Vatican City (AsiaNews) – After his July break in Castel Gandolfo due to Rome’s intense heat, Pope Leo XIV today presided over the Wednesday general audience, which, due to the high temperatures, took place inside St Peter's Basilica.
Before approximately 5,000 people, the pontiff continued the series of catechises dedicated to the documents of the Second Vatican Council, resuming his reflection on the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium on the liturgy, focusing on its ecclesial dimension.
Rediscovering the "truth" of prayer
Seated before Bernini's imposing baldachin, Leo reflected on the meaning of praying in today's contexts "dominated by an efficiency-driven and consumerist mindset”, so that it can appear "pointless and trivial," as well as a "form of escapism.”
The pope emphasised how its transmission is failing even in Christian families, with the risk of “confusing it with just another technique, of a psychological nature aimed at personal well-being. Prayer, however, as a fundamental dimension of our humanity, is worth rediscovering in its true form.”
This "need" was addressed in the Sacrosanctum Concilium, one of the four conciliar constitutions, dated 4 December 1963. In it, “‘prayer’ designates the liturgy as a whole."
This "decisive" perspective "guided the liturgical reform, making the active participation of the faithful its central pillar," the pope explained.
For this reason, Pope Paul VI wished to see the Liturgy of the Hours “deeply permeate, enliven, guide and express all Christian prayer, and effectively nourish the spiritual life of the People of God”.
For Pope Leo, “the Liturgy of the Hours needs to be more fully embraced and lived out in the daily lives of the baptized and of the communities. To the many people who wish to learn to pray, especially catechumens, it can offer the path and the school of Christian prayer.”
It represents "the breath of the life of the Church”, while “the Liturgy of the Hours sanctifies the time of our daily lives” by marking the day: in the morning, to express "faith and gratitude"; at midday to ask to remain “faithful amidst our labours”; but also, in the evening and at night, to entrust oneself "to the peace of God."
Apostolic Journey to Latin America announced
Today, the Holy See Press Office officially announced that next fall Leo XIV will undertake another apostolic journey, the sixth of his pontificate, to Latin America this time, from 6 to 17 November 2026. During the journey, he will visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
“Having accepted the invitation of the Heads of State and ecclesiastical Authorities of the respective countries,” reads the statement, the pope will travel to 10 cities in his 12-day trip: Montevideo, Paysandú and Florida, from 6 to 8 November; Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján, from 8 to 11 November; and Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa, from 11 to 17 November.
Thus, Pope Leo XIV will visit Argentina, the homeland of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who never returned after his papal election, as well as the cities and lands where he served as a missionary and bishop.
