In a surprise appearance during a special Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV encouraged Christians to live as daily witnesses of hope, as celebrations for the 62nd Africa Day continued in Rome on May 26.
The Mass, held Monday afternoon, brought together ambassadors from African nations accredited to the Holy See and pilgrims participating in the ongoing Jubilee Year pilgrimage. The service was marked by prayer, unity, and an unexpected visit from the Pope himself.
Speaking spontaneously in English, Pope Leo XIV reminded the faithful that the upcoming 2025 Holy Year is a call not only to seek hope, but also to embody it.
“How important it is that every baptized person feels himself or herself called by God to be a sign of hope in the world today,” the pope said.
He emphasized that the Christian faith is not confined to rituals or special occasions but is meant to illuminate every day of our lives. “Faith gives us strength,” he continued, “and fills us with the hope that only Jesus Christ can give.”
The pope urged all believers to recognize their gifts as blessings from God and to place them in service to others, reaffirming the Christian call to fraternity and solidarity.
Accompanying the celebration were key Church leaders, including Cardinal Peter Turkson, Cardinal Francis Arinze, and Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, highlighting the occasion’s deep connection to Africa and its contributions to the universal Church.
Leo concluded his address with a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving: “Thank you, Lord Jesus, and may your name be praised.”
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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