Pope Leo XIV meets Russian pilgrims, urging them to be “living stones” in the Church, fostering faith, love, and solidarity in their communities.
Newsroom (17/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV welcomed a group of Russian pilgrims to the Vatican on Friday, urging them to carry forward their Christian journey with renewed purpose after their pilgrimage to Rome. In a heartfelt audience, the pontiff praised their journey as a testament to a universal search for meaning, rooted in the vibrant faith of the Eternal City.
“Your pilgrimage to Rome is typical of those seeking the meaning of life,” Pope Leo said, addressing the group. He emphasized that their visit connects them to “many generations” who have come to the city where “the heart of the Christian soul beats.” Beyond Rome’s storied monuments, churches, and monasteries, the Pope pointed to the living faith found in the hearts of its people, which transforms the city into “a symbol of human life.”
The Pope wove together the themes of struggle and hope, noting that the “ruins” of past experiences—marked by anguish, uncertainty, and restlessness—are intertwined with a faith that grows through charity and a hope that endures. Rome’s ancient and sacred buildings, he said, serve as a powerful reminder of the Christian call to be “living stones” in a spiritual house, built through the Sacrament of Baptism. “Every stone, even the smallest one, placed by the Lord in the right place, plays an essential role in the stability of the entire structure,” he affirmed.
A Call to Shared Responsibility
Pope Leo urged the pilgrims to sustain their spiritual fervor beyond the pilgrimage, emphasizing their responsibility to their local Church and communities. “Bear one another’s burdens,” he said, encouraging them to embody love, fraternity, solidarity, and mutual respect in their families, parishes, and neighborhoods. Such actions, he noted, can ignite “the fire of Christian love,” capable of warming even the coldest hearts.
Reflecting on a gesture of solidarity from his predecessor, the Pope recalled that nearly a year ago, Pope Francis blessed the icon of Salus Populi Romani and gifted it to the Catholic dioceses of Russia as a symbol of the Holy Year. Pope Leo expressed hope that as the icon travels through Russia’s Catholic communities, it will bring comfort, particularly to the sick and suffering.
The audience underscored the Pope’s vision of a Church built not only of stone but of people—each contributing to a shared spiritual edifice, grounded in faith and mutual care. For the Russian pilgrims, the message was clear: their journey to Rome is but one step in an ongoing mission to live as “living stones” in the Body of Christ.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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