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This morning’s General Audience took place at 10.00 in Saint Peter’s Square, where the Holy Father Leo XIV met with groups of pilgrims and faithful from Italy and all over the world.

In his address in Italian, the Pope resumed the cycle of catechesis that will continue throughout the entire Jubilee Year, “ Jesus Christ our hope ”, focusing on the theme The Resurrection of Christ and the challenges of the contemporary world. Paschal spirituality and integral ecology (Jn 20:14-16).

After summarizing his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father addressed special greetings to the faithful present.

The General Audience concluded with the recitation of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.

 

Cycle of Catechesis – Jubilee 2025: Jesus Christ Our Hope. IV. The Resurrection of Christ and the challenges of the contemporary world. 5.  Paschal spirituality and integral ecology

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

We are reflecting, in this Jubilee Year dedicated to hope, on the relationship between the Resurrection of Christ and the challenges of the contemporary world, that is, our challenges. At times, Jesus, the Living One, wants to ask us too: “Why do you weep? Who do you seek?”. Indeed, challenges cannot be faced alone and tears are a gift of life when they purify our eyes and liberate our gaze.

John the Evangelist draws to our attention a detail that we do not find in the other Gospels: weeping near the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene did not immediately recognize the risen Jesus, but thought he was the gardener. Indeed, already narrating the burial of Jesus, at sunset on Good Friday, the text was very precise: “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there” ( Jn  19:40-41).

Thus, in the peace of the Sabbath and the beauty of a garden, the dramatic struggle between darkness and light that began with the betrayal, arrest, abandonment, condemnation, humiliation and killing of the Son, who “having loved his own who were in the world … loved them to the end” ( Jn  13:1), comes to a close. Cultivating and keeping the garden is the original task (cf.  Gen  2:15) that Jesus brought to fulfilment. His last words on the cross – “It is finished” ( Jn  19:30) – invite each of us to rediscover the same task, our task. For this reason, “he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (v. 30).

Dear brothers and sisters, Mary Magdalene was not entirely mistaken then, believing she had encountered the gardener! Indeed, she had to hear her own name again and understand her task from the new Man, the one who in another text of John says: “Behold, I make all things new” ( Rev  21:5).  Pope Francis , with the Encyclical  Laudato si’ , showed us the extreme need for a contemplative gaze: if he is not the custodian of the garden, the human being becomes its destroyer. Christian hope therefore responds to the challenges to which all humanity is exposed today by dwelling in the garden where the Crucified One was laid as a seed, to rise again and bear much fruit.

Paradise is not lost, but found again. In this way, the death and resurrection of Jesus are the foundation of a spirituality of integral ecology, outside of which the words of faith have no hold on reality and the words of science remain outside the heart. “Ecological culture cannot be reduced to a series of urgent and partial responses to the immediate problems of pollution, environmental decay and the depletion of natural resources. There needs to be a distinctive way of looking at things, a way of thinking, policies, an educational programme, a lifestyle and a spirituality which together generate resistance” ( Laudato si’ , 111 ).

For this reason, we speak of an ecological  conversion , which Christians cannot separate from the reversal of course that Jesus asks of them. A sign of this is Mary’s turning around on that Easter morning: only by conversion after conversion do we pass through that vale of tears to the new Jerusalem. This passage, which begins in the heart and is spiritual, changes history, engages us publicly, and activates solidarity that now protects people and creatures from the longings of wolves, in the name and power of the Lamb-Shepherd.

In this way, the sons and daughters of the Church can now meet millions of young people and other men and women of good will who have heard the cry of the poor and the earth, letting it touch their hearts. There are also many people who desire, through a more direct relationship with creation, a new harmony that will lead them beyond so many divisions. On the other hand, still “the heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” ( Ps  18:1-4).

May the Spirit give us the ability to listen to the voice of those who have no voice. We will see, then, what the eyes do not yet see: that garden, or Paradise, which we will only reach by welcoming and fulfilling our own task.

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Greeting in English

I am happy to welcome this morning the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors, especially those from England, Ireland, Senegal, Uganda, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and the United States of America. A special greeting to the students and faculty from Xavier University of Louisiana and the University of Dallas, Texas. With prayerful good wishes that the present Jubilee of Hope may be for you and your families a time of grace and spiritual renewal, I invoke upon all of you the joy and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Summary of the Holy Father's words

Dear brothers and sisters, in our continuing catechesis on the Jubilee theme of “Jesus Christ our Hope,” today we consider Christ’s Resurrection and its impact on the challenges of today’s world, especially in living out integral ecology. If we allow it, Christ’s salvific act can transform all our relationships: with God, with other people and with creation. Like Mary Magdalene on Easter morning, who turned around to look at Jesus, we too must allow the seed of Christian hope to bear fruit, convert our hearts and influence the ways we respond to the issues that we face. As followers of Jesus, we are called to promote lifestyles and policies that focus on the protection of human dignity and of all of creation. Let us ask for the grace to see our struggles through the gaze of the Resurrection and may we influence the world with hope and Easter joy.

Appointment of undersecretary of the Section for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Secretariat of State

Appointment of assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State

 

Appointment of undersecretary of the Section for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Secretariat of State

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Monsignor Mihăiţă Blaj, nunciature counsellor in service at the Section for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Secretariat of State, as undersecretary of the same Section for Relations with States and International Organizations.

Curriculum vitae

Monsignor Mihăiţă Blaj was born in Gherăeşti, Romania, on 7 October 1978. He was ordained a priest on 29 June 2004 and incardinated in Iaşi, Romania. He graduated in theology and entered the Holy See diplomatic service on 1 July 2012. He was assigned to the apostolic nunciature in Ecuador, as attaché; transferred to the apostolic nunciature in Georgia on 1 July 2015; transferred to the apostolic nunciature in Chad on 5 January 2019; and transferred to the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State on 4 January 2022.

He knows Italian, French, English, Spanish and German.

 

Appointment of assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Monsignor Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo, until now undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, as assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.

Curriculum vitae

Monsignor Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo was born in Umudike, Nigeria, on 24 September 1981. He was ordained a priest on 30 July 2011 and incardinated in the diocese of Umuahia. He graduated in systematic theology and canon law and entered the service of the Holy See as an official of the Section for General Affairs on 5 September 2016. He was appointed undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on 18 April 2023.

He knows Igbo, English, Italian and French.

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- The Honourable J. B. Pritzker, Governor of the State of Illinois;

- The Reverend Sr. Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E., President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the participants in the course for diocesan liturgical pastoral workers promoted by the Pontifical Liturgical Institute “Saint Anselm”.

The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present at the meeting:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

Good morning, and welcome to you all!

I greet the Abbot Primate, the Rector of the Athenaeum of Saint Anselm, the dean of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, and all the participants in the refresher course for diocesan liturgical pastoral workers. I am pleased to welcome you at the beginning of your course of in-depth study.

The formative proposal in which you are participating corresponds to the twofold mission of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute. As the Holy Father Benedict XVI hoped, it continues its service to the Church with enthusiasm, in full fidelity to the liturgical tradition and to the reform desired by the Second Vatican Council, according to the guidelines of Sacrosanctum Concilium and the pronouncements of the Magisterium (cf. Address to participants in the conference promoted by the Pontifical University of Saint Anselm , 6 May 2011).  On the other hand, initiatives such as this serve to implement the formative missions set out in the Apostolic Constitution Veritatis gaudium , such as the formation of ministers and the faithful to prepare them for their service in pastoral care and liturgy.

It seems to me that Pope Francis' warm invitation is also addressed to your Institute. In his Apostolic Letter Desiderio desideravi , he recommended: “It is necessary to find the channels for a formation that is the study of Liturgy. From the beginning of the liturgical movement, much has been done in this regard, with precious contributions from scholars and academic institutions. Nonetheless, it is important now to spread this knowledge beyond the academic environment, in an accessible way, so that each one of the faithful might grow in a knowledge of the theological sense of the Liturgy [and of] the very celebration itself” (no. 35).

Indeed, in the dioceses and parishes there is a need for such formation and it is important, when it is not present, to initiate biblical and liturgical courses. The Pontifical Liturgical Institute could qualify them to help particular Churches and parish communities to be formed by the Word of God, explaining the texts of the weekday and feast day Lectionary, and also to continue a Christian and liturgical initiation that helps the faithful to understand, through rites, prayers and visible signs, the mystery of faith that is celebrated (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium , 48).

With regard to biblical formation combined with liturgical formation, I recommend that directors of liturgical pastoral offices pay particular attention to those who proclaim the Word of God. Ensure that instituted lectors and those who regularly read the Scriptures at celebrations are thoroughly prepared. Basic biblical knowledge, clear diction, the ability to sing the responsorial psalm, as well as to compose prayers of the faithful for the community are important aspects that implement liturgical reform and help the People of God grow on their path.

We are well aware that liturgical formation is one of the main themes of the entire conciliar and post-conciliar journey. Much progress has been made, but there is still a long way to go. Let us not tire: let us enthusiastically resume the good initiatives inspired by the reform and, at the same time, seek new ways and new methods.

The office for liturgical ministry is responsible in each diocese for the ongoing liturgical formation of the clergy and the faithful, for preparation for ministries, and for the care of parish liturgical groups, altar servers, lectors, and cantors. The aim is to foster the fruitful participation of the People of God, as well as a dignified liturgy that is attentive to different sensibilities and sober in its solemnity.

Among the aspects linked to your service as directors, I would like to mention the promotion of the Liturgy of the Hours, care for popular piety, and attention to the celebratory dimension in the construction of new churches and the adaptation of existing ones. These are topics that you will address during the course and which you confront every day.

In many parishes, then, there are also liturgical groups who must work in synergy with the diocesan commission. The experience of a group, even small but well motivated, that is concerned with the preparation of the liturgy is an expression of a community that cares for its celebrations, prepares them, and lives them to the full, in agreement with the parish priest. In this way, we avoid delegating everything to him and leaving only a few people responsible for singing, proclaiming the Word, and decorating the church. Over time, unfortunately, some of these groups have dwindled to the point of disappearing, as if they had lost their identity; it is therefore necessary to work to make this area of Church life attractive again, capable of involving people who are competent or at least inclined to this type of service.

As directors appointed by the bishops, you could offer your fellow parish priests formation courses to start or consolidate liturgical groups in the parish, training their members and offering suggestions for their activities. The workshops of the course will help you in this regard to find and experiment with appropriate forms that you can introduce in your particular Churches. Your pastoral creativity will then find the most suitable forms.

Dear friends, as you begin this formative journey, I hope that the phase in Rome, in the Jubilee Year, as well as offering you tools for deeper understanding, will reinvigorate your spiritual energies, so that, returning to the local Churches, you may continue your pastoral action in the service of the liturgy with renewed impetus. And this is my hope, as I bless you from my heart. Thank you.

The following is the Message sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV to the participants in the meeting “Building communities that protect dignity”, promoted by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and taking place in Rome from 17 to 19 November 2025:

 

Message of the Holy Father

Dear brothers and sisters!

I affectionately and gratefully greet all of you, representatives of various conferences of men and women religious and numerous institutes of consecrated, apostolic and contemplative life, gathered to reflect on a theme very close to my heart: how to build communities where the dignity of every person, especially minors and the most vulnerable, is protected and promoted.

Dignity is a gift from God, who created the human being in his own image and semblance (cf. Gen 1:26). It is not something that is obtained by merit or effort; nor does it depend on what we possess or achieve. It is a gift that goes before us: it is born of the look of love with which God wanted us, one by one, and continues to want us. On every human face, even when it is marked by fatigue or pain, there is the reflection of the Creator’s goodness, a light that no darkness can erase.

The care and protection of man for his neighbour are the fruit of a gaze that is able to recognize, a heart that knows how to listen. They are born of the desire to approach with respect and tenderness, to share the other’s burdens and hopes. It is in taking responsibility for the life of our neighbour that we learn true freedom, that which does not dominate but serves, does not possess but accompanies.

Consecrated life, an expression of total self-giving to Christ, is called upon in a special way to be a welcoming home and a place of encounter and grace. Those who follow the Lord in the way of chastity, poverty and obedience discover that authentic love is born of recognition of one’s own limit: of knowing that one is loved even in weakness, and it is precisely this that makes one capable of loving others with respect, gentleness and a free heart.

I therefore appreciate and encourage your intention to share experiences and learning processes on how to prevent all forms of abuse and how to give an account, with truth and humility, of the steps taken to protect minors. I urge you to continue this commitment so that communities may increasingly become examples of trust and dialogue, where every person is respected, listened to, and valued. Where justice is lived with mercy, wounds are transformed into openings for grace.

I also invite you to continue your collaboration with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which promotes and accompanies with dedication the growth of the whole Church in the culture of protection.

I entrust you to Christ, Shepherd and Spouse of the Church, and to Mary Most Holy, Mother of every consecrated man and woman, and I cordially impart my blessing to you all.

From the Vatican, 15 November 2025

LEO PP. XIV