Pope Leo XIV is reminding Catholics that attending Mass means more than simply being physically present.

On Relevant in Rome, Rome correspondent Ashley Norona joined Mark Swartzberg to discuss the Holy Father’s latest Wednesday audience, where Pope Leo concluded his catechesis on Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.

Ashley explained that Pope Leo returned to a fundamental question: Why did the Council Fathers believe liturgical reform was necessary?

At the heart of the answer is the purpose of the liturgy itself: bringing the faithful into a living encounter with God. Catholics should not experience Mass as outsiders watching something happen in front of them. Instead, the Pope emphasized the Council’s call for active participation, joining in the sacred action with understanding, faith and devotion.

Mark connected the teaching to a conversation he once had with Cardinal Francis Arinze. Mark recalled suggesting that the Mass is already perfect because it is God Himself acting. Cardinal Arinze agreed, but pointed out that it is not always perfect from the human perspective.

That raised an important question: How can Catholics participate more deeply?

Pope Leo’s first recommendation is simple: Understand the rites and prayers of the Mass.

“We need to educate ourselves,” Ashley explained, noting the wealth of resources Catholics now have for learning about the liturgy. When we understand what is taking place at each moment of the Mass, she said, it begins to come alive and allows God to draw us more deeply into the mystery.

Active participation, then, is not about doing more externally for its own sake. It begins with an interior willingness to understand what we are celebrating, offer ourselves to God and enter more fully into communion with Christ.