During his Sunday Angelus on October 25, Pope Leo XIV reminded the faithful that love is the foundation of Christian life and that a genuine relationship with God must be reflected in how we treat others.

Addressing pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, the Holy Father reflected on the Gospel of Saint Matthew, in which a scholar of the Law asks Jesus to identify the greatest commandment. Christ responds by instructing His followers to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and to love their neighbors as themselves.

Pope Leo explained that these commandments are inseparable. Our love for others must flow from our relationship with God, who first loved us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Faith Requires More Than Belief

The Pope emphasized that acknowledging God’s existence and power is not enough. God desires a personal relationship with each of us, one rooted in love rather than mere obligation.

This relationship calls for a response involving our entire being. As we grow closer to God, we learn to recognize the dignity of others and approach them with the charity of Christ.

The Holy Father also recalled Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who recognized love as the driving force behind the Church’s mission. Without charity, he explained, religious practices and good works lose their deeper purpose.

Pope Leo encouraged Christians to overcome selfishness by allowing their faith to shape their relationships and actions. Love of God cannot remain an individual devotion but must extend to those around us.

Concluding his reflection, the Holy Father invited the faithful to pray for renewed hearts capable of fulfilling Christ’s greatest commandments. He entrusted this intention to the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession, pointing to her Immaculate Heart as a model of perfect love.