Angelus: Pope Leo XIV urges us to break the chain of hatred and remembers September 11th

In today's Angelus the Pontiff commented on the words of the Gospel of Matthew and urged us to break the chain of hatred that fuels conflicts and violence

Once again, Pope Leo XIV asked us to follow the path of peace and break the chain of hatred that fuels conflicts, divisions and wars. “Only forgiveness liberates and brings back light, even where the material and moral poverty of man, for a moment, has made the horizon dark and the path uncertain”: the appeal of today's Angelus came loud and clear to the faithful in St. Peter's Square, gathered in the churchyard to listen to the words of Pope Prevost who recalled the commitment to pursue peace also in memory of September 11, 2001.

The words of Leo XIV on the gospel of Matthew

Commenting on the passage from Matthew in which Peter asks how many times it is necessary to forgive, the Pontiff recalled that Jesus pushes his disciples far beyond any human calculation. “I am not telling you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven,” the Pope quoted, explaining that Christian forgiveness is “beyond all limits, without measure.” Leo XIV underlined that forgiveness does not represent a gesture of weakness but the indispensable condition for building an authentically human coexistence. "Gift and forgiveness are the basis of our existence. Everything is given to us by God out of pure love and none of us can be said to be perfect in responding to such goodness. For this reason, generosity, which is the source of our very life, is also the best rule for our being together."

The power of forgiveness in a world marked by violence

What is missing in today's world is the lack of mercy, continued the Pope from St. Peter's. “Forgiveness is indispensable and if it is missing you cannot live in peace: sooner or later, in the heart and between people, conflicts, accusations, resentments and revenge arise which destroy relationships, divide families and trigger wars”. To heal the wounds of the contemporary world, a beneficial wind capable of dispelling the darkness is needed. “Forgiveness, like a good wind, sweeps away even the thickest clouds, until the sun appears again,” said Prevost, a metaphor chosen to give hope in personal relationships but also as comfort for peoples marked by violence. Recalling the experience of the apostle Peter, who denied Jesus during the Passion, the Pope highlighted how the Risen Christ did not respond with reproach but with a question of love: "Simon, do you love me?" followed by the invitation "Follow me!", almost as if nothing had happened. "This charity, which forgets and heals, will mark the confirmation of his mission for the first of the Apostles", he observed.

The memory of September 11th

"The memory of the tragic event of 25 years ago pushes us to renew our commitment to peace. First of all with the prayer that we entrust to the intercession of the Virgin Mary", Pope Leo concluded, recalling the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers on 11 September. "Today", said the American Pontiff in English, "is the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11 in the United States of America. I renew my prayers for those who lost their lives and for those who still carry the wounds of that tragic day. At a time when conflict and violence affect so many of our brothers and sisters, I invite everyone to pray so that the Lord may give peace to the world".

Prayer to Mary

Then, a message to the Virgin Mary, invoking her as Mother of Mercy. "We ask the Virgin Mary to help us to forgive, always, even when it is difficult to take the first step, and to spread, with courage and perseverance, the serene and healing light of love that overcomes hatred and disarms all resentment".