In his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to reflect on how they invest the “treasure” that is their life, challenging Catholics to share not only material possessions but also their skills, time, and compassion for the good of others.
Drawing on the Gospel reading from Luke 12:32-48, the pope emphasized that generosity and love are the keys to fulfillment, reminding the crowd that these gifts must be cultivated and put at the service of others, rather than hoarded or misused.
“Sell your possessions and give alms,” Jesus exhorts in the passage. Pope Leo made clear that this invitation extends beyond charitable donations, pressing his audience to offer their presence, love, and talents to those most in need. “Everything in God’s plan that makes each of us a priceless and unrepeatable good must be cultivated and invested in order to grow. Otherwise, these gifts dry up and diminish in value,” he warned.
The pontiff’s remarks on Aug. 10 echoed the teachings of St. Augustine, who Leo quoted verbatim: “What you give will certainly be transformed…it isn’t gold, it isn’t silver, but eternal life that will come your way.”
Drawing on St. John Paul II, Leo also emphasized the spiritual transformation that results from acts of mercy. Highlighting the example of the poor widow from Mark’s Gospel, Leo XIV called works of mercy “the most secure and profitable bank” where believers can place their lives’ treasures.
The pope also underscored the importance of vigilance in daily life — at home, parish, school, or workplace — encouraging all “to grow in the habit of being attentive, ready, and sensitive to one another.” He invoked Mary, the Morning Star, as a guide for the Church’s mission of mercy and peace in a world “marked by many divisions.”
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This article was originally published on CNA.
