Leo XIV in Castel Gandolfo: we must not “deceive death, but take care of life”

During his first Angelus in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV stressed that eternal life is not conquered, but is accepted as a “gift” that is born from the “love of God” and called, in this sense, not to try to “deceive death, but take care of life.”

“To live eternal life, it is not necessary to deceive death, but to serve life, that is, take care of the existence of others in the time we share with them. This is the supreme law, which is above all social norm and gives meaning,” said the pontiff.

The Holy Father addressed the faithful and pilgrims gathered in the Piazza della Libertá (Plaza de la Libertad) by Castel Gandolfo, where a brief period of rest was transferred on July 6. It is expected to return to the Vatican next Sunday.

In front of the Apostolic Palace of the Pontifical Villa, a fortified palace of the seventeenth century on the shores of Lake Albano, the Pontiff focused his reflection on a key question in relation to the Gospel of the day. (Luke 10, 25): “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Today’s Gospel begins with a beautiful question addressed to Jesus: ‘Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?'” The Pope began by saying.

“These words express a constant desire in our life: the desire for salvation, that is, of a free existence of failure, evil and death,” he explained later.

He then pointed out that what the heart of the man expects “is described as a gift that is inherited.” He added: “It is not about conquering it with strength, or imploring it as servants, or obtaining it by contract. Eternal life, which only God can give, is transmitted in inheritance to the human being as a father to son.”

Therefore, he continued, Jesus replies that to receive God’s gift, it is necessary to host his will.

“As it is written in the law: ‘You will love the Lord your God with all your heart’ and ‘to your neighbor as yourself.’ In this way, we correspond to the love of the Father: the will of God, in fact, is that law of life that he himself practices towards us, loving us with all his being in the Son Jesus,” he said.

At this point, Leo XIV invited the faithful to look at Christ as revelation of true love “towards God and to man.” A love – he explained – that “surrenders and does not possess, love that forgives and does not demand, love that helps and never abandons.” “In Christ, God has become neighbor of every man and every woman: therefore, each of us can and should be protected from whoever finds on the road,” he said.

And he added: “Following the example of Jesus, Salvador del Mundo, we are also called to bring comfort and hope, especially those who are discouraged and disappointed.”

After the prayer of the Angelus, he urged the faithful to “pray for peace and for all those who, because of violence, are in a situation of suffering and need.” In addition, he recalled beatification this Saturday in Barcelona of Marist Lycarion May, a Swiss religious, educator of the poor in Spain, who was martyred during the 1909 popular revolts.