At noon this Sunday, December 14, third week of Advent (Gaudete), Pope Leo XIV appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square. In his brief introductory meditation, the Pontiff centered his reflection on the figure of St. John the Baptist imprisoned, the hope that does not fade in trial, and the certainty that Christ manifests himself through his works, especially in favor of the poor, the sick, and the oppressed.
We leave below the complete message of Leo XIV:
Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!
Today’s Gospel takes us to visit John the Baptist in prison, where he is imprisoned because of his preaching (cf. Mt 14:3-5). However, he does not lose hope, becoming for us a sign that prophecy, even though chained, remains a free voice in search of truth and justice.
From prison, John the Baptist hears «about the works of Christ» (Mt 11:2), which are different from those he expected. He then sends to ask him: «Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?» (v. 3). Those who seek truth and justice, those who await freedom and peace, question Jesus. Is He truly the Messiah, that is, the Savior promised by God through the prophets?
Jesus’ response directs our gaze toward those whom He has loved and served. It is they: the last, the poor, the sick, who speak for Him. Christ announces who He is through what He does. And what He does is a sign of salvation for all of us. Indeed, when one encounters Jesus, life devoid of light, word, and flavor recovers its meaning. The blind see, the mute speak, the deaf hear. The image of God, disfigured by leprosy, regains its integrity and health. Even the dead, totally insensitive, return to life (cf. v. 5). This is the Gospel of Jesus, the good news announced to the poor. When God comes into the world, it is seen.
The word of Jesus frees us from the prison of discouragement and suffering; every prophecy finds in Him the expected fulfillment. It is Christ, in fact, who opens man’s eyes to the glory of God. He gives the word to the oppressed, to those whose voice violence and hatred have taken away; He overcomes ideology, which makes us deaf to the truth; He heals appearances that deform the body.
In this way, the Word of life redeems us from evil, which leads the heart to death. Therefore, as disciples of the Lord, in this Advent season we are called to unite the expectation of the Savior with attention to what God does in the world. Only in this way can we experience the joy of freedom that finds its Savior: «Gaudete in Domino semper – Rejoice in the Lord always» (Phil 4:4). With this invitation, today’s Holy Mass opens, the third Sunday of Advent, called for that reason Gaudete Sunday. Let us rejoice, then, because Jesus is our hope, especially in the hour of trial, when life seems to lose meaning and everything appears darker, words fail us, and it is hard for us to listen to our neighbor.
May the Virgin Mary, model of waiting, attention, and joy, help us to imitate the work of her Son, sharing bread and the Gospel with the poor.