Pope Leo XIV at the Angelus: Not Afraid to Admit Mistakes

A Church that is more modest and inclusive

In a message delivered via the window of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV described the contrasting figures in today’s Gospel. The first figure was a Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness; while the other was a tax collector who realized his sins.

Pope Francis spoke to the attendees after the Jubilee Mass, honouring synod teams and consulted assemblies on Sunday, and just before reciting the Angelus prayer, which he does weekly.

According to Pope Leo, the prayer of the Pharisee was very much focused on himself and was conceited or arrogant towards God. He went on to state that the Pharisee prayed according to the Law but did not love; he based his prayer on his acts of ‘giving’ and ‘possessing’; and his prayer expressed himself in terms of debts/credits, but displayed a lack of mercy.

Humility as a journey of discovery and restoration

In stark contrast, the tax collector displays a heart that is receptive to grace with his request: "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Humble - Journey of Discovery & Restoration Pope Leo emphasized the courage of the tax collector, who approaches God without shame or hesitation, regardless of past sins and current status, when he offered his reflection during the Angelus.

According to the Pope, an individual cannot be limited to their own world; they cannot be satisfied with the evil that they’ve done to others. Thus, he leaves behind those places where he feels safe and secure with the power he has had over other people. Instead, he comes to the Temple all alone; even when confronted with disdainful looks and harsh criticisms, he comes to stand before the Lord; humbly, with his head down.

Salvation is not acquired by our good works or hiding our defects but being honest about who we are to God, ourselves and others.

The Holy Father draws a parallel between the tax collector, who exposes his wound for healing, and the Pharisee who is ashamed of showing compassion, by quoting the passage from Saint Augustine: "There is no reason to be surprised that the tax collector, who was not ashamed to exhibit his injuries, went home healed as well."

Let us not shy away from recognizing our errors

The Pope called on the believers to take the tax collector as an example of being honest about our faults: "We should be brave and honest about our failures by taking responsibility for them, and by trusting them to God's mercy."

Pope Leo ultimately determined that this journey of humility facilitates both personal healing and the expansion of God’s Kingdom: “which is not granted to the proud, but rather to the humble.”