By Isabella H. de Carvalho
Pope Leo XIV encourages Christians not to forget about the sick, the elderly and those who are suffering during the summer season, in the July/August edition of the Italian magazine, Piazza San Pietro.
The Pope was responding to a letter sent by Maurizio from Rome, who asked how he can live the summer months in a way that deepens and enriches his faith.
How to nurture our spirituality in a frenetic world
In his letter, Maurizio highlights the current turbulent times affected by wars and instability but also by a world that is “faster and more efficient than ever, but often superficial and distracted.”
“I often wonder how it is possible to live and nurture a more conscious and authentic spirituality—one that can translate into concrete acts of love and responsible respect for others,” Maurizio reflects.
He tells the Pope that as the summer holidays approach, he wants to live them not only as a period of rest but also as a moment to “rediscover a deeper dimension” of his inner self, in order also “to rediscover an authentic space for encountering God the Father.”
Maurizio thus concludes the letter by asking the Pope for his thoughts and advice on this.
The Pope’s response: live out the Gospel of peace and mercy
The Pope’s response firstly remembers “those who cannot even enjoy a brief period of rest because they are crushed by burdens of every kind.”
“Let us think of the sick, of those who have lost hope in life, of those overwhelmed by the pain of losing loved ones, of the victims of war, hatred, terrorism, and violence, of those persecuted for their faith and for justice, of prisoners, of those who have lost their jobs or their homes, and of migrants who are not welcomed with humanity,” the Pope emphasizes.
He notes how holidays should be for everyone a time of respite from work and worries in order to experience genuine friendship and company, as a foretaste of the communion of the Kingdom of God.
In order to strengthen one’s faith, he thus calls all Christians to “make use also of the summer to live out the Gospel of peace and mercy.”
“To families, parents and children, the young and the elderly alike—I wish that this summer may be an opportunity for fruitful social and religious experiences, and for deepening their mission in the Church and in society,” he insisted.
He added that he hoped the sick would not lack the closeness of their relatives and volunteers and urged families to not leave their elderly members alone.
The Pope also offered a word of encouragement to volunteers: “Commit yourselves to bringing humanity and hope to those who suffer, and you will see the fruits of grace. You will discover how much love will fill your lives, how much joy, how much happiness.”
He also called Christians to reflect on their privilege and “bear witness to evangelical poverty” when serving the poor, as this is a “service we render to Christ himself.”
“Let us also avoid excess and waste, materialism and consumerism, and let us educate ourselves in simplicity and moderation,” he said, adding that “the accumulation of wealth hinders evangelization.”
Lastly, he expressed his wish that our holidays may “be consistent with a Christian way of life.”
“God’s love and grace reach us every day, always,” he concluded. “Let us help one another, in every community, not to squander this precious heritage of humanity and peace, the only hope for giving a future to a world threatened by war.” – Vatican News
