Pope Leo XIV says "God trusts us, sinners forgiven by Him...so that his grace may shine in our stories, his strength that turns evil into good" FULL TEXT Angelus

Pope Leo XIV prayed the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Monday, as the Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The Pope said the feast day recalls the bond that unites the Church of Rome to all the other Churches throughout the world “in a communion of faith and charity.”

SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL
Pope LEO XIV at the ANGELUS
St. Peter's Square, Monday, June 29, 2026
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Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today we celebrate the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul , Patrons of Rome. This feast recalls the original bond that unites the Church in Rome with all the other Churches of the world in communion of faith and charity.

The testimony of these two Apostles is almost a seal on the New Testament. The blood they shed in this city reveals the extent of the love of God that the Lord Jesus has given us. Yes, it is through their word and their martyrdom that the Gospel of Christ has, so to speak, taken root in Rome, demonstrating right here, in the capital of the empire, its capacity for renewal: a new knowledge of God and the infinite dignity of every human being, a new experience of strength, not as domination, but as service to life.

Today too, the Lord, who died and rose again out of love, makes himself present in his witnesses, reaching the centers and the peripheries, the capitals and the most remote regions with the voices, the faces, and the courageous choices of those who responded to his invitation: "Follow me!" Thus, this festive day draws us into the mission of Peter and Paul, that is, into the mission of Jesus himself. God trusts us, sinners forgiven by Him, those who are not perfect, so that his grace may shine in our stories, his strength that turns evil into good may be revealed.

Beloved, perhaps Peter and Paul could not have been more different from each other. Different in origin, in education, in character; not only before, but also after being called, and their one Lord did not make them uniform. The Gospel is understood and proclaimed by each of them with a specific emphasis; and the Holy Spirit, inspiring the biblical authors, wanted their differences not to be hidden, which are indeed told to us as good news. In the college of the Apostles, Peter and Paul were not adversaries. On the contrary, they almost became the symbol of many other diversities that the one Spirit brings into unity. Thus, the Patrons of the Church of Rome experienced the anguish of communion, they knew it, served it, and proclaimed it as the sacrament of divine life. Their witness has contributed decisively to ensuring that the Christian presence in history is aimed not at domination, but at service, unity, and reconciliation.

May the Lord grant us, through the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul, to increasingly appreciate the catholicity of the Church, to recognize its value in the service of fraternal encounter between individuals and peoples, to avoid what wears out or damages communion, to persevere in the ecumenical journey and in attentive and frank dialogue with all.

May Mary, Queen of the Apostles, always protect the People of God, in Rome and throughout the world.

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After the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters!

Today we celebrate Peter's Pence Day . I heartily thank those who, with their donations, support my ministry as Successor of Peter. Let us continue to walk together in faith and communion.

On the feast of our Patron Saints, I extend my best wishes to the people of Rome and to all who live in this city. A thought, accompanied by prayer, I extend especially to the sick, the lonely, and the imprisoned. I thank the parish priests and all the priests, nuns, and religious who work in Rome, because with their presence and daily service they keep its great Christian heart alive.

I greet the volunteers from the Pro Loco d'Italia who organized the Infiorata on Via della Conciliazione and Piazza Pio XII. Thank you and congratulations! I also thank those organizing the "Girandola di Castel Sant'Angelo," which this year will be dedicated to Saint Francis and his Canticle of the Creatures. I am also pleased to welcome two Confraternities: the Spanish Confraternity of Nuestra Señora del Carmen del Camino de Zamora, and the Confraternity of the Agonizing, from Artena.

I greet the homeless people who are in St. Peter's Square today to distribute "L'Osservatore di strada," a supplement to "L'Osservatore Romano." Thank you and best wishes to those who support this newspaper!

And happy holidays to everyone!

Translation from https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2026/06/29/0560/01055.html