General Audience: Pope Leo XIV Emphasizes Holiness as a Universal Call for All the Baptized
At his weekly General Audience, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that holiness “is not a privilege for the few,” but a calling for all the baptized. He explained that holiness is expressed in daily life whenever we joyfully receive God and respond to Him.
The Holy Father noted that a sincere striving for perfection, especially through charity, love for God, and love for neighbor, is the true path to holiness. He grounded this teaching in Lumen Gentium, as he continued his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council during the Audience held at St. Peter’s Square.
The Pope stressed that all Christians are called to live in God’s grace, imitating Christ and reflecting His virtues and goodwill. He described martyrdom as the highest form of holiness, recalling that believers must remain steadfast in professing their faith, even to the point of shedding blood, just as in the early Church.
Highlighting the importance of the sacraments, he explained that the Holy Eucharist and other sacraments nurture a holy life by drawing Christians closer to Christ, who remains the perfect model of holiness.
Referring to an audience held on October 20, 1965, with Pope Paul VI, Pope Leo XIV recalled the vision of a genuine Church composed of baptized persons who are holy, strong, faithful, and worthy. This, he said, underscores the call for an inner transformation in conformity with Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Acknowledging the reality of sin within the Church, Pope Leo XIV urged all believers to commit to sincere personal conversion and renewal, dedicating their lives fully to God.
He also highlighted the witness of consecrated men and women who live according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. These, he explained, are not restrictions but “liberating gifts of the Holy Spirit” that foster complete trust in God.
Finally, the Pope affirmed that God’s grace sustains believers through trials and transforms their lives, pointing always to Christ, who became man out of love for humanity. He concluded by invoking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking her to guide and protect the faithful on their journey to holiness.
By: Anita Aryeh
DEPSOCOM, Accra
