Pope Leo XIV Tells Religious "persevere in proclaiming the Good News of peace" - "never forget that, in the image of Jesus, you are servants of all" FULL TEXT + Video
.png)
Pope Leo XIV at meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, catechists, and other pastoral agents.
Today, in the parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Luanda, the Church is meeting with Pope Leo XIV through its representatives. The Pope arrives after a stop in Saurimo and a visit to the nunciature. Today, in his address, delivered after hearing the president of the episcopal conference and the testimonies of a priest, a catechist, and two nuns. The encounter inside a missionary, synodal, dynamic Church Built by Capuchin friars in the 1960s, the church hosting the meeting preserves a stone from the Portuguese city in its foundations. (Vatican News)
FULL TEXT Address of the Holy Father
Parish of Our Lady of Fatima (Luanda)
Monday, April 20, 2026
_____________________________
Dear brothers in the episcopate,
priests, consecrated men and women,
catechists, brothers and sisters!
I also greet the Capuchin Franciscan Fathers who are welcoming us to their home today. Thank you very much!
I am overjoyed to meet you. Thank you for your welcome! First of all, my gratitude to all who have served and continue to serve the Gospel in Angola: thank you for the evangelization work carried out in this country; for the hope of Christ sown in the hearts of the people; for the charity towards the poorest. Thank you for continuing with perseverance to build the progress of this nation on the solid foundations of reconciliation and peace. I especially greet my brother bishops, who preside over the proclamation of the faith and the service of charity. Thank you, Archbishop José Manuel of Saurimo, for the words you addressed to me on behalf of the Episcopal Conference.
And if it falls to me, in the name of the Universal Church, to acknowledge at this hour the Christian vitality that pulsates in your communities, it falls to the Lord to give you the reward. He does not fail in his promises! He also once addressed these words to you, which you have received with faith and made fruitful: “Whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel will receive a hundred times as much now in this present age […] along with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life” ( Mark 10:29-30).
My dearest brothers and sisters, the Lord knows the generosity with which you have embraced your vocation and is not indifferent to all that you do, for love of Him, to nourish your people with the truth of the Gospel. It is therefore worthwhile to open your hearts completely to Christ! At times, the temptation may arise to think that He is taking something away from you, the temptation to hesitate in letting Him take the reins of your life. On such occasions, keep in mind that “He takes nothing away, He gives everything. Whoever gives himself for Him receives a hundredfold. Open wide the doors to Christ and you will find true life” (Benedict XVI, Homily at the beginning of the Petrine Ministry , April 24, 2005). I want to address these words, in a particular way, to the countless young men in your seminaries and houses of formation. Do not be afraid to say “yes” to Christ, to completely conform your lives to His! Do not be afraid of tomorrow: you belong entirely to the Lord. And it is worthwhile to follow Him in obedience, poverty, and chastity! He takes nothing away! The only thing He takes from our shoulders and places on His is sin. Yes, from Him you receive everything: this earth and the family unit in which you were born; Baptism, which incorporated you into the extended family of the Church; your vocation. "To Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen!" ( Rev 1:6).
Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord gives you the joy of being his missionary disciples; the strength to overcome the snares of evil; the hope of eternal life. All this is yours, all this is a gift. A gift that dignifies and ennobles, that commits and makes responsible. But the greatest gift is the Holy Spirit who, poured into your hearts through Baptism, has configured you in a special way to Christ for the sake of the mission and has sent you to build, from the Gospel, a free, reconciled, beautiful and great Angolan society. In this mission, how important is the ministry of catechists! Especially in Africa, it is a fundamental expression of the life of the Church, and can serve as an inspiration for Catholic communities in the four corners of the world.
“All things are yours, but you belong to Christ” ( 1 Cor 3:23), teaches Saint Paul. Fifty years after the independence of your country, these words of the Apostle say that the present and the future of Angola belong to you, but you belong to Christ. All Angolans, without exception, have the right to build this country, benefiting from it in an equitable way; however, the disciples of the Lord have the duty to do so according to the law of charity. At the base of your actions is being a disciple of Christ. It is up to all of you to be his image, and no one can replace you in this task. Herein lies your uniqueness! You are salt and light of this earth because you are members of the Body of Christ and, therefore, your gestures, your words, and your actions, reflecting his charity, build communities from within and edify for eternity.
What is asked of all disciples of Christ is that they remain closely united to Him (cf. Jn 15:1-8). Everything else will be added unto them. I know that you are in the middle of a three-year pastoral period under the motto "Faithful disciples, joyful disciples" (cf. Acts 11:23-26), dedicated to praying and reflecting on the ordained ministry and consecrated life. What paths does the Lord open to the Church in Angola? There will certainly be many! Seek to follow them all! However, the first path is that of fidelity to Christ. In this sense, continue to value ongoing formation, be vigilant about consistency of life and, above all in these times, persevere in proclaiming the Good News of peace.
In the School of Christ, which is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" ( Jn 14:6), there is always much to learn. Recall Jesus' dialogue with Philip, when the latter asked him: "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us!" The Master's response is surprising: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" ( Jn 14:8-9). This reminds us of the contemplative dimension of ongoing formation, which would be impoverished if reduced to its formal and institutional dimension. Knowing Christ undoubtedly involves good initial formation through the personal accompaniment of formators; it involves adherence to the programs of your dioceses, congregations, and institutes; it involves serious personal study to be able to enlighten the faithful entrusted to you, saving them above all from the dangerous illusion of superstition. However, formation is much broader: it concerns the unity of the interior life, the care of ourselves and the gift of God that we have received (cf. 2 Tim 1:6), making use of literature, music, sports, the arts in general, and especially prayer of adoration and contemplation. In particular, during moments of discouragement and trial, “it is sweet to remain before a crucifix or on our knees before the Blessed Sacrament, and to do so simply to be in His presence! How good it is for us to let Him touch our lives again and send us [again] to communicate His new life!” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium , 264). Without this contemplative dimension, we cease to be consistent with the Gospel and to reflect the power of the Risen One.
“Contemporary man,” said Saint Paul VI , “is more willing to listen to witnesses than to teachers, or if he listens to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” ( Address to the Members of the “Consilium de Laicis” , October 2, 1974). The fidelity of Christ, who loved us to the end, is the true impulse of our fidelity. A fidelity that cannot be dispensed with and is facilitated by the unity of priests with their bishop and with their brothers in the presbytery, of consecrated men and women with their respective superiors and among themselves. Dear brothers and sisters, nurture fraternity among yourselves with frankness and transparency, do not give in to arrogance or self-centeredness, do not separate yourselves from the people, especially the poor, avoid the pursuit of privileges. For your fidelity and, therefore, for your mission, the priestly family or the religious family is indispensable, but so is the family in which you were born and raised. The Church greatly esteems the family institution, teaching that the home is the place of sanctification for all its members. For many of you, certainly, the cradle of your vocation was precisely the family, which appreciated and cherished the germination of the special calling you received. To your families, therefore, goes my sincere gratitude for having cared for, supported, and protected your vocation. I urge them, at the same time, to always help you to remain faithful to the Gospel and not to seek advantages from your priestly service. May they support you with their prayers and, with the good advice of a father and mother, encourage you to be holy and never forget that, in the image of Jesus, you are servants of all.
Finally, your faithfulness in Angola, like that of all pastoral agents throughout the world, is today particularly linked to the proclamation of peace. In times past, you were courageous in denouncing the scourge of war, in supporting afflicted populations by remaining by their side, in building and rebuilding, in pointing out paths and solutions to end armed conflict. Your contribution is commonly recognized and appreciated. But this work is not finished! Promote, therefore, a reconciled memory, educating everyone for concord and cherishing, among yourselves, the serene witness of those brothers and sisters who, after enduring painful torments, forgave everything. Rejoice with them! Celebrate peace!
Furthermore, do not forget, in the words of Saint Paul VI , that "development is the new name for peace" ( Popolorum progressio , 87). It is therefore crucial that, interpreting reality wisely, you do not cease denouncing injustices, presenting proposals according to Christian charity. Continue to be a generous Church, collaborating for the integral development of your country. To this end, everything you accomplish in the areas of education and health has been and continues to be decisive. And when difficulties arise in this area, remember the heroic witness of faith of so many Angolan men and women, missionaries born here or coming from abroad, who had the courage to give their lives for this people and for the Gospel, preferring to die rather than betray the justice, truth, mercy, charity, and peace of Christ. You too, dearest ones, from each Eucharist, are body given and blood shed for the life and salvation of your brothers and sisters. The Virgin Mary, Mama Muxima , is always by your side . May God bless and make your dedication and mission fruitful!
FULL TEXT Address of the Holy Father
Parish of Our Lady of Fatima (Luanda)
Monday, April 20, 2026
_____________________________
Dear brothers in the episcopate,
priests, consecrated men and women,
catechists, brothers and sisters!
I also greet the Capuchin Franciscan Fathers who are welcoming us to their home today. Thank you very much!
I am overjoyed to meet you. Thank you for your welcome! First of all, my gratitude to all who have served and continue to serve the Gospel in Angola: thank you for the evangelization work carried out in this country; for the hope of Christ sown in the hearts of the people; for the charity towards the poorest. Thank you for continuing with perseverance to build the progress of this nation on the solid foundations of reconciliation and peace. I especially greet my brother bishops, who preside over the proclamation of the faith and the service of charity. Thank you, Archbishop José Manuel of Saurimo, for the words you addressed to me on behalf of the Episcopal Conference.
And if it falls to me, in the name of the Universal Church, to acknowledge at this hour the Christian vitality that pulsates in your communities, it falls to the Lord to give you the reward. He does not fail in his promises! He also once addressed these words to you, which you have received with faith and made fruitful: “Whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel will receive a hundred times as much now in this present age […] along with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life” ( Mark 10:29-30).
My dearest brothers and sisters, the Lord knows the generosity with which you have embraced your vocation and is not indifferent to all that you do, for love of Him, to nourish your people with the truth of the Gospel. It is therefore worthwhile to open your hearts completely to Christ! At times, the temptation may arise to think that He is taking something away from you, the temptation to hesitate in letting Him take the reins of your life. On such occasions, keep in mind that “He takes nothing away, He gives everything. Whoever gives himself for Him receives a hundredfold. Open wide the doors to Christ and you will find true life” (Benedict XVI, Homily at the beginning of the Petrine Ministry , April 24, 2005). I want to address these words, in a particular way, to the countless young men in your seminaries and houses of formation. Do not be afraid to say “yes” to Christ, to completely conform your lives to His! Do not be afraid of tomorrow: you belong entirely to the Lord. And it is worthwhile to follow Him in obedience, poverty, and chastity! He takes nothing away! The only thing He takes from our shoulders and places on His is sin. Yes, from Him you receive everything: this earth and the family unit in which you were born; Baptism, which incorporated you into the extended family of the Church; your vocation. "To Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen!" ( Rev 1:6).
Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord gives you the joy of being his missionary disciples; the strength to overcome the snares of evil; the hope of eternal life. All this is yours, all this is a gift. A gift that dignifies and ennobles, that commits and makes responsible. But the greatest gift is the Holy Spirit who, poured into your hearts through Baptism, has configured you in a special way to Christ for the sake of the mission and has sent you to build, from the Gospel, a free, reconciled, beautiful and great Angolan society. In this mission, how important is the ministry of catechists! Especially in Africa, it is a fundamental expression of the life of the Church, and can serve as an inspiration for Catholic communities in the four corners of the world.
“All things are yours, but you belong to Christ” ( 1 Cor 3:23), teaches Saint Paul. Fifty years after the independence of your country, these words of the Apostle say that the present and the future of Angola belong to you, but you belong to Christ. All Angolans, without exception, have the right to build this country, benefiting from it in an equitable way; however, the disciples of the Lord have the duty to do so according to the law of charity. At the base of your actions is being a disciple of Christ. It is up to all of you to be his image, and no one can replace you in this task. Herein lies your uniqueness! You are salt and light of this earth because you are members of the Body of Christ and, therefore, your gestures, your words, and your actions, reflecting his charity, build communities from within and edify for eternity.
What is asked of all disciples of Christ is that they remain closely united to Him (cf. Jn 15:1-8). Everything else will be added unto them. I know that you are in the middle of a three-year pastoral period under the motto "Faithful disciples, joyful disciples" (cf. Acts 11:23-26), dedicated to praying and reflecting on the ordained ministry and consecrated life. What paths does the Lord open to the Church in Angola? There will certainly be many! Seek to follow them all! However, the first path is that of fidelity to Christ. In this sense, continue to value ongoing formation, be vigilant about consistency of life and, above all in these times, persevere in proclaiming the Good News of peace.
In the School of Christ, which is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" ( Jn 14:6), there is always much to learn. Recall Jesus' dialogue with Philip, when the latter asked him: "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us!" The Master's response is surprising: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" ( Jn 14:8-9). This reminds us of the contemplative dimension of ongoing formation, which would be impoverished if reduced to its formal and institutional dimension. Knowing Christ undoubtedly involves good initial formation through the personal accompaniment of formators; it involves adherence to the programs of your dioceses, congregations, and institutes; it involves serious personal study to be able to enlighten the faithful entrusted to you, saving them above all from the dangerous illusion of superstition. However, formation is much broader: it concerns the unity of the interior life, the care of ourselves and the gift of God that we have received (cf. 2 Tim 1:6), making use of literature, music, sports, the arts in general, and especially prayer of adoration and contemplation. In particular, during moments of discouragement and trial, “it is sweet to remain before a crucifix or on our knees before the Blessed Sacrament, and to do so simply to be in His presence! How good it is for us to let Him touch our lives again and send us [again] to communicate His new life!” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium , 264). Without this contemplative dimension, we cease to be consistent with the Gospel and to reflect the power of the Risen One.
“Contemporary man,” said Saint Paul VI , “is more willing to listen to witnesses than to teachers, or if he listens to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” ( Address to the Members of the “Consilium de Laicis” , October 2, 1974). The fidelity of Christ, who loved us to the end, is the true impulse of our fidelity. A fidelity that cannot be dispensed with and is facilitated by the unity of priests with their bishop and with their brothers in the presbytery, of consecrated men and women with their respective superiors and among themselves. Dear brothers and sisters, nurture fraternity among yourselves with frankness and transparency, do not give in to arrogance or self-centeredness, do not separate yourselves from the people, especially the poor, avoid the pursuit of privileges. For your fidelity and, therefore, for your mission, the priestly family or the religious family is indispensable, but so is the family in which you were born and raised. The Church greatly esteems the family institution, teaching that the home is the place of sanctification for all its members. For many of you, certainly, the cradle of your vocation was precisely the family, which appreciated and cherished the germination of the special calling you received. To your families, therefore, goes my sincere gratitude for having cared for, supported, and protected your vocation. I urge them, at the same time, to always help you to remain faithful to the Gospel and not to seek advantages from your priestly service. May they support you with their prayers and, with the good advice of a father and mother, encourage you to be holy and never forget that, in the image of Jesus, you are servants of all.
Finally, your faithfulness in Angola, like that of all pastoral agents throughout the world, is today particularly linked to the proclamation of peace. In times past, you were courageous in denouncing the scourge of war, in supporting afflicted populations by remaining by their side, in building and rebuilding, in pointing out paths and solutions to end armed conflict. Your contribution is commonly recognized and appreciated. But this work is not finished! Promote, therefore, a reconciled memory, educating everyone for concord and cherishing, among yourselves, the serene witness of those brothers and sisters who, after enduring painful torments, forgave everything. Rejoice with them! Celebrate peace!
Furthermore, do not forget, in the words of Saint Paul VI , that "development is the new name for peace" ( Popolorum progressio , 87). It is therefore crucial that, interpreting reality wisely, you do not cease denouncing injustices, presenting proposals according to Christian charity. Continue to be a generous Church, collaborating for the integral development of your country. To this end, everything you accomplish in the areas of education and health has been and continues to be decisive. And when difficulties arise in this area, remember the heroic witness of faith of so many Angolan men and women, missionaries born here or coming from abroad, who had the courage to give their lives for this people and for the Gospel, preferring to die rather than betray the justice, truth, mercy, charity, and peace of Christ. You too, dearest ones, from each Eucharist, are body given and blood shed for the life and salvation of your brothers and sisters. The Virgin Mary, Mama Muxima , is always by your side . May God bless and make your dedication and mission fruitful!
Translation from Source https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2026/04/20/0317/00645.html
Please Help Us by FOLLOWING CatholicNewsWorld on INSTAGRAM!
Thanks and God bless! www.instagram.com/catholicnewsworld
Comments