Pope Leo XIV at the Angelus: We Are Precious in God's Sight

The Angelus: John the Baptist and the Lamb of God

During his midday Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV encouraged us to dedicate time each day for prayer and reflection, so that we may encounter the Lord who loves us. The Pope shared with the congregation at St. Peter’s this reflection on the day’s gospel passage of St. John, in which John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God, as well as the Messiah. John gave a testimony about who Jesus was, including His divine nature and mission to save the people of Israel. Once John had completed this task, he continued to testify that “There comes after me a man who ranks higher than I, for He was before me.” (John 1.30)

During his reflection, the Pope spoke about John the Baptist, who was adored by the people to the extent that they made the officials in Jerusalem afraid of him. It would have been easy for John to exploit his celebrity; however, he did not pursue the temptations of recognition or success, but acknowledged his own unworthiness before Jesus, and made way for the greatness of Jesus. John knew that it was his purpose to prepare the path for the Lord and he gladly acknowledged the presence of God with great joy. When God came onto the scene, he willingly stepped back from being in the limelight.

Important Witness

Pope Leo emphasized the significance of his testimony for us in the present day. Pope Francis has stated that people tend to seek those places in life that will make them happy, such as validation, approval, or acknowledgment from others; yet many of them find unhappiness from those places where the pain or disagreement leads to unstable, unfulfilling, or limiting lifestyles and relations.

According to Pope Leo, 'In truth, we have no need for these so-called 'substitutes for our true happiness'. Our real joy, and the basis for our greateness are not found in illusions of greatness or ephemeral success/fame but in knowing that we are loved and cared for by our Father in heaven'.” In his analysis of John's Gospel, Fr. Gogarty pointed out that God's love (the love of Jesus) continues "to physically walk among us, as he did during his time on earth…but instead of performing great miracles that amaze us, he walks with us to share our trials and carry our burdens."

Precious in His Sight

The Pope expresses that the identity we have as a result of His presence is truth and explains how valuable we are to Him.

From the Pope’s last words, we learned that Pope Leo encouraged those present to keep their eyes on the Lord who is with us (in the Eucharist) and not to waste time and energy chasing after empty things.

Finding God in Prayer and Stillness

He asked us to contemplate John the Baptist as a means for staying awake, living simply, speaking sincerely, living moderately, and developing the greatest depth of mind and spirit. He continued by expressing his desire that we seek the happiness of knowing what is truly important and, if possible, take some time out on a daily basis either by being still in prayer and/or reflection and/or listening. To put it simply, you need to "go into the desert" to find God and to stay with Him! The Holy Father concluded by beseeching the Virgin Mary, exemplar of simplicity, wisdom, and humility, to assist us in this commitment.