Pope Leo XIV has called on Catholics in Argentina to follow the example of their country’s saints and blesseds, emphasizing that holiness is inseparable from the mission to proclaim the Gospel and build a society rooted in fraternity and solidarity.
In his homily during Mass on November 10, the feast of Pope St. Leo the Great, his namesake, the Pope recalled the holy men and women who lived and served in Argentina, particularly in and around Córdoba, in the central part of the country, Vatican News reported.
Describing Argentina as a land “rich in the fruits of holiness,” Pope Leo highlighted the witness of priest José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero and María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, popularly known as Mama Antula, who were called by God and sent on mission.
He reminded the faithful that Christian life is a joyful responsibility rooted in the universal call to holiness, which is inherently missionary.
“All Christians are but simple servants… called to nothing more than to fulfill our duty,” he said.
Reflecting on the teaching of Pope St. Leo the Great, the Pope recalled the saint's exhortation to Christians to recognize their dignity as sharers in the divine nature and not return to their former condition through a life of sin.
He emphasized that Christian witness remains the most effective way of teaching the faith and requires “total, unwavering adherence to Jesus Christ,” following the example of those who have lived the Gospel.
Pope Leo described Argentina's saints and blesseds as expressions of the universal call to holiness, each reflecting distinct spiritual gifts and missions.
“In the faces of these saints with an ‘Argentine accent’” including Brochero and Mama Antula “one sees a striking unity: a passion for the Gospel combined with a commitment to building a nation rooted in fraternity and solidarity,” he said.
The Pope also recalled the contribution of Argentina's martyrs, clergy, religious and laypeople who had completed their earthly mission through their lives of faith and service.
“Today, it falls to us to follow the luminous path of holiness they have left behind,” he said.
Inviting the faithful to continue their missionary commitment, he urged them to open their hearts to God's grace and respond actively to the call to holiness.
“Open your hearts and by the grace of God, go forth and be saints… Go forth and evangelize!” he said.
Concluding his homily, Pope Leo directed the faithful's attention to the image of the poor Christ presiding over the celebration, inviting them to reflect on his gaze and the meaning of his sacrifice.
“In the shadow of His cross,” he said, “we shall find salvation and life, the path toward our own sanctification.”
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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