By Devin Watkins
Pope Leo XIV wrapped up the first leg of his Apostolic Journey to Spain on Tuesday by meeting with volunteers who dedicated their time to help others enjoy his visit.
In his address, the Pope offered his heartfelt gratitude for their service, saying their efforts were done “out of love for the Lord, the Church, and the Pope.”
Praising their generosity, he noted that they responded immediately to the call for volunteers, with many more offering their time than were required.
Read the Pope’s full address during his meeting with the volunteers
Many people took time off work and others dedicated themselves full-time for several months to prepare for his arrival.
“Each of you gave what you could, offering your heart, hands, ideas, talents and smiles,” he said. “May God reward you as only He knows how!”
Pope Leo then encouraged Christians everywhere to “bring the leaven of selflessness to the world.”
Recalling Jesus’ parable of the yeast, he said the generosity of volunteers shows that Christians know how to leaven the dough of society with their care for others.
“Selflessness is like leaven that makes the human, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of a society grow, and it is a distinctive element of the ‘City of God’,” he said.
In our world filled with self-interest and the search for profit, Christians must think and live in a way that leads to integral human development, even if it means doing good for those who have no way to pay us back.
Jesus, he said, brings the kingdom of heaven into our world like a leaven, healing our ailing humanity with His sacrifice and the fire of His Holy Spirit.
“After His death and resurrection,” said the Pope, “He sent His disciples, with the power of the same Spirit, to be signs and instruments of His kingdom of love, justice and peace in the world.”
Christians spread the kingdom of God through our preaching, but especially through our way of life that conforms to the Gospel.
Pope Leo XIV thanked the volunteers again for their generosity, saying their work imbued with the love of God has helped Madrid grow closer to the kingdom of God.
“It is all His grace!” said the Pope. “This is the secret: the love of God, which moves the sun and the stars, also moves the hearts of those who have encountered ‘the Lord Jesus, for He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’.”
In conclusion, Pope Leo encouraged the volunteers who prepared his visit to spread their experience in these days into their daily lives with humility, firmness of faith, and generosity in service. – Vatican News
