Pope Leo XIV has called on people across the world not to allow hatred, violence and resentment to destroy their humanity, urging them to embrace love, forgiveness and reconciliation even in the face of injustice.
The Pope made the appeal while celebrating Mass at the Church of Maria Santissima del Lago in Castel Gandolfo, according to Vatican News.
Addressing Christians and people of goodwill, Pope Leo warned that responding to pain and injustice with hatred or violence would only deepen suffering and lead to further destruction.
He said, “Hatred and violence lead to nothing good, but only to destruction and death, always—even when they are a response to injustices suffered.”
The Pontiff particularly appealed to people who had experienced rejection, serious offences or injustice not to allow anger, resentment and the desire for revenge to take control of their lives.
He urged them to ensure that whatever wounds they had suffered did not make them lose their sense of humanity.
“Whatever the wound, whatever the offense,” Pope Leo said, people should not allow evil “to disfigure our humanity and corrupt us in our hearts.”
According to him, the Christian response to suffering should remain firmly grounded in love, forgiveness and faith.
The Pope acknowledged that forgiveness could appear difficult in a society where it is sometimes regarded as a sign of weakness and where responding to wrongdoing with restraint may be mistaken for surrender.
However, he maintained that the teachings of Jesus remained clear, stressing that “only the way of love is the way of life.”
Drawing inspiration from the Gospel account of Jesus walking on water, Pope Leo also encouraged the faithful not to lose hope when confronted with difficult circumstances, fear and uncertainty.
He said faith could help people remain steadfast even when they were faced with challenges that appeared overwhelming.
The Pope further encouraged the faithful to deepen their relationship with Jesus and Mary through prayer, describing communal devotion as a strong witness to God’s love in a troubled world.
Following the Mass, a Marian procession was held through Castel Gandolfo and continued with a traditional procession on Lake Albano.
Pope Leo participated in the centuries-old tradition from a boat on the lake, marking his participation in the historic event.
His message came amid continuing conflicts, violence and tensions in different parts of the world, reinforcing his call for humanity to reject the cycle of hatred, revenge and violence and instead pursue peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.
