In his Angelus address on Jan. 18, Pope Leo XIV urged Christians to resist “chasing after appearances,” pointing instead to humility as the foundation of authentic joy and greatness.
Reflecting on the Gospel account, Pope Leo pointed to the witness of John the Baptist, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah and stepped aside once his mission was complete.
“Before Jesus, he recognized his own littleness and made space for Jesus’ greatness,” Pope Leo said.
By contrast, the Pope warned that contemporary culture often places excessive value on “approval, consensus and visibility.”
Such pursuits, the Pope said, can shape people’s ideas, behaviors and even their inner lives in ways that lead to “suffering and division,” as well as to “lifestyles and relationships that are fragile, disappointing and imprisoning.”
“In truth, we do not need these ‘substitutes for happiness,’” the Pope said, adding that “our joy and greatness are not founded on passing illusions of success or fame, but on knowing ourselves to be loved and wanted by our heavenly Father.”
The Pope encouraged the faithful to learn from John the Baptist by embracing simplicity, sincerity and sobriety, and by cultivating an interior life shaped by prayer and reflection. He invited the faithful, “when possible,” to set aside time each day to pause in silence and “withdraw into the desert” in order to listen for God’s presence.
Following the Angelus, Pope Leo marked the opening of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which he noted has its roots in efforts begun more than a century ago and was strongly encouraged by Pope Leo XIII. This year’s theme, drawn from Ephesians 4:4 — “There is one body and one Spirit” — was prepared by an ecumenical group coordinated by the Armenian Apostolic Church’s Department of Interchurch Relations.
The Pope called on Catholic communities worldwide to deepen their prayer for the “full, visible unity of all Christians.”
He also renewed his appeals for peace and justice, drawing particular attention to the humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where violence has forced many people to flee their homes, including those seeking refuge in Burundi.
“Let us pray that dialogue for reconciliation and peace may always prevail among the parties in conflict,” Pope Leo said.
The Pope also assured victims of recent flooding in southern Africa of his prayers.
