Leo XIV visits the tomb of Saint Paul/ Gives an important message

2025-05-22 14:28:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

While visiting the tomb of Saint Paul the Apostle, the Holy Father asked God to give everyone the grace to respond to his call (since God calls us first), becoming witnesses of the love of the Holy Spirit, close to one another in charity, so that in each one "the power of faith in God, who rewards," that is, justifies every believer with justice, may be witnessed.

"Just as the Lord Jesus transformed the life of Saint Paul (Saul), we too must seek to be 'witnesses of love'."

This was stated, among other things, by Pope Leo XIV in his homily during his visit to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.

"We ask Saint Paul to teach us to cultivate and spread his love, becoming close to one another."

During the homily for the celebration of the Word of God, the Pope commented precisely on the passage from the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans, which was read in today's liturgy, entrusting the apostle with the beginning of the papacy and reflecting on his message, which focuses on three main themes: grace, faith, and justice.

Leo XIV visits the tomb of Saint Paul/ Gives an important message

"Saint Paul emphasizes that he had the grace of calling from God, that is, God himself called him to a new life, while he was persecuting Christians. The same experience is confirmed by Saint Augustine," the Pope underlined in his homily, noting that it is God who chooses first, with "his mercy, with the generous kindness of a mother who naturally, through her body, nourishes the child when it is not yet capable of feeding itself," as the saint, who gives his name to the Order to which Leo XIV belongs, says in his text "Explanations on Psalm 130." "But Saint Paul," the Holy Father pointed out, "also speaks of the conviction of faith."

Leo XIV visits the tomb of Saint Paul/ Gives an important message

"In fact," the Pope observed, "the Lord, appearing to him on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9:1-30), did not deprive him of his freedom, but left him the possibility of a choice, of a conviction, the fruit of suffering, of internal and external struggles, which he agreed to face. Salvation does not come by magic, but through a mystery of grace and faith, a mystery of God's prevenient love and of man's acceptance with faith and freedom."/ CNA