Leo XIV: The Christian presence is not about domination but about service and unity

An hour after the conclusion of Holy Mass on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Leo XIV led the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square and spoke once again about unity and communion, guided by these “pillars of the Church.”.

"This feast commemorates the original bond that unites the Church of Rome with all the other Churches of the world in communion of faith and charity," the Holy Father began by saying.

“It draws us into the mission of Peter and Paul—that is, into the mission of Jesus himself. God trusts us—sinners forgiven by him, imperfect as we are—so that his grace may shine in our lives and his power, which transforms evil into good, may be revealed.”.

Thanks to the blood they shed, the Gospel has taken root in Rome

The testimony of these two apostles is almost a hallmark of the New Testament, as he emphasized in the Angelus.

Indeed, “the blood they shed in this city reveals the magnitude of God’s love that the Lord Jesus has given us. Yes, it is through his word and his martyrdom that the Gospel of Christ, ”, so to speak, has taken root in Rome.”.

Today, too, the Lord—who died and rose again out of love—makes himself present through his witnesses, reaching the centers and the peripheries, the capitals and the most remote regions, through the voices, faces, and courageous decisions of those who responded to his invitation: “Follow me!!” the Pontiff continued.

The Christian Presence Throughout History

The patron saints of the Church of Rome, Saint Peter and Saint Paul, experienced “the anguish of communion; they knew it, served it, and proclaimed it as a sacrament of divine life.”. 

“Their witness has played a decisive role in ensuring that the Christian presence in history is not oriented toward domination, but toward service, unity, and reconciliation.”.

“Avoid anything that erodes or damages fellowship”

In closing, before the Angelus prayer, the Holy Father prayed “that the Lord may grant us, through the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul, to appreciate ever more deeply the catholicity of the Church, to recognize its value in fostering fraternal encounter among individuals and peoples, to avoid whatever erodes or harms communion, and to persevere on the ecumenical path and in attentive and frank dialogue with all.”.

He prayed before thousands of faithful and pilgrims that Mary, Queen of the Apostles, would always protect the People of God, in Rome and throughout the world.

After reciting the Marian prayer, the Pope addressed the people of Rome in particular.

To the people of Rome and to those who live in the city

"On the feast day of our patron saints, I extend my best wishes to the people of Rome and to all who live in this city," he said.

“I offer a special thought, accompanied by prayer, to the sick, the lonely, and those in prison. I thank the parish priests and all the priests and religious men and women who work in Rome, because through their presence and daily service they keep their great Christian spirit alive.”.

León XIV also welcomed “two brotherhoods: the Spanish Brotherhood of Our Lady of Carmen of the Camino de Zamora and the Brotherhood of the Dying, from Artena.”.

Finally, he greeted “the homeless people who are in St. Peter’s Square today distributing *L’Osservatore di strada*, a supplement to *L’Osservatore Romano*. Thank you, and my best wishes to all who support this newspaper!«.