Pope in Santa Cruz: Jesus calls Church to heed unanswered cries for justice
By Christopher Wells
Pope Leo XIV travelled to the small Peruvian town of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba in his former Diocese of Chiclayo on Saturday, to share with the faithful once again “the joy of being a disciple and missionary of Christ.”
He acknowledged the long journey of the thousands of Catholics from rural communities in the Andes as “a pilgrimage of faith” to encounter Jesus, venerated in Santa Cruz as El Señor del Costado.
Faith founded on Gospel values and popular devotion
Beginning with the first reading from the Mass, the Holy Father paid tribute to missionaries who first brought the Faith to the region. “Since the arrival of the first missionaries… the seed of the Gospel has never ceased to take root and bear fruit in these lands, quietly, far from applause or great recognition,” he said.
It was through them, he said, that “faith has grown simply and genuinely, founded on the daily living of Gospel values and expressed in traditions and festivals that bring peoples and generations together.”
He went on to express gratitude to the catechists and lay men and women who continue to provide pastoral care to the faithful in an area where priests are often lacking.
Faith, prayer, and action
Turning then to the parable of the persistent widow from the day’s Gospel, Pope Leo emphasized the importance of praying “without losing heart.”
At the same time, he said, Jesus’ parable “is an invitation to open our eyes to the many painful situations around us.” The widow’s plea for justice “is still sadly heard today, unanswered, on the lips of so many men and women” which is “a matter of great concern for both the Church and society.”
He warned against the temptation “to give in to discouragement, resentment, or evil,” which “will never lead to progress and peace.”
Instead, he said, selfishness, injustice, and evil must be overcome “by prayer, patience, and persevering in denouncing what is wrong, by making our please with determination, and by working diligently to bring about the necessary changes, while never losing trust in God.”
Noting that the widow of the parable was sustained by her faith, Pope Leo emphasized the close relationship between faith, prayer, and action: “Where there is faith, there is prayer,” he said. “And where there is prayer, there is the capacity to commit oneself to other.”
In particular, he commended those who “strive to provide people with dignified jobs… helping to promote authentic models of integral human development through employment.”
Continue to hope in the Lord
Pope Leo XIV told the faithful, “The Lord knows the paths you travel, your hardships, your worries, and the challenges you face.”
He encouraged them to continue to hope in the Lord, praying that they may continue to be protected under the mantle of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and nourished by the Eucharist.
And, the Pope concluded, “may el Señor del Costado, venerated with such devotion here in Santa Cruz, bless you, protect you, and always inspire thoughts and gestures of unity, charity, and peace.”
