Pope Leo XIV presided over his first jubilee liturgy honoring families, children, grandparents and the elderly.
The mass concluded the Jubilee of Families, which attracted over hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on June 1st.
Pope Leo XIV explained the role of families in society, referring to them as “the cradle of the future of humanity.” In his homily, he said, “Marriage is not an ideal but the measure of true love between a man and a woman: a love that is total, faithful and fruitful.”
Quoting Pope St. Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae, Pope Leo XIV asserted that conjugal love reflects divine unity, enabling couples to “bestow the gift of life.”
Pope Leo XIV encouraged parents to exemplify integrity to their children. He advised children to daily express gratitude, calling this essential for honoring their parents. Grandparents received specific counsel to watch over their families “with wisdom and compassion.”
Pope Leo XIV recalled exemplary married couples canonized by the Church, such as Saints Louis and Zélie Martin, highlighting their lives as exemplars of the spiritual significance of marriage.
Quoting the Gospel of John, Pope Leo XIV reflected on Jesus’ prayer for unity, emphasizing God’s infinite love. “The Father does not love us any less than he loves his only-begotten Son,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Pope Leo XIV urged unity grounded in Christ as a path toward global peace, particularly noting the suffering of families affected by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Please pray for Pope Leo XIV and his intentions! 🙏
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