Pope Leo XIII made a strong appeal this morning in St. Peter's Square, before tens of thousands of faithful, for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages. At the end of the Audience, in Italian, on the day of his onomastics, The Pope has shown his “deep closeness to the Palestinian people, who continue to live in fear and in unacceptable conditions, forced to relocate in their own lands.”.
In a decidedly solemn tone, “before the Almighty Lord, who has commanded not to kill,” the Holy Father recalled, alongside all of human history, that “every person has an inviolable dignity that must be respected and cared for.”.
Furthermore, Pope Leo has stated that he renews his "appeal for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages, for a negotiated diplomatic solution, and for full respect for human rights." humanitarian law international. I invite everyone to join me in prayer, so that a dawn of peace and justice may emerge as soon as possible.”.
“Find another solution”
Yesterday, at the end of his stay of a few hours in Castel Gandolfo, the Pope attended to some journalists. When asked about the Gaza exodus, he confirmed that he had spoken by phone with the Gaza community and the parish priest, and explained his concern.
«"Many," he said, "have nowhere to go, and that's why it's a concern. I also spoke with our people there, with the parish priest. For now, they want to stay; they continue to resist, but we really need to find another solution.".
Silence, the protagonist of catechesis
In his catechesis, Leo XIV stated that “Christian hope is born from the silence of loving expectation and from trusting abandonment to the will of God.” In this sense, he encouraged the discovery of the meaning of silence and contemplation. The word “silence” was central to his catechesis.
The Pope began his meditation on the mystery of Holy Saturday and the “absence” of Christ in the tomb. It is a “waiting, a silence full of meaning, like that of a mother who cherishes her unborn, yet already living, child in her womb.” In this Jubilee Year, the series of catecheses focuses on ‘Jesus Christ, Our Hope.’ Today’s theme was “A new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid” (John 19:40-41).
The meaning of silence and contemplation
In his address to the faithful and pilgrims of various languages, the Pope encouraged them to “in the midst of the noise and haste in which we sometimes find ourselves, ask for the intercession of the Virgin Mary. That she may teach us, as she did, to live Holy Saturday by discovering the meaning of silence and contemplation.”.
He invited the Arabic-speaking faithful to “remember that Christian hope is born from the silence of loving waiting and trusting surrender to the will of God. May the Lord bless you all and always protect you from all evil!”.
Along the same lines, he encouraged German-speaking pilgrims to “dedicate some time each day to silence and prayer, to encounter Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, and to remain always united to him.”.
A break full
Holy Saturday is also a day of rest, the Pope has said on another occasion. “According to Jewish law, one should not work on the seventh day: in fact, after six days of creation, God rested (cf. Gen 2:2).”.
Now the Son, having completed his work of salvation, also rests, he has continued. “Not because he is tired, but because he has finished his work. Not because he has given up, but because he has loved to the end. There is nothing more to add. This rest is the seal of the work accomplished, it is the confirmation that what had to be done has truly been done. It is a rest filled with the hidden presence of the Lord.”.
The teaching of the Gospel: “knowing when to stop”
“We find it hard to stop and rest. We live as if life were never enough. We rush to produce, to prove ourselves, to not lose ground. But the Gospel teaches us that knowing how to stop is an act of trust that we must learn to have.”.
“Holy Saturday invites us to discover that life does not always depend on what we do, but also on how we say goodbye to what we have been able to do.”.
Christian hope “is not the fruit of euphoria, but of trusting abandonment,” the Holy Father concluded. “The Virgin Mary teaches us this: she embodies this waiting, this trust, this hope. When it seems that everything comes to a standstill, that life is an interrupted journey, let us remember Holy Saturday.”.
Intercession of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
To the Polish-speaking community, he mentioned their patron saint, Saint Stanislaus Kostka. “Tomorrow you will commemorate Saint Stanislaus Kostka. May this eighteen-year-old, patron saint of his homeland and of young people, be an example and inspiration to new generations of believers in their search for God’s will and in the courageous fulfillment of their vocation. I entrust Poland and world peace to his intercession. I bless you with all my heart.”.
