VATICAN - Pope Leo XIV: "Jesus challenges the presumption of those people who think they are already saved"

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The trust and joy that Jesus gives to those who follow him have nothing to do with "the presumption of those people who think they are already saved." And Jesus' words can call into question the "security of believers" who "condemn those who are distant from the faith." Pope Leo recalled this, reiterating what the Church has always taught about the salvation promised by Christ: it is a free gift, not an object of possession that one claims to have acquired a priori or forever. So much so that even according to the Decree on Justification of the Council of Trent, no one can affirm "with infallible and absolute certainty that he will have the great gift of final perseverance."

On Sunday, August 24, in his brief catechesis before the Angelus prayer with the pilgrims and faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, Pope Leo referred to the liturgy of the day: the passage centered on the image of the "narrow gate" that Jesus uses to answer the question of whether only a few will be saved: "Strive to enter through the narrow gate," the Son of God replies, "for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able."

With the image of the "narrow gate," Pope Leo explained, Jesus did not want to discourage anyone or deny the mercy of the Father, "who always stands with open arms to welcome us." Rather, his words were meant primarily to "challenge the presumption of those people who think they are already saved, who perform religious acts and feel that is all that is needed." For "they have not realized that it is not enough to perform religious acts unless they change hearts: The Lord does not want worship detached from life. He is not pleased with sacrifices and prayers, unless they lead to greater love for others and justice for our brothers and sisters."

This is "a beautiful challenge," says Pope Leo: "While we may sometimes be judgmental towards those distant from the faith, Jesus calls into question “the security of believers.” He tells us that it is not enough to profess the faith with words, to eat and drink with him by celebrating the Eucharist or to have a good knowledge of Christian doctrine." Faith, on the other hand, "is authentic when it embraces our whole life, when it becomes a criterion for our decisions," when we act as Jesus did: "For our salvation, he loved us to the point of walking through the “narrow gate” of the Cross. Jesus is the true measure of our faith; he is the gate through which we must pass in order to be saved, by experiencing his love and by working, in our daily lives, to promote justice and peace."

After the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo expressed his closeness "to the people of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, who have become victims of an unsecure and violent situation that continues to cause death and displacement." The Pope expressed his hope "that the efforts of the country’s leaders will succeed in restoring security and peace in that territory." He also invited everyone to join "the Ukrainian brothers and sisters who, with the spiritual initiative “World Prayer for Ukraine,” are asking the Lord to grant peace to their tormented country." (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 24/8/2025)

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