Pope at Angelus: Trust God’s timing, bring the Gospel everywhere
By Linda Bordoni
In his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, urging the faithful not to be paralysed by fear, hesitation, or unfavourable circumstances, but to trust in God’s timing and to carry the Gospel into every context of human life.
Drawing from the Gospel passage that tells of the call of the first disciples, the Pope invited the faithful to reflect on two questions: when Jesus began his preaching, and where he chose to do so.
Trusting God’s time
“The Gospel tells us that Jesus began his preaching ‘when he heard that John had been arrested’,” the Pope noted, pointing out that it appeared to be “an inopportune moment,” marked by uncertainty and tension. Yet, he stressed, it was precisely “in this dark situation that Jesus began to bring the light of the Good News: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near’.”
Pope Leo said this detail speaks directly to the experience of believers today. “In our lives, both individually and as a Church, interior struggles or circumstances we deem unfavourable can lead us to believe that it is not the right time to proclaim the Gospel, to make a decision, to make a choice, or to change a situation,” he said.
Such hesitation, he warned, risks leading to paralysis: “In this way, however, we risk becoming paralysed by indecision or imprisoned by excessive prudence, whereas the Gospel calls us to dare to trust.” He reminded the faithful that “God is at work at all times; every moment is ‘God’s time,’ even when we do not feel ready or when the situation seems unfavourable.”
A mission without borders
Turning to the place where Jesus began his ministry, Pope Leo highlighted the significance of Capernaum in Galilee, a region shaped by trade, cultural diversity, and religious plurality.
By settling there, he said, Jesus showed that his mission was not confined within narrow boundaries. Galilee was “a multicultural region, traversed by people of diverse origins and religious affiliations,” revealing a Messiah who “transcends the borders of his own land to proclaim a God who draws close to everyone.”
“He is a God who excludes no one,” the Pope explained, “and who comes not only for the ‘pure,’ but enters fully into the complexity of human situations and relationships.”
Overcoming isolation
From this perspective, Pope Leo XIV called Christians to resist the temptation of withdrawal. “The Gospel must be proclaimed and lived in every setting,” he said, “serving as a leaven of fraternity and peace among all individuals, cultures, religions and peoples.”
Following with joy
Concluding his reflection, the Pope encouraged the faithful to respond generously to the Lord’s call. “Like the first disciples, we are called to embrace the Lord’s invitation with joy,” he said, trusting that “every time and every place in our lives is permeated by his presence and his love.”
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