On Sunday, September 21, Pope Leo XIV led the faithful in the recitation of the Angelus in Saint Peter’s Square. Before turning to prayer, the Holy Father offered a reflection on the Gospel of the day (Luke 16:1–13), which contains the parable of the dishonest steward.
The Pope explained that the steward, summoned by his master to give an account of his management, represents each one of us. Our lives, he reminded the crowd, are not our own possession, nor are the goods we enjoy in this world. Everything is given by the Lord, entrusted to our care with freedom and responsibility. One day, he said, each person will have to account for the way he or she has managed life, possessions, and the earth’s resources, not only before God but also before society and future generations.
In the parable, the steward had previously lived only for his own profit, but when his position was taken away, he discovered that material wealth cannot secure his future. By reducing the debts of others, he gained friends who could later support him. The Pope pointed out that Jesus draws from this story an exhortation: that His disciples use the goods of this world, fleeting as they are, to build lasting relationships of love and solidarity. Friendship with the Lord and with one another is the true wealth that endures beyond this life.
The Holy Father invited the faithful to examine themselves in light of this parable. Do we manage our possessions with selfishness, placing wealth above all else, or do we see our gifts as opportunities to share with others? A life lived only for self, he warned, isolates and fosters conflict. But when we recognize all as a gift, we can create networks of friendship, solidarity, and service for the common good. This is the way of justice and fraternity. Concluding his reflection, he invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking her to help us manage with wisdom and responsibility the treasures entrusted to us by God.
Following the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo turned his attention to current events and the many pilgrims gathered in the square. He first addressed representatives of Catholic associations committed to works of solidarity with the people of Gaza. Expressing gratitude for their initiative and others like it, he repeated together with the pastors of the Churches in the Holy Land that violence, forced exile, and revenge cannot provide a future for the region. What the people need, he said, is peace, and those who truly love them must work toward peace.
The Holy Father then extended warm greetings to various pilgrim groups, including delegations from the Dioceses of Mindelo in Cape Verde and Como in Italy, as well as visitors from Angola, Poland, Spain, Portugal, and Tanzania. He noted with particular joy the presence of priests of the Society of Jesus beginning studies in Rome, members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, and faithful from many Italian towns.
He also welcomed choirs from Verona and Malo, the Oasi Nazareth Foundation of Corato, and the H-Earth Mani e Cuore Association. In a special way, he remembered those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and ataxia, entrusting them to the Lord’s care.
Pope Leo concluded by thanking all present and connected by media, offering his blessing and wishing everyone a blessed Sunday.