At the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, offering a message of confidence and missionary urgency to the faithful. Centering his remarks on the Gospel account of the call of the first disciples, the Holy Father urged Christians not to be held back by fear, hesitation, or difficult circumstances, but to trust in God’s timing and to carry the Gospel into every corner of human life.
The Pope invited the faithful to consider two essential details from the Gospel: when Jesus began his preaching and where he chose to do so. These questions speak directly to the life of the Church and to the daily experience of believers.
Jesus began his public ministry at a moment that seemed marked by darkness and uncertainty, following the arrest of John the Baptist. Pope Leo noted that this detail is significant. Rather than waiting for a safer or more favorable moment, Christ began proclaiming the nearness of the Kingdom of Heaven precisely when circumstances appeared most discouraging. In doing so, he revealed that God’s saving work is not delayed by human instability or fear.
The Holy Father explained that many believers today face similar temptations. Personal struggles, cultural resistance, or broader challenges within the Church can lead people to conclude that it is not the right time to act, to speak, or to make difficult decisions. Pope Leo warned that such thinking can quietly give way to paralysis, where excessive caution replaces trust. The Gospel, he said, calls the faithful to confidence, reminding them that every moment belongs to God and that his grace is always at work, even when the path forward seems unclear.
Turning to the place where Jesus began his ministry, the Pope drew attention to Galilee, and specifically to Capernaum. This region was known for its commercial activity, cultural diversity, and religious complexity. By choosing to live and preach there, Jesus demonstrated that his mission was not limited to familiar or comfortable settings. Instead, he entered fully into the complexity of human life, revealing a God who draws near to all people without exception.
Pope Leo emphasized that this choice carries an important lesson for the Church today. The Gospel is not meant to remain confined within protected spaces or addressed only to those who already feel close to God. It is meant to be lived and proclaimed in every environment, including those marked by diversity, tension, or uncertainty. In this way, the Gospel becomes a source of fraternity and peace, capable of transforming relationships and cultures from within.
The Holy Father cautioned against the temptation to withdraw from the world or to isolate oneself in response to difficulty. Authentic Christian witness, he said, requires presence. The Gospel must be brought into workplaces, families, public life, and every human setting, where it can serve as leaven for unity and reconciliation.
In closing, Pope Leo XIV encouraged the faithful to respond generously to the Lord’s call, following the example of the first disciples. With joy and trust, he said, Christians are invited to recognize that every time and every place is touched by God’s presence, and that no circumstance is beyond the reach of his saving love.