Leo XIV: ‘Profession of faith in Jesus’ brings hope in ‘difficult times’
From the steps of St Peter's Basilica, the pontiff greeted the faithful from Ukraine, telling them to “Bring home the embrace and prayer of this square”. The apostolic letter ‘In unitate fidei’ is published to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, before the papal trip to Turkey. “Christians have been called to walk in harmony,” Leo explained. He also said that he was “deeply saddened” by abductions in Nigeria and Cameroon.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Today, the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, and the Jubilee dedicated to choirs, Pope Leo XIV greeted the faithful from various dioceses in Ukraine, at the end of the Holy Mass celebrated in St Peter's Square. “[T]ake home with you the embrace and prayer of this square," he told them, sparking an applause.
Today’s service comes as the 28-point draft peace proposal presented by the United States is being discussed; meanwhile, the Vatican announced that the aid it sent to Kharkiv had arrived, part of the Jubilee of the Poor celebrated last Sunday, 16 November.
In his address today, Pope Leo XIV also mentioned his first apostolic journey, which will take him to Turkey and Lebanon from 27 November to 2 December to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea (in modern-day Turkey) in AD 325, the first Christian ecumenical council.
As part of this, the pontiff this morning announced the publication of the apostolic letter In unitate fidei, which commemorates that historic event. “In the unity of faith, proclaimed since the beginning of the Church, Christians have been called to walk in harmony, guarding and transmitting the gift they have received with love and joy,” he said.
The letter released today by the Vatican starts by saying that through his intentions the pope wants to “to encourage the whole Church to renew her enthusiasm for the profession of faith,” proclaimed in AD 325.
The pope goes on to say that, “For centuries, this enduring confession of faith has been the common heritage of Christians, and it deserves to be professed and understood in ever new and relevant ways”.
Indeed, the “profession of faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God” is clear in In unitate fidei; it “is the heart of the Christian faith”, uniting “all Christians,” bringing hope in “these difficult times”.
Speaking from the steps of St Peter's Basilica, before the Angelus prayer, the pontiff said that he was “deeply saddened” upon hearing the news that “priests, faithful, and students" had been abducted in Nigeria and Cameroon.
Two days ago, gunmen kidnapped more than 300 people from St. Mary's Catholic School in the Agwara, a district in the western Nigerian state of Niger.
“I feel great pain, above all for the many young men and women who have been abducted and for their distressed families,” Leo said, urging “the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their release”. To this end, he called for prayers so that “churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope.”
Before the Angelus, Leo XIV also spoke about World Youth Day, which was celebrated today in every diocese around the world.
“I bless and spiritually embrace all those taking part in the various celebrations and initiatives,” he said. “On the feast of Christ the King, I pray that every young person may discover the beauty and joy of following him, the Lord, and dedicating him or herself to his Kingdom of love, justice and peace,” he added.
In his homily, Pope Leo XIV addressed the choirs, present in large numbers to participate in their Jubilee, saying: “you show thanks to the Lord for granting you the gift and grace to serve him by offering your voices and talents [. . .]. Today, you fully express your ‘iubilum’, your exultation, which flows from hearts overflowing with the joy of grace.”
The Holt Father added that liturgical music is a “precious instrument through which we carry out our service of praise to God and express the joy of new life in Christ.”
Citing Saint Augustine, he noted that the saint used “moving words to express the relationship between the song of the choir and the unity of the Church”. Likewise, Saint Ignatius of Antioch wrote: “From your unity and harmonious love, sing to Jesus Christ.”
Leo added that, “the different voices of a choir harmonize with each other, giving rise to a single hymn of praise, a luminous symbol of the Church, which unites everyone in love in a single pleasing melody.”
“The choir is a small family of individuals united by their love of music and the service they offer,” he said. “However, remember that the community is your larger family. You are not on stage, but rather a part of that community”.
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