Mass on the occasion of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica,<\/b><\/a> celebrated on Sunday, 9 November.<\/p>\nIn the presence of some 2,700 people, the Pope recalled the important history of the Cathedral, built at the behest of the Roman Emperor Constantine after he granted Christians freedom of worship in 313 AD, and then dedicated by Pope Sylvester I a few years later. However, Pope Leo XIV emphasised that this Basilica, the \u201cMother of all Churches,\u201d \u201cis much more than a monument or a historical memorial” but is instead \u201ca sign of the living Church, built with chosen and precious stones in Christ Jesus, the cornerstone.\u201d This \u201creminds us that we too, are \u2018living stones here on earth\u2026 built into\u2019 a spiritual temple,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt is the ecclesial community, \u2018the Church, the society of believers, [which] gives the Lateran its most solid and striking external structure\u2019,\u201d he explained, quoting St Paul VI.<\/p>\n
Brothers and sisters, as we diligently labor in the service of God\u2019s Kingdom, let us be neither hasty nor superficial.\u00a0 Let us dig deep, unhindered by worldly criteria, which too often demand immediate results and disregard the wisdom of waiting.<\/p>\n
Concelebrating with Pope Leo at the altar were Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome and Archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran; and Bishop Renato Tarantelli Baccari, Titular Bishop of Campli and Vice-Gerent of the Diocese of Rome. Approximately 160 priests and 10 Bishops also concelebrated.<\/p>\n
In order to build, we must first look to Christ <\/p>\n
The Pope began his reflection with the foundations of the Basilica of St. John Lateran. \u201cTheir importance is obvious and, even somewhat unsettling,\u201d he explained, adding that those who built the Cathedral of Rome laid a sufficiently solid foundation on which to erect everything else, \u201cdigging deep, with great effort,\u201d in this way preventing the structure from collapsing over time. For the Pope, this is a useful image because we too, \u201clabourers in the living Church, we too must first dig deep within ourselves and around ourselves before we can build impressive structures.\u201d Pope Leo quoted the second reading of the liturgy, taken from the first letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, in which he says that \u201cno one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
This means constantly returning to Jesus and his Gospel and being docile to the action of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, we risk overloading a building with heavy structures whose foundations are too weak to support.<\/p>\n
The Church as a construction site <\/p>\n
The Pope then moved on to the Gospel proclaimed during Mass, taken from the Evangelist St Luke. In it, Zacchaeus, a \u201crich and powerful man\u201d who \u201cfeels moved to meet Jesus,\u201d climbs a tree to see Him among the crowd, \u201can unusual and inappropriate gesture for someone of his rank who is accustomed to getting whatever he wants at the tax office as though it were his due.\u201d Pope Leo pointed out that for Zacchaeus \u201cclimbing among the branches\u201d meant \u201chis own limitations and overcomes the inhibitions of his pride.\u201d In the event, he was able to encounter Jesus, an encounter that \u201cmarks the beginning of a new life\u201d for him.<\/p>\n
When Jesus calls us to take part in God\u2019s great project, He transforms us by skillfully shaping us according to His plans for salvation. \u00a0In recent years, the image of a \u201cconstruction site\u201d has often been used to describe our ecclesial journey. \u00a0It is a beautiful image that speaks of activity, creativity and dedication, as well as hard work and sometimes complex problems to be solved.<\/p>\n
In Rome, a great good is growing <\/p>\n
For the Pope, this image of the construction site “expresses the real, palpable effort with which our communities grow every day, sharing charisms and under the guidance of their pastors.” He also recalls how, even in the history of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, “there were critical moments, pauses, and corrections to projects in progress.\u2019 Yet, he continues, \u2018thanks to the tenacity of those who came before us, we can gather in this wonderful place.”<\/p>\n
In Rome, a great good is growing thanks to the efforts of many. Let us not allow fatigue to prevent us from recognizing and celebrating this good, so that we may nourish and renew our enthusiasm.\u00a0 After all, it is through charity in action that the face of our Church is shaped, making it ever clearer to all that she is a \u201cmother,\u201d the \u201cmother of all Churches,\u201d or even a \u201cmom,\u201d as Saint John Paul II said when speaking to children on this very feast day.<\/p>\n
He then reflected on how the Church of Rome is currently experiencing the \u201cimplementation phase of the Synod,\u201d in which \u201cwhat has matured over years of work now needs to be put to the test and evaluated \u2018in the field.\u2019\u201d \u201cThis implies an uphill journey, but we must not be discouraged,\u201d he said, adding that \u201cinstead, we should continue with confidence in our efforts to grow together.\u201d<\/p>\n
The importance of liturgy <\/p>\n
Finally, Pope Leo highlighted \u201can essential aspect of the mission of a cathedral,\u201d namely the liturgy, \u201cthe summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed… the source from which all its power flows.\u201d For the Pope, all the themes he highlighted in his homily are found therein: \u201cWe are built up as God\u2019s temple, as His dwelling place in the Spirit and we receive strength to preach Christ in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Therefore, care for the liturgy, especially here at the See of Peter, must be such that it can serve as an example for the whole people of God.\u00a0 It must comply with the established norms, be attentive to the different sensibilities of those participating and keep with the principle of wise inculturation (cf. ibid., 37-38).\u00a0 At the same time, it must remain faithful to the solemn sobriety typical of the Roman tradition, which can do so much good for the souls of those who actively participate in it.<\/p>\n
Quoting St Augustine’s Discourses, in which he says that \u201cbeauty is nothing but love, and love is life,\u201d Pope Leo emphasised that in the liturgy \u201cthis truth is emphasized in an eminent way.\u201d He expressed his hope that \u201cevery care be taken to ensure that the simple beauty of the rites expresses the value of worship for the harmonious growth of the whole Body of the Lord\u201d so that \u201cthose who approach the altar of Rome\u2019s Cathedral go away filled with the grace that the Lord wishes to flood the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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