Ashley Noronha joined John Morales on Morning Air to reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s General Audience of February 11, 2026, where the Holy Father continued his catechesis on Dei Verbum, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on Divine Revelation. In this latest address, Pope Leo focused on the living bond between the Word of God and the Church, inviting the faithful to rediscover the life-giving relationship between Sacred Scripture and the Body of Christ.
Building on previous audiences, the Pope emphasized that Scripture does not stand apart from the Church. Rather, the Church is the rightful home of Sacred Scripture. The Bible was formed within the heart of the Catholic Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It was entrusted to the Church, preserved by the Church, and proclaimed by the Church. Within this sacred dwelling, the Word finds its proper context. There, its meaning is authentically interpreted and its power becomes active in the lives of the faithful.
Pope Leo explained that Catholics venerate Scripture, and this reverence is most clearly seen in the liturgy. At Mass, the faithful are nourished in two ways at one table: through the Word and through the Eucharist. The proclamation of Scripture is not a mere reading of ancient texts. It is the living voice of God addressing His people. Echoing the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI, the Holy Father reminded listeners that authentic interpretation of Scripture cannot be separated from the faith of the Church. The same Spirit who inspired the sacred authors continues to guide the Church in understanding and faithfully proclaiming the Word.
The Pope also turned to Our Lady as the model for every Christian’s relationship with Scripture. Mary did not simply hear the Word of God. She received it, pondered it, and allowed it to take flesh within her through her fiat. In this way, she demonstrates that Scripture is not meant to remain on the page or in the intellect alone. It is meant to be welcomed, trusted, and lived.
Pope Leo encouraged the faithful to approach Scripture prayerfully. The goal is not the accumulation of information but an encounter with Christ. When we read the Word in prayer, we enter into a dialogue with the Lord, who speaks to us as friends. In that friendship, faith deepens and discipleship becomes concrete.
The Holy Father concluded by urging Catholics to look to Mary as a guiding light in every encounter with Scripture. By saying yes to God as she did, we allow the Gospel to shape our hearts and direct our lives. In this way, the Word proclaimed in the Church becomes the Word lived in the world, bearing fruit in faithful Christian witness.