Vatican City, Nov 2026 : Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called on people across the world to embrace holiness through acts of love, forgiveness and peace, stressing that every individual is called to lead a life that places compassion above greed, violence and evil.
Addressing the faithful during the Angelus prayer on the Solemnity of All Saints, the Pope said holiness was not a privilege reserved for a select few but a universal calling that applied to everyone, irrespective of their background or circumstances.
Speaking to thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square from the window of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo said holiness meant allowing God's grace to guide everyday actions and decisions, enabling love and peace to overcome selfishness and wrongdoing.
He urged people never to lose the determination to work for peace, whether in major global situations or in the ordinary circumstances of daily life.
“May we never grow weary of fostering peace, both in the most important situations and in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life,” he said.
The Pope described the Solemnity of All Saints as an occasion to remember the countless men and women who had devoted their lives to Christ and made themselves gifts to God and their neighbours.
He said the celebration was not limited to saints formally recognised by the Church. It also honoured innumerable individuals from different cultures, communities and walks of life whose contributions to humanity and expressions of faith might never have received public recognition.
“It is impossible to count this multitude of brothers and sisters, and not just in numerical terms,” he said, adding that holiness could not be measured through calculations because of the goodness that saints had spread throughout the world.
Pope Leo said the feast carried a message of hope, reminding believers that God recognised acts of goodness that often remained unseen by others.
“God sees the good that we do not see, knows stories that we do not know and reaches hearts to which we have no access,” he said.
Referring to the day's Gospel and the Beatitudes, the Pope outlined the qualities that characterise those who follow the path of holiness. He said saints were people who remained spiritually rich despite material poverty, found consolation through prayer during difficult times and responded to violence with gentleness.
They were those who sought justice, practised forgiveness, showed mercy and maintained faith even when facing persecution and insults.
The Pope also highlighted the importance of peacemaking, describing those who work for peace as people who are called by name by God.
He said the lives of saints offered a reminder that faith was reflected not merely in religious observances but also in the choices people made, their treatment of others and their willingness to stand for what was right.
Youth Olympic Games in Senegal
During his Angelus address, Pope Leo also referred to the Youth Olympic Games being held in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, from October 31 to November 13.
The event, which brings together athletes aged between 15 and 18, is the first Olympic event to be hosted on the African continent.
The Pope welcomed the Games, saying they provided an opportunity for young people from different countries to come together through sport and develop mutual understanding and respect.
He noted that, apart from sporting competitions, the programme included educational and cultural activities designed to promote Olympic values and encourage interaction among participants from across the world.
“Here, once again, we see a sign of hope emerging from the world of sport! I warmly greet and bless all the participants,” he said.
Georgia Martyrs beatified
Pope Leo also recalled the beatification ceremony held in Savannah, Georgia, in the United States, on Saturday, October 31, for Pedro de Corpa and four companions, members of the Order of Friars Minor.
The five Franciscan missionaries were killed in 1597 because of their faith and were formally beatified during the ceremony.
The Pope said the martyrs, who originally came from Spain, had responded generously to the call to spread the Christian faith among the peoples of the Americas, ultimately sacrificing their lives for their mission.
He invoked their intercession for missionaries across the world who continue to spread the Gospel.
World Week of the Poor from November 8
The Pope also expressed support for the upcoming World Week of the Poor, an initiative promoted by the Friars Minor and scheduled to be held in Rome from November 8 to 15.
Congratulating the Franciscan community, he said the initiative placed poor and vulnerable people at the centre of public attention, following the example of Jesus Christ and St Francis of Assisi.
“I congratulate the sons of Saint Francis who, through this initiative, are placing the poor at the centre, just as the Lord Jesus did and as Saint Francis of Assisi did,” he said.
He also thanked the civil authorities and law enforcement agencies for extending their cooperation to the initiative.
Pope to celebrate All Souls' Day Mass
Concluding his address, Pope Leo reminded the faithful that he would celebrate Mass at Rome's Verano Cemetery on Monday afternoon, November 2, to mark the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, also known as All Souls' Day.
He urged people to remember those who had passed away and remain spiritually connected with them through the communion of saints.
“During these days, let us feel united, in the communion of saints, with the vast family of brothers and sisters who have preceded us on our earthly pilgrimage,” he said.
The Pope particularly called for prayers for the departed who had no one left to remember them, reminding the faithful of the importance of extending compassion and remembrance beyond their immediate families and communities.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
