Pope Leo XIV Invites Faithful to Rediscover the Treasure of Hope at Jubilee Audience

Addressing thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee Audience on September 6, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to rediscover the gift of hope by “digging beneath the surface of life” with curiosity and trust, uncovering the treasure of God’s Kingdom.

In his catechesis, the Holy Father drew on the image of children digging in the earth, comparing it to the Christian search for God’s presence amid life’s challenges.

“Let us imitate the example of Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine, who with humble faith searched for the cross of Christ in Jerusalem,” he said. “We too must clear away hardness and pride, uncovering the greatest treasure of all: friendship with the Lord Jesus.”

The Pope’s message resonates deeply with the spirit of the Jubilee Year 2025, celebrated under the theme Pilgrims of Hope. The Jubilee, traditionally observed every 25 years, is a time of spiritual renewal, reconciliation, and concrete acts of mercy. This year’s celebrations have drawn millions of pilgrims from across the world to Rome, seeking indulgences, participating in liturgies, and passing through the Holy Doors of the basilicas.

Pope Leo XIV highlighted that the Jubilee is not simply a ritual but an invitation to rekindle faith and trust in God’s promises. He encouraged Christians to open themselves to forgiveness and grace, reminding them that hope is rooted in eternal life: “This Jubilee may be a time of spiritual renewal, rekindling our hope for the forgiveness of our sins, for the help of God’s grace, and for life everlasting.”

During the audience, the Pope extended special greetings to pilgrims from Uganda and the United States, invoking upon them and their families the “strength and peace of Jesus Christ.” His words reflect the global dimension of the Jubilee, which has brought together Catholics and people of goodwill from different nations, cultures, and languages.

The Pope’s call to imitate the perseverance of early Christians and the faith of Empress Helena also underscores the enduring link between memory and mission.

Just as Helena unearthed the wood of the cross that became a sign of hope for the Church, today’s faithful are invited to unearth the treasures of faith hidden beneath the distractions, wounds, and pride of modern life.

As the Jubilee unfolds, with major liturgical celebrations, catecheses, and charitable initiatives planned in Rome and across the world, Pope Leo XIV’s reflection serves as a reminder that Christian hope is not an abstract idea but a lived reality.

It is a hope that sustains the Church in the face of trials, unites believers across continents, and directs all toward the promise of life with God.