Leo XIV: solidarity with the Philippines following the earthquake

At his first Angelus after returning from his trip to Spain, the Pope thanked the Spanish people for their “great enthusiasm and devotion”. His thoughts were with the victims of the earthquake in South-East Asia: “I pray for the deceased”. He recalled some newly beatified martyrs: “Courageous witnesses”. On the Gospel of the day: “Bringing charity where there is misery”.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope Leo XIV expressed “gratitude” for the trip that took him to Spain in recent days – visiting Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands. “I thank the Spanish people who welcomed me with great enthusiasm and devotion,” he said this morning from the Vatican Apostolic Palace, after reciting the Angelus.

“I am especially grateful to His Majesty the King; I thank with affection the Bishops, all the communities I visited and the entire Church in Spain. Que Dios bendiga siempre a España!”, he exclaimed.

Around 20,000 faithful filled a sun-drenched St Peter’s Square for the first Angelus since his return. “I assure the people of the Philippines, struck a few days ago by a powerful earthquake, of my closeness. I pray for the deceased and their families, for the injured and for all those suffering as a result of this disaster,” he added.

The Pope also recalled some newly beatified figures: the diocesan priests Venceslaus Drbola and John Bula, from Moravia; and John Świerc and eight companions, Polish Salesian priests. He also mentioned Nazareno Lanciotti, a Roman missionary beatified yesterday in Mato Grosso, Brazil. “All have been beatified as martyrs, because they were victims of persecution by totalitarian regimes on account of their fidelity to Christ,” he said. “May the example and intercession of these courageous witnesses sustain the mission of priests and of the whole Church.”

Before the Angelus, commenting on the Gospel of the day (Mt 9:36–10:8), the Pope spoke of the “gift” that the Word brings today: “Jesus sees and loves. He loves and suffers for us, with us: his compassion expresses not only fraternal closeness, but a will to redeem.” Despite this, “the Son of God looks upon people, looks upon humanity: he sees the oppression that crushes and the violence that saps strength. He sees the wounds of war and the emptiness of consumerism,” Pope Leo XIV continued this morning, looking out from the window. “He sees faces reduced to masks, families torn apart by evil and young people deluded by false ideals.”

Despite all this, “he knows our hearts and cares for them”. “As Lord of the harvest, he sends labourers into the field of the world. What is the work they must do? To give God’s comfort to those who suffer: to bring charity where there is misery, hope where there is affliction, faith where there is mistrust,” he added. The Gospel lists the names of the first twelve ‘labourers’: they are disciples made apostles, that is, missionaries and preachers”. Like Peter, the “first”, and Judas Iscariot, the “second”.

Pope Leo said that the “gaze of Jesus” is capable of transforming reality. “Filled with love, his initiative gives life to a new people, the Church, called to continue the mission of the apostles,” he said. This “gift” of Jesus is “gratis”. “This grace is the beautiful name of God’s mercy.” And again: “The task of evangelisation springs from God’s gift, which in Christ becomes forgiveness for the world, service to the least and the poor, and a commitment to justice.”