Pope Leo XIV Recommends a Saint whose Life was "an unceasing pursuit of continual prayer, that is, a holy yearning to be in God's presence at every moment"
Pope Leo XIV met with a group of Spanish pilgrims from the Parish of Santo Tomás de Villanueva (St. Thomas of Villanova), and expressed his joy at meeting them during the Octave of Christmas. The pilgrims travelled around 1,900km (about 1,180 miles) from the city of Alcalá de Henares, Spain, on pilgrimage to Rome, a
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV
TO THE PILGRIMS OF THE PARISH OF
"SAINT THOMAS OF VILLANUEVA"
OF ALCALÁ DE HENARES (SPAIN)
Council Chamber, on Monday, December 29, 2025
_________________________________
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you
Good morning. Welcome. Happy holidays!
I am happy to be with you all on this day of the Octave of Christmas and I welcome you. As a parish community, you have prepared this Jubilee pilgrimage in great detail, and during this very special year for the Church, you have accompanied the Successor of Peter with your prayers and generosity. I thank you for this gesture of communion and closeness.
Your parish is under the patronage of Saint Thomas of Villanova, a Spanish Augustinian friar who was open to God's action in his life, and whose willingness led him to do much good for the Church and society of his time. You know his biography well, and the city of Alcalá de Henares, where you live, preserves significant traces of his earthly presence.
Giving thanks for the witness of dedication and fidelity of this holy bishop, I would like to share some of his distinctive characteristics, which can help us reflect on a personal, family, and community level. In his life and writings, he reveals to us an unceasing pursuit of continual prayer , that is, a holy yearning to be in God's presence at every moment. This implies a profound interiority; it entails emptying oneself in order to listen and allow the Lord to work.
In addition to his spiritual life, Saint Thomas of Villanova is known for his industriousness . This quality, in a world that seems to offer us everything ever more quickly and easily, challenges us. His sobriety and simplicity, his selfless work—especially in the university setting—and his apostolic zeal lead us to believe that we must recognize the talents we have received and put them at the service of the community, with effort and dedication, so that they may multiply for the benefit of all.
Finally, I would like to highlight his love for the poor , which earned him the title of “God’s almsgiver.” I have been told that this aspect is very present in your parish, in concrete gestures and works—the Bishop can tell me later whether this is true or not. I thank you for this sensitivity, because “the poor are not only someone to be helped, but the sacramental presence of the Lord” ( Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te , 44).
Dear pilgrims, I encourage you to continue following in the footsteps of Christ. The witness of the saints inspires and motivates us on this exciting journey. May God bless you and may Our Lady of Val always accompany you. Thank you very much.
Let us pray together: Our Father…
Apostolic Blessing of the Holy Father
Congratulations, have a safe pilgrimage, and a happy new year!
TO THE PILGRIMS OF THE PARISH OF
"SAINT THOMAS OF VILLANUEVA"
OF ALCALÁ DE HENARES (SPAIN)
Council Chamber, on Monday, December 29, 2025
_________________________________
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you
Good morning. Welcome. Happy holidays!
I am happy to be with you all on this day of the Octave of Christmas and I welcome you. As a parish community, you have prepared this Jubilee pilgrimage in great detail, and during this very special year for the Church, you have accompanied the Successor of Peter with your prayers and generosity. I thank you for this gesture of communion and closeness.
Your parish is under the patronage of Saint Thomas of Villanova, a Spanish Augustinian friar who was open to God's action in his life, and whose willingness led him to do much good for the Church and society of his time. You know his biography well, and the city of Alcalá de Henares, where you live, preserves significant traces of his earthly presence.
Giving thanks for the witness of dedication and fidelity of this holy bishop, I would like to share some of his distinctive characteristics, which can help us reflect on a personal, family, and community level. In his life and writings, he reveals to us an unceasing pursuit of continual prayer , that is, a holy yearning to be in God's presence at every moment. This implies a profound interiority; it entails emptying oneself in order to listen and allow the Lord to work.
In addition to his spiritual life, Saint Thomas of Villanova is known for his industriousness . This quality, in a world that seems to offer us everything ever more quickly and easily, challenges us. His sobriety and simplicity, his selfless work—especially in the university setting—and his apostolic zeal lead us to believe that we must recognize the talents we have received and put them at the service of the community, with effort and dedication, so that they may multiply for the benefit of all.
Finally, I would like to highlight his love for the poor , which earned him the title of “God’s almsgiver.” I have been told that this aspect is very present in your parish, in concrete gestures and works—the Bishop can tell me later whether this is true or not. I thank you for this sensitivity, because “the poor are not only someone to be helped, but the sacramental presence of the Lord” ( Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te , 44).
Dear pilgrims, I encourage you to continue following in the footsteps of Christ. The witness of the saints inspires and motivates us on this exciting journey. May God bless you and may Our Lady of Val always accompany you. Thank you very much.
Let us pray together: Our Father…
Apostolic Blessing of the Holy Father
Congratulations, have a safe pilgrimage, and a happy new year!
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