Pope at Audience: Advent Teaches Us to Wait in Active Hope

Rome, December 7, 2025: At a special Jubilee Audience on Saturday, Pope Leo XIV emphasised that the Advent Season invites Christians to practise active waiting—a hopeful engagement that prepares hearts for Christmas and recognises Jesus’ presence in daily life.

Delivering his catechesis, the Pope said Advent calls believers to stay attentive to the “signs of the times”, noting that preparing for the Lord’s coming requires effort and awareness. He stressed that the fulfilment of creation and its redemption is not a passive expectation. “God always seeks to involve us in His work,” he said, adding that participation lies at the heart of Christian hope. “God involves us in His story, in His dreams. To hope, then, is to participate.”

Reflecting on the Jubilee theme Pilgrims of Hope, Pope Leo XIV insisted its message must endure even after the Jubilee concludes at Christmas. He urged Christians to journey through life with hope, not by standing idle “with our hands in our pockets”, but by actively taking part in God’s mission.

Christians, he said, are called to “read the signs of the times”, recognising God’s action in historical events—an insight highlighted by the Second Vatican Council. God is not distant from the world, he explained. The Incarnation teaches believers to seek Christ “in the realities of life”, with intelligence, heart, and sleeves rolled up.

The Pope pointed to the example of Alberto Marvelli, a young 20th-century Italian member of Catholic Action. Marvelli dedicated himself to rebuilding Italy after the devastation of the Second World War and ultimately lost his life when he was struck by a military truck while cycling to a rally. His witness, Pope Leo XIV said, shows that the world improves when people willingly give up comfort and choose what is good. “This is participation,” he added.

Concluding his address, the Pope invited Catholics to examine whether they truly place their talents at the service of others and the Kingdom of God. Active hope, he said, is a divine gift. “No one saves the world alone. Not even God wants to save it alone: He could, but He does not want to, because together is better.”

Pope at Audience: Advent Teaches Us to Wait in Active Hope

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