Pope Leo XIV used his second ever Wednesday general audience, held at 10 a.m. on May 28th, to offer a catechesis on the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
He reminded pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square that Gospel parables “are an opportunity to change perspective and open ourselves up to hope,” cautioning that rigid outlooks stifle trust.
Citing Luke 10:25‑37, the Pope recounted Jesus’ exchange with a legal scholar whose insistence on defining “neighbor” exposed, he said, a self‑centered search for guarantees.
Leo XIV painted the dangerous descent from Jerusalem to Jericho, explaining that travelers can be “attacked, beaten, robbed and left half dead,” a scene echoing modern vulnerability.
He noted that a priest and a Levite passed without stopping, adding, “Those who think their own journey must take precedence are not willing to stop for another.”
The Samaritan, by contrast, halted simply “because he is a man faced with another man in need of help.” National or religious labels, the Pope said, did not determine mercy.
The pontiff listed concrete actions: drawing near, cleansing wounds with oil and wine, loading the victim onto his mount and covering two days’ wages at an inn.
Finally, he urged believers to recognize themselves in the injured traveller, trusting that remembering “all the times that Jesus stopped to take care of us” will breed compassion.
Pray for Pope Leo XIV and his intentions! 🙏
Editorial credit: Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com | Text credit: General Audience, 28.05.2025 via Holy See Press Office
