During his Sunday Angelus address in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV reflected on St. Peter’s struggle to understand the path Christ placed before him, encouraging Catholics to remain in conversation with the Lord even when His will is difficult to accept.

The Holy Father considered the Gospel passage in which Jesus tells His disciples that He will suffer, die and rise again. Peter, expecting the Messiah to triumph over His enemies, struggles with this revelation and objects to what Jesus has foretold.

Pope Leo noted that Peter’s reaction reflects a difficulty familiar to every Christian. God’s plans do not always correspond with our expectations, and moments of disappointment can tempt us to believe that God has misunderstood our needs or is not listening to our prayers.

Peter, however, offers an important lesson precisely through his confusion. Rather than withdrawing from Christ, he continues speaking with Him. The Pope encouraged the faithful to do the same, bringing their questions and difficulties honestly before the Lord while remaining open to His response.

At the same time, Christians must resist judging God’s work according to their own expectations. Jesus corrects Peter and teaches His disciples that following Him requires self-denial and the willingness to carry the cross.

Peter ultimately accepts that call. Despite his initial resistance and later failures, he remains with Christ and eventually gives his life in martyrdom for the Lord he recognized as the Redeemer.

Pope Leo encouraged Catholics to imitate both Peter’s honesty in prayer and his willingness to be corrected by Christ. When God’s will is difficult to understand, the proper response is not to abandon prayer but to listen more carefully and trust Him more fully.

The Holy Father concluded by invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose obedience to God remained steadfast even at the foot of her Son’s Cross.