Pope Leo reflects on participating in ‘richness of the mystery of the Church’ in Angelus address

Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Nov. 9 Angelus address to remember that they are heirs and participants of the Faith passed down by the Apostles as well as the “living stones” of the “mystery of the Church.”

In his reflection on the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Pope Leo contemplated the depth and richness of the Church and called the basilica a representation of “the driving force of the faith entrusted to and preserved by the Apostles, and its transmission throughout history.” He said that the splendor of the basilica, which serves as the cathedral of the bishop of Rome, highlights the greatness of the mystery of the Church.

Pope Leo said that the basilica also has a spiritual perspective as a representation of the mystery of the Church, which is “much more than a simple place, a physical space, a building made of stones.” He added that rather than an actual structure, “the true sanctuary of God is Christ who died and rose again.” 

“He is the only mediator of salvation, the only Redeemer, the One who, by uniting himself with our humanity and transforming us with his love, represents the door that opens wide for us and leads us to the Father,” the pope continued.

Pope Leo said that as participants in the Body of Christ, Catholics must shape their hearts and lives to be builders of Church and its mission by answering the call to spread Jesus’ “Gospel of mercy, consolation and peace throughout the world.”

He noted that an understanding of the “richness of the mystery of the Church” can easily be clouded by “the frailties and mistakes of Christians, together with many clichés and prejudices.” Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he reminded that the Church’s holiness “in fact, is not dependent upon our merits, but in the ‘gift of the Lord, never retracted,’ that continues to choose ‘as the vessel of its presence, with a paradoxical love, the dirty hands of men.’”

Pope Leo concluded, “Let us walk then in the joy of being the holy People that God has chosen, and let us invoke Mary, Mother of the Church, to help us welcome Christ and accompany us with her intercession.”

Following his Angelus address, Pope Leo expressed his closeness to the Philippines as the country battles a super typhoon and offered prayers for those killed, injured, or affected by the disaster.