of Villanova, a 16th-century Augustinian bishop and reformer, Pope Leo XIV explained that true joy originates from the Lord Himself. This divine gift compels believers to embrace a pilgrim’s journey, marked by continual movement toward God.
While acknowledging the myriad paths individuals might follow in life, the Pope distilled them to two essential routes: mercy and truth. “Through these two ways, let us walk toward the Lord—serving like Martha in works of mercy, or resting like Mary at the feet of Jesus to contemplate the truth,” he said, referencing the biblical sisters from Bethany as models of active service and contemplative adoration.
Without Love, Labors Lack Meaning
Emphasizing the primacy of charity, Pope Leo XIV reminded the sisters that God’s gaze penetrates beyond external actions to the heart’s intentions. Quoting St. Thomas of Villanova, he stated: “God, in fact, does not look at what or how much you do, but at how much you grow in desire and love for Him; because, although it is true that each will be judged by their works, the true weight of the work is the charity of the heart” (Sermon VI, 487).
He warned that without the “fire of love,” even noble efforts become burdensome and devoid of purpose. “Where there is love, there is no suffering,” the Pope added, encouraging the sisters to infuse their vocational labors—rooted in love for God and neighbor—with authentic passion.
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV invoked the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel and St. Thomas of Villanova, the latter noted for his profound devotion to missionary work in the Americas. He prayed that these heavenly patrons would guide the faithful “to walk this path of perfection with patience and courageous spirit, until we reach the end.”
The encounter underscores Pope Leo XIV’s ongoing emphasis on joy as a hallmark of Christian life, echoing themes from his broader teachings on pilgrimage and interior renewal during the Holy Year. The Augustinian Recollect Sisters, part of a global order dedicated to education, healthcare, and spiritual formation, left the Vatican inspired to carry this message back to their communities in Mexico and beyond.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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