Pontiff thanks members of ancient order for their witness of faith and service during Jubilee Year of Hope gathering in Rome
Newsroom (23/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV on Thursday met with the Knights and Dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, commending their centuries-old mission of faith and charity and encouraging them to “advance in goodness” as they continue to serve the Church and the Holy Land.
The audience, held in Rome as part of celebrations for the Jubilee Year of Hope, brought together members of the Order, whose origins trace back to medieval pilgrims devoted to protecting the Holy Sepulchre and caring for those journeying to Jerusalem.
Pope Leo praised the Order’s ongoing support for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees seminaries, schools, universities, and a range of charitable projects across the region. Their efforts, he said, have been especially vital in times of hardship, including during the Covid-19 pandemic and amid persistent conflict in the Holy Land.
“Protecting the Tomb of Jesus,” the Pope said, “means supporting a Church made of living stones — a Church that remains a sign of Easter hope.”
Three Dimensions of Hope
In his address, the Pope reflected on what he called the three dimensions of hope: expectation, service, and journey.
The first, he said, is hopeful expectation — the faith that God fulfills His promises. “In a world where arrogance and violence often prevail over charity,” he told the Knights and Dames, “you are called to show that life conquers death, love conquers hatred, forgiveness conquers vengeance, and mercy conquers sin.”
He urged the members to nurture their witness through a deep spiritual life founded on the sacraments, Scripture, and prayer.
The second dimension, hope in service, was exemplified by the women who went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, the Pope said. Their steadfast care mirrors the Order’s own charitable mission, which brings “a glimmer of light” to those in need. “Your charity,” he added, “recognises in people’s needs the signs of the times and transforms them into signs of hope.”
The third aspect, hope directed toward the goal, recalls the Gospel account of Peter and John running to the tomb on Easter morning. Hope, the Pope said, is a journey toward full communion with God. “You too have completed your pilgrimage,” he told the Knights, “but treat your time here not as an arrival, but as a stage on your path toward the final goal.”
Perseverance in Mission
Concluding his remarks, Pope Leo XIV called on the members of the Order to persevere in their mission with faith and determination.
“Be guardians of the Tomb of Christ,” he urged, “with the hopefulness of expectation, the zeal of charity, and the joy of those who walk in hope.”
Quoting Saint Augustine, the Pope left them with a final exhortation that encapsulated his message for the Jubilee Year:
“Advance in goodness. Do not stray from the path, do not turn back, do not stop.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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