What the Pope Said Last Week

Jason Scott’s weekly review of Pope Leo XIV’s audiences –  

18 January — Angelus: John the Baptist and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV reflected on John the Baptist’s example of humility and his recognition of Jesus as the Lamb of God.

The Pope drew lessons for today’s world, where the pursuit of fame and approval can distort our sense of identity:

“It would have been easy for him to exploit this fame; instead, he did not succumb to the temptations of success and popularity. Before Jesus, he recognised his own littleness and made space for Jesus’ greatness.”

“Our joy and greatness are not founded on passing illusions of success or fame, but on knowing ourselves to be loved and wanted by our heavenly Father.”

The Pope urged the faithful to learn from John the Baptist: “to remain vigilant, to love simplicity, to be sincere in our words, to live soberly, and to cultivate a depth of mind and heart.” He also announced the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, prepared this year by the Armenian Apostolic Church, and called for prayers for the suffering people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

19 January — Addresses: Neocatechumenal Way & Priestly Fraternity of St Peter

On Monday, Pope Leo met with leaders and members of the Neocatechumenal Way, praising their missionary zeal while urging vigilance against certain spiritual risks. He emphasised that charisms must serve the unity of the Church:

“Charisms must always be placed at the service of the kingdom of God and of the one Church of Christ, in which no gift of God is more important than others—except charity, which perfects and harmonises them all—and no ministry should become a reason to feel superior to one’s brothers and sisters and to exclude those who think differently.”

“Strive forward in joy and humility, without closing yourselves off, as builders and witnesses of communion.”

The Pope also held a private audience with leaders of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP), a community dedicated to the traditional Roman rite. The meeting was described as a “cordial half-hour” exchange, providing an opportunity for the fraternity to present its history and discuss challenges it faces in certain places.

21 January — General Audience: Dei Verbum and Jesus Christ as Revealer of the Father

Continuing his catechesis on Vatican II, Pope Leo examined the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum, focusing on how Jesus Christ reveals the Father not merely through intellectual truths but through his full humanity:

“Jesus reveals the Father to us by involving us in his own relationship with Him. In the Son sent by God the Father, ‘man might in the Holy Spirit have access to the Father and come to share in the divine nature.'”

“In order to know God in Christ, we must welcome his integral humanity: God’s truth is not fully revealed where it takes something away from the human, just as the integrity of Jesus’ humanity does not diminish the fullness of the divine gift.”

The Pope concluded with words of profound assurance, quoting St Paul: “By following the path of Jesus to the very end, we reach the certainty that nothing can separate us from God’s love. If God is for us, who is against us?”

25 January — Angelus: Sunday of the Word of God, Timing and Place of the Gospel

On Sunday, Pope Leo reflected on Jesus’ calling of his first disciples, drawing attention to the surprising timing and place of Christ’s ministry. Jesus began preaching precisely when John the Baptist was arrested, then chose Galilee as his starting point:

“In our lives, both individually and as a Church, interior struggles or circumstances we deem unfavourable can lead us to believe that it is not the right time to proclaim the Gospel… we risk becoming paralysed by indecision or imprisoned by excessive prudence, whereas the Gospel calls us to dare to trust. God is at work at all times; every moment is ‘God’s time.'”

“The Gospel must be proclaimed and lived in every setting, serving as a leaven of fraternity and peace among all individuals, cultures, religions and peoples.”

The Pope marked the Sunday of the Word of God, instituted seven years ago by Pope Francis, and made an urgent appeal for peace in Ukraine, noting that “continuous attacks” are leaving “entire populations exposed to the cold of winter.” He also expressed closeness to those affected by leprosy on World Leprosy Day.

25 January — Ecumenical Vespers for Christian Unity at St Paul Outside the Walls

On Sunday evening, Pope Leo celebrated Second Vespers at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls to conclude the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Joined by representatives from various Christian traditions, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Anglican Communion, the Pope proclaimed the already-existing unity among Christians:

“We are one! We already are! Let us recognise it, experience it and make it visible!”

“It is the shared task of all Christians to say humbly and joyfully to the world: ‘Look to Christ! Come closer to him! Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles!”

The Pope recalled the ecumenical gathering in Iznik, Türkiye, in November 2025, marking the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, and honoured the memory of St Nersès the Gracious, the 12th-century Armenian Catholicos who worked for Church unity. He noted that the search for unity “is a task entrusted to all the faithful, and it requires the healing of memory.”

Take-Away Points:

-John the Baptist teaches us to resist the temptations of fame and popularity; our true joy comes from knowing ourselves loved by the Father.

-Charisms and ministries must serve the unity of the Church; no gift makes anyone superior to others.

-Jesus reveals the Father through his full humanity; to know God, we must embrace Christ’s integral human nature.

-Nothing can separate us from God’s love; Christians know the Father and can entrust themselves to Him with confidence.

-Every moment is “God’s time”; we must not be paralysed by unfavourable circumstances but dare to proclaim the Gospel.

-Christian unity already exists; our task is to recognise, experience, and make it visible to the world.

Sources:

2026-01-18 (Angelus) – https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2026/documents/20260118-angelus.html
2026-01-19 (Neocatechumenal Way) – https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2026/january/documents/20260119-cammino-neocatecumenale.html
|2026-01-21 (General Audience) – https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/audiences/2026/documents/20260121-udienza-generale.html
2026-01-25 (Angelus) – https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2026/documents/20260125-angelus.html
2026-01-25 (Vespers) – https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/homilies/2026/documents/20260125-vespri-unita-cristiani.html