At a recent general audience, Pope Leo turned to one of the most haunting moments in the Gospel: the betrayal of Jesus at the Last Supper. Reflecting on Mark 14, the Holy Father pointed to the words that unsettled the apostles when Christ said, “One of you will betray me.” Each one, troubled in heart, asked Him in turn, “Surely it is not I?” Pope Leo called this a deeply honest question, a moment of fragile self-examination. He encouraged the faithful to adopt this same humility in their own lives, recognizing how easily sin can creep into the heart and how urgently we must seek reconciliation with the Lord.
The Pope reminded listeners that faith does not exempt us from temptation, nor does it guarantee perseverance. Instead, it offers us a way back when we fall. But the path is not forced upon us. “If by betraying, we become unfaithful to ourselves,” Pope Leo said, “we exclude ourselves from salvation.” This was the tragic choice of Judas. He did not stumble into betrayal by accident, nor was he condemned against his will. He knowingly turned away from the love of Christ and, in so doing, closed himself off from the mercy always available to him.
Patrick Madrid, reflecting on the Pope’s catechesis, noted that this is not simply a matter of speculation. The Catechism of the Council of Trent speaks directly: “Judas has not profited from redemption and has lost his soul.” Christ Himself declared, “None of them was lost except the son of destruction” (John 17:12). He even said of Judas that it would have been better if he had never been born, words which underscore the eternal weight of his decision.
Yet Pope Leo’s teaching does not end in despair, nor does it invite us to fear. Instead, it reminds us of the decisive role of repentance. The story of Judas is meant to be set alongside the story of Peter. Both failed the Lord on the night of His Passion. Peter denied Him three times, yet he turned back in bitter tears and sought forgiveness. Judas, by contrast, despaired of mercy and chose to end his own life. The difference between them is not the gravity of their sin, but their response to grace.
Pope Leo’s reflection urges us to recognize that God’s mercy is always offered but never imposed. Salvation requires our cooperation. It is a daily choice to remain with Christ, even when tempted to betray Him through sin. The Holy Father’s words serve as both a warning and an encouragement: even one who walked beside Jesus could fall, but even the gravest sinner can be restored if he returns in repentance.
As Patrick Madrid explained to his listeners, this teaching should lead us to cling more closely to Christ. We should never take for granted our place in His friendship, nor presume upon salvation without repentance. Instead, we look honestly at our lives and, with the humility of the apostles, ask the question, “Surely it is not I?” By doing so, we allow the Lord to draw us away from despair and into the embrace of His mercy.