Jubilee Mass: Pope Leo Honors Families as Pillars of Faith

Concluding the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents, and the Elderly, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Square and delivered a powerful message on the essential role of the family in building peace and transmitting faith on June 1.

In his homily, Pope Leo described the family as a “gift” and a “source of communion and faith.” Reflecting on the Gospel passage where Jesus prays “that all may be one,” the Pope emphasized unity as the greatest good and a divine gift rooted in God’s infinite love.

Highlighting human interdependence, the Pope echoed Pope Francis in reminding the faithful that none of us chose to be born — we exist through relationships. “We are all alive today thanks to a free and freeing relationship of human kindness and mutual care,” he said.

Despite a world often marked by betrayal and division, Pope Leo affirmed that Jesus continues to pray for unity among us.

He encouraged families to become signs of peace by grounding their love in Christ, noting that peace begins at home. “Families are the cradle of humanity’s future,” he proclaimed.

Pope Leo cited modern examples of holy families, including Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin and the Ulma family, emphasizing that married love — total, faithful, and fruitful — has the power to unify and transform the world.

Addressing children, he urged them to honor and thank their parents daily. To grandparents and the elderly, he entrusted the role of guiding younger generations with wisdom, patience, and compassion.

He concluded by stating that “faith is handed on together with life, generation after generation,” making the family a privileged place to encounter Jesus.