Pope Leo XIV praised the dialogue between Indigenous communities and the Church, such encounters reveal “the abundant life Christ offers to all peoples.”
Newsroom (16/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a heartfelt message to the Networks of Indigenous Peoples and the Network of Indian Theology Theologians, Pope Leo XIV called for a renewed embrace of the Jubilee Year of Hope, urging communities to rediscover the grace, forgiveness, and shared hope that define this sacred time.
Published on Thursday, the Pope’s message reflected on the vision of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who sought to highlight the Church’s universality through the Jubilee, encompassing diverse vocations, ages, and life circumstances— from families and children to ordained ministers and laypeople. “When we pass through the Holy Door,” the Pope wrote, “more than a symbolic gesture, we seek to enter, through faith, into the very source of divine love—the open side of the Crucified One.”
The Pope emphasized the unity of humanity in Christ, quoting St. Augustine: “It is in this faith that we are a people of brothers, one in the One.” He encouraged Indigenous communities to reread their history and present reality through this lens, facing the future with hope despite challenges.
Reconciling with a Complex Past
Acknowledging the “light and shadow” in the history of evangelization among Indigenous Peoples, Pope Leo XIV stressed the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation. Citing St. Augustine, he noted that God’s grace persists even when human messengers falter. The Jubilee, he said, offers a “favorable time to forgive our brothers from the heart” (Mt 18:35) and to give thanks for God’s mercy.
The Pope underscored that trust in divine power transforms peoples into the People of God. Quoting St. John Paul II, he affirmed that the Gospel’s transformative power engages every culture without needing to change itself. “The seeds of the Word,” he added, have been planted in all cultures, blossoming in unique ways.
Dialogue and Indigenous Contributions
Pope Leo XIV praised the dialogue between Indigenous communities and the Church, noting that such encounters reveal “the abundant life Christ offers to all peoples.” He expressed gratitude for the contributions of Indigenous worldviews and Indian Theology, which resonate with a “deep longing for communion with the Creator and creation.” The Church, he said, must accompany these perspectives with discernment to enrich its mission.
A Call to Evangelical Boldness
Echoing Pope Francis’ emphasis on parrhesia—evangelical boldness—the Pope urged Indigenous Peoples to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly, sharing their cultural and Christian richness in the “concert of nations.” Their voices, he said, hold an “irreplaceable place” in the Church’s universal choir of praise.
Entrusting the Mission to Mary
Concluding his message, Pope Leo XIV entrusted the work of the networks to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the “Star of Evangelization,” who united diverse peoples through Christ. He called on Indigenous communities to renew their missionary mandate, spreading “the joy that springs from encountering His Divine Heart” to all nations.
The Pope’s message serves as both an invitation and a challenge: to embrace the Jubilee Year as a time of spiritual renewal, reconciliation, and bold proclamation of the Gospel’s transformative power.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
Related Images:
