Leo XIV: ‘when we truly love God, we truly love one another’

At the Regina Caeli, Leo called for an end to the violence in the Sahel region. He thanked the people of the Canary Islands for letting passengers on the cruise ship with the hantavirus outbreak to disembark. The pontiff also sent his greetings to Tawadros II and the Coptic Church on the Day of Coptic-Catholic Friendship. On Mother's Day, he urged prayers “for every mother, particularly those living in very difficult circumstances.”

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – This morning, after the Regina Caeli prayer from the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV expressed concern for the world's forgotten conflicts, citing the violence in the Sahel region, particularly in Chad and Mali, where escalating intercommunal clashes and jihadi attacks are leaving a long trail of deaths and brutality.

“I offer the assurance of my heartfelt prayers for the victims and my spiritual closeness to all those who are suffering as a result of the tragic events,” he said before 25,000 people in St Peter’s Square. “I fervently hope that every form of violence may cease, and I encourage all efforts aimed at fostering peace and development in that beloved land,” he added.

After the Regina Caeli, the pontiff thanked “the people of the Canary Islands who, with the hospitality characteristic of them, welcomed the cruise ship Hondius and the passengers infected with the Hantavirus.”

The ship docked at the port of Tenerife after an outbreak on board. “I look forward to seeing all of you next month during my visit to the Islands,” he said.

The Holy Father also mentioned Coptic-Catholic Friendship Day, which is celebrated every 10 May.

“I extend my fraternal greetings to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and assure the entire beloved Coptic Church of my remembrance in prayer. It is my hope that our journey of friendship will lead us to perfect unity in Christ, who has called us ‘friends’,” he said.

Today, Mother’s Day, Leo XIV noted that, “Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our own Mother, let us pray with love and gratitude for every mother, particularly those living in very difficult circumstances.”

Before the recitation of the Regina Caeli, the pope commented the day's Gospel (John 14:15-21). The words that Jesus addresses to his disciples – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15) – dispel a “misconception”, namely that “we are loved because we keep the commandments”.

“God’s love is the basis for our righteousness,” the pontiff explained. “Jesus’ words are therefore an invitation to enter into a relationship, not a blackmail or a suspicious ultimatum.” Thus, “Because God loved us first, we too can love, and when we truly love God, we truly love one another,” the pope added.

“It is like life itself: just as only those who have received life can live, so too, only those who have been loved can love. The Lord’s commandments are therefore a way of life that heal us from false loves. They are a spiritual lifestyle that is a path towards salvation.” Indeed, people are not alone in life's trials, for the Lord is with them with his love.

Yet, the world is incapable of receiving such a “gift”, “as long as it persists in evil, oppressing the poor, excluding the weak and killing the innocent.  Those who respond to Jesus’ love for all, on the other hand, will find in the Holy Spirit an ally,” for we can bear witness to God “always and everywhere.”

Finally, the pope explained that “to set humanity against God and people against one another” is “the very opposite of what Jesus does by saving us from evil and uniting us as a people of brothers and sisters in the Church.”

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