Pope Leo Urges Spreading Joy of Encounter with Jesus

Vatican City, October 16, 2025: Pope Leo delivered a message to the Networks of Indigenous Peoples and the Network of Indian Theologians, encouraging a rediscovery of the Jubilee Year of Hope as a period of grace, forgiveness, and shared hope.

In his message, the Pope echoed the vision of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who sought to highlight the universality of the Church through diverse vocations and life stages. “When we pass through the Holy Door, more than performing a symbolic gesture by entering a beautiful temple, what we truly seek is to enter, through faith, into the very source of divine love - the open side of the Crucified One,” he explained. He added, “It is in this faith that we are a people of brothers, one in the One.”

Pope Leo acknowledged the complex history of evangelisation among Indigenous Peoples, noting it is “full of both light and shadow.” Citing St. Augustine, he affirmed that despite inconsistencies among Gospel messengers, “God Himself works grace.” The Jubilee, he said, offers a chance “to forgive our brothers from the heart,” to reconcile with history, and to give thanks for divine mercy.

He stressed that trust in divine power transforms peoples into the People of God, with the Gospel’s transformative power flourishing in all cultures. Quoting St. John Paul II, he noted, “The power of the Gospel is transforming and regenerative everywhere. When it penetrates a culture, catechesis would be impossible if the Gospel had to change upon contact with cultures.”

The Pope highlighted the enriching dialogue with Indigenous communities and Indian Theology, whose worldview “resonates with a deep longing for communion with the Creator and creation.” He called for evangelical boldness, or parrhesia, urging Indigenous Peoples to courageously share their richness, enriching the Church’s diverse chorus.

Entrusting the networks to Our Lady of Guadalupe, “Star of Evangelisation,” who “showed how Jesus Christ made two peoples one, breaking down the wall of hostility that divided them,” Pope Leo concluded with a missionary call: “Go, and make disciples of all nations,” spreading “the joy that springs from encountering His Divine Heart.”

Source and Image Credits : Vatican News

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