On Morning Air, Ashley Noronha joined John Morales to reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s Wednesday general audience from October 1. The Holy Father centered his catechesis on the Resurrection of Christ, calling it the very heart of Christian faith and the foundation of Christian hope.
Pope Leo reminded the faithful that the Resurrection was not a dramatic gesture of revenge or retribution. Instead, it was the most profound witness that love is stronger than death. The victory of Christ shows that true power lies not in domination, but in the endurance of love that rises even after suffering and apparent defeat. The Resurrection speaks to every believer: no matter how final our hardships may seem, God’s love can overcome them.
Christ did not return with displays of pride or worldly strength. He came back to His disciples in humility, bringing peace and bearing the wounds of His Passion. The Holy Father emphasized that these wounds remain as a sign that God does not abandon us in our darkest hours. Even when we feel crushed by sorrow, shame, or failure, His presence never departs. The marks of the nails and the pierced side are living testimony that our pain is not forgotten, but transformed by divine mercy.
Pope Leo explained that the Christian life is not a call to exert authority over others. Rather, it is a call to communicate God’s peace, love, and joy. He urged the faithful to live in such a way that their actions bear witness to this gift, especially toward those who may seem least deserving. It is in such moments of generosity, he noted, that we most closely resemble Christ.
The Holy Father also encouraged the faithful not to hide their wounds but to let them serve as signs of God’s healing. Scars can be powerful testimonies of grace when they reveal how the Lord has lifted us from sin and restored us through reconciliation. By showing how far we have fallen and how God has raised us up, we proclaim the truth of His mercy more vividly than words alone could ever express.
Ashley Noronha, reflecting on the audience, highlighted how this message resonates with everyday life. Many carry wounds of loss, betrayal, or failure. Yet, as Pope Leo explained, those wounds can become reminders of God’s faithfulness rather than symbols of despair. They are proof that the Lord draws near to us in weakness and brings forth new life where there once was only brokenness.
Through the Resurrection, Pope Leo said, Christians learn to face trials with a confidence rooted not in human strength but in divine promise. Our faith rests upon the certainty that death is not the end, that love does not falter, and that God’s mercy can reach even the lowest places. To live in this truth is to live as people of hope.
The Pope’s catechesis served as both a comfort and a challenge. Comfort, because it reassures the faithful that God never leaves them alone; challenge, because it calls each believer to be a bearer of Christ’s peace in a world often marked by division and indifference. At the center of it all remains the empty tomb, a sign that Christ has conquered death and that His love will never abandon us.