During the Angelus this Sunday, September 6, the Holy Father Leo XIV issued a new appeal in St. Peter’s Square to put an end to the violence and destruction in Ukraine and to open hearts to dialogue and peace.
Furthermore, while commenting on the Sunday liturgical readings, he recalled what St. Paul says in the Letter to the Romans: that all the commandments “are summed up in this one: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Rom 13:9).
St. Paul emphasizes this point with a very powerful image, one that also appears in the “Our Father.” He writes: “Let your only debt to others be that of mutual love,” the Pope noted.
The Debt of Mutual Love
Jesus has taught us to ask for and practice the forgiveness of debts. However, there is a debt we owe one another, without becoming trapped by it: it is the debt of mutual love, the Pontiff emphasized in his meditation on the Angelus.
And Jesus suggests to every Christian community “at least two ways to practice mutual love. The first is to be able to offer fraternal correction. It is a delicate and often-forgotten art that requires frankness and a gradual approach.”.
Speaking honestly with one another—first one-on-one; then, if necessary, among two or three people; and finally, when needed, with the entire community—means facing reality and transforming problems and conflicts into opportunities for growth. Complaining and gossip are easier, but they accomplish nothing and paralyze many situations. The Gospel, however, teaches us freedom through charity—that has been the papal message on this point.
Reaching an agreement, not just when there's a conflict
Furthermore, “there is a second way to love one another as brothers and sisters, which for Jesus even transforms prayer: coming to an agreement. Not only when there is a conflict, but also when asking God for any gift,” said the Successor of Peter.
The Lord says: “If two of you on earth agree to ask for anything, my Father in heaven will grant it to you» (Mt 18:19). This promise suggests that we can share common desires, common sorrows, and common hopes, and, through prayer, grow in unity.”
“Without faith, anyone could feel lonely and distrust others, seeing them as strangers and enemies,” Leo XIV continued. "However, by grace, we are brothers and sisters who can come to an understanding: meeting one another, forgiving one another, and listening to one another in the Lord.".
“Let us ask Mary,” the Pope urged before the Marian prayer of the Angelus, “who, after the angel’s announcement, hurried to meet her cousin Elizabeth to share in the joy and the weariness of pregnancy, to teach us, too, the joyful debt of brotherly love".
Solidarity with the Ukrainian people
The Pope then opened his sorrowful heart to express his solidarity with Ukraine.
“It is with great sadness that I have been following the news about the violent attacks that have recently struck several cities and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of innocent people. My heart goes out to the people who have been living in anguish and fear for years.”.
“I make a new appeal to put an end to the violence, halt the destruction, and open hearts to dialogue and peace,” he implored. “I hope that the efforts made in recent days to resume negotiations will bear concrete fruit and open the door to diplomacy.”.
"Let us lift up our prayers to the Lord, that harmony may prevail in all the world's conflicts," said Leo XIV.
Return to Normal Activities
In closing, the Pope asked that, as we return to our regular activities after the holidays, we ask the Lord to accompany us and sustain us with His light.
It may be recalled that in late August, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, identified some common ground on international issues and agreed on the importance of continuing the dialogue between the Russian Federation and the Holy See.
Secretary Gallagher he said then: “This war must end.”.
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