Pope Leo XIV says "God chooses to speak using human languages" and Warns of "a new arms race" threatening World "peace"

Pope LEO XIV at the GENERAL AUDIENCE
on Wednesday, 4 February 2026Catechesis. The Documents of Vatican Council II. I. Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum. 4. The Sacred Scripture: the Word of God in human words
FULL TEXT - Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

The Conciliar Constitution Dei Verbum, on which we are reflecting during these weeks, indicates in the Sacred Scripture, read in the living Tradition of the Church, a privileged space for encounter where God continues to speak to the men and women of every time, so that, by listening, they can know him and love him.

The biblical texts, however, were not written in a heavenly or superhuman language. Indeed, as daily life teaches us, two people who speak different languages cannot understand each other, cannot enter into dialogue, and are unable to establish a relationship. In some cases, making oneself understood to others is a first act of love. This is why God chooses to speak using human languages and thus, various authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit, have written the texts of Sacred Scripture. As the Conciliar document reminds us, “the words of God, expressed in human language, have been made like human discourse, just as the word of the eternal Father, when He took to Himself the flesh of human weakness, was in every way made like men” (DV, 13). Therefore, not only in its content, but also in its language, the Scripture reveals God’s merciful condescension towards men, and his desire to be close to them.

Throughout the course of Church history, the relationship between the divine Author and the human authors of the sacred texts has been studied. For several centuries, many theologians were concerned to defend the divine inspiration of the Sacred Scripture, almost considering the human authors merely as passive tools of the Holy Spirit. In more recent times, reflection has re-evaluated the contribution of hagiographers in the writing of sacred texts, to the point that the Conciliar document speaks of God as the principal “author” of Sacred Scripture, but also calls hagiographers “true authors” of the sacred books (cf. DV, 11). As a keen exegete of the last century observed, “to reduce human activity to that of a mere amanuensis is not to glorify divine activity”. God never mortifies human beings and their potential!

If, therefore, the Scripture is the word of God in human words, any approach to it that neglects or denies one of these two dimensions proves to be partial. It follows that a correct interpretation of the sacred texts can dispense with the historic environment in which they developed and the literary forms that were used; on the contrary, to renounce the study of the human words that God used risks leading to fundamentalist or spiritualist readings of the Scripture, which betray its meaning. This principle also applies to the proclamation of the Word of God: if it loses touch with reality, with human hopes and sufferings, if an incomprehensible language is used, uncommunicative or anachronistic, it is ineffective. In every age, the Church is called to re-propose the Word of God in a language capable of being embodied in history and reaching hearts. As Pope Francis reminds us, “Whenever we make the effort to return to the source and to recover the original freshness of the Gospel, new avenues arise, new paths of creativity open up, with different forms of expression, more eloquent signs and words with new meaning for today’s world”. [1]

Equally reductive, on the other hand, is a reading of Scripture that neglects its divine origin and ends up understanding it as a mere human teaching, as something to be studied simply from a technical point of view or as “a text only of the past”. Rather, especially when proclaimed in the context of the liturgy, Scripture is intended to speak to today's believers, to touch their present lives with their problems, to enlighten the steps to be taken and the decisions to be made. This becomes possible only when believers read and interpret the sacred texts under the guidance of the same Spirit who inspired them (cf. DV, 12).

In this regard, the Scripture serves to nurture the life and charity of believers, as Saint Augustine recalls: “Whoever … thinks that he understands the Holy Scriptures … but puts such an interpretation upon them as does not tend to build up this twofold love of God and our neighbour, does not yet understand them as he ought”. [2] The divine origin of the Scripture also recalls that the Gospel, entrusted to the witness of the baptized, despite embracing all the dimensions of life and reality, transcends them: it cannot be reduced to a mere philanthropic or social message, but is the joyful proclamation of the full and eternal life that God has given to us in Jesus.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us thank the Lord because, in his goodness, he ensures our lives do not lack the essential nourishment of his Word, and let us pray that our words, and even more so our lives, do not obscure the love of God that is narrated in them.

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[1] Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium (24 November 2013), 11.

[2] S. Agostino, De doctrina christiana I, 36, 40.

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APPEAL
I urge everyone to support with prayer our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, who are being severely tested by the consequences of the bombings which have resumed, also striking energy infrastructure. I would like to express my gratitude for the solidarity initiatives promoted by Catholic dioceses in Poland and other countries, which are working to help the people endure this time of extreme cold.

Tomorrow marks the expiry of the New START Treaty signed in 2010 by the Presidents of the United States and the Russian Federation, which represented a significant step in containing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. In renewing my encouragement for every constructive effort in favour of disarmament and mutual trust, I urgently call for this instrument not to be abandoned without seeking to ensure its concrete and effective follow-up. The current situation requires that everything possible be done to avert a new arms race that would further threaten peace among nations. It is more urgent than ever to substitute the logic of fear and distrust with a shared ethos capable of guiding choices towards the common good and to make peace a treasure to be cherished by all.

Finally, my thoughts turn to the young people, the sick, and newlyweds. Tomorrow we will celebrate the memorial of Saint Agatha, martyred in Catania. Agatha means "good." The source of all goodness is God, our supreme good. I hope that each of you may be "good," that is, faithful witnesses to the love of the heavenly Father, who fills us with so many gifts and calls us to share in his own joy. My blessing to all!

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Special greetings:

I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially the groups from Ireland, Denmark, Japan, South Korea and the United States of America. I greet in particular the students from the Junshin Junior and Senior High School and the students and faculty from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Upon all of you, and upon your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!

I greet the French-speaking pilgrims, especially the Directorate of Catholic Education of the Diocese of Annecy, the Lycée Notre-Dame de La Galaure, and the Colleges of Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Roch, and Saint Charles. Let us assiduously study the Sacred Scriptures so that they may form our hearts and inspire our actions. May the Word of God be incarnated in us to make our world a better place. God bless you .

 Dear German-speaking brothers and sisters, as we read Sacred Scripture, let us implore the light of the Holy Spirit so that we may understand the Word of God ever better and recognize what he asks of us in the concrete situations of our daily lives .

I cordially greet the pilgrims of the Spanish language. Let us bring to the Holy Spirit our enlightenment so that we can announce the Word of God with creative fidelity and missionary joy, proclaiming with our words and our works the wonders of our love. Que el Señor bless him. Much thanks.


I extend my cordial greeting to the Chinese-speaking people. Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you to make your families a true spiritual home that unites you in prayer and solidarity with those most in need. I bless you wholeheartedly .

 I joyfully welcome Portuguese-speaking pilgrims! Dear brothers and sisters, Sacred Scripture illuminates our lives in all circumstances and in every need. Therefore, I encourage you to read it every day, especially the Gospels, and to know it ever better under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God bless you! 

 I greet the Arabic-speaking faithful. Sacred Scripture leads Christians to know Christ, because ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ. May the Lord bless you all and always protect you from all evil! ]


I cordially greet the Polish people. The Conciliar Constitution Dei Verbum encourages regular reading of Sacred Scripture and sharing the Gospel with the people of our time, especially young people. May Bible communities and circles be promoted where one can better understand and meditate on the Word of God. My blessing to all !


I extend a cordial welcome to the Italian-speaking pilgrims, in particular the Association of Italian Journalists 2.0, the Confirmation candidates of the Parish of the Assumption in Isola di Capo Rizzuto, the “Cantate Domino” Choir of Collazzone, and the artists of the “Roni Roller” Circus.

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Summary of the Holy Father's words:

Dear brothers and sisters, in our continuing catechesis on the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum, we reflect on the divine and human authorship of Scripture. God is the principal author of Scripture and he chooses to reveal himself by using human language. Indeed, the various authors of Scripture are not passive instruments, but are divinely inspired to communicate the word of God by utilizing literary forms and creative methods that incorporate images and examples of their time. While Scripture is a text rooted in historical truth, it also contains a limitless spiritual depth that speaks to people of all times and places, communicating above all God’s love and God’s desire to save us. Let us thank God for his word that nourishes our lives, illumines our paths and reminds us of the promise of eternal life.