Pope Leo celebrated Mass this Sunday morning at the altar near the Tomb of St. Peter in the grottoes of the Vatican basilica. He concelebrated with the prior general of the Order of St. Augustine — his religious order — Spanish priest Alejandro Moral Anton, the Vatican reported.
During the visit to the grottoes, the Pontiff also prayed at the tombs of his predecessors. He also prayed before the "Niche of the Pallia" — an aedicule built over the tomb of the Apostle Peter.
Among those in attendance at the Mass was one of the pope's two older brothers, John -- perhaps a main motivation for the Holy Father giving about half of his brief homily in English.
He said:
I will begin with a word in English and maybe another one in Italian.
The Gospel that we just heard on this Sunday of the Good Shepherd: My sheep listen to my voice, I know them and they follow me.
I think about the Good Shepherd, especially on this Sunday, which is so significant in Easter time. While we celebrate the beginning of this new mission of the ministry that the Church has called me to, there is no better example than Jesus Christ himself, to whom we give our lives and whom we depend on. Jesus Christ whom we follow, he is the Good Shepherd, and he is the one who gives us life: the way and the truth and the life. So we celebrate with joy this day and we deeply appreciate your presence here.
Today is Mother’s Day. I think there is only one mother present: happy Mother’s Day! One of the most wonderful expressions of the love of God is the love that is poured out by mothers, especially to their children and grandchildren.
This Sunday is known to be special for several different reasons: one of the first ones I would mention is vocations. During the recent work of the Cardinals, before and after the election of the new Pope, we spoke a lot about vocations in the Church and how important it is that all of us search together. First and foremost by giving [a] good example in our lives, with joy, living the joy of the Gospel, not discouraging others, but rather looking for ways to encourage young people to hear the voice of the Lord and to follow it and to serve in the Church. “I am the Good Shepherd,” he tells us.
A global mission
Then the Pope switched to Italian, explaining, "the mission we are carrying out is no longer limited to a single diocese but to the whole Church: this universal spirit is important."
He said that spirit is found in the First Reading, which recounts Paul and Barnabas and their vocation to preach to the Gentiles, to the whole world.
"They go, as we know, on this great mission. St. Paul comes to Rome, where in the end he also completes [this mission]: Another example of the witness of a good shepherd. But there is also a very special invitation to all of us in that example. I also say this in a very personal way -- what it means to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world."
Noting Jesus' constant exhortation to be not afraid, Pope Leo said that we must be courageous in the witness we give, with our words and above all with our lives: "giving our lives, serving, sometimes with great sacrifices in order to live this mission."
He recalled that someone asked: “When you think about your life, how do you explain where you have arrived?” He said that the answer found in the Gospel -- "My sheep hear my voice" -- is also somehow his answer: found in the verb “listen.”
He went on to say how important it is to learn better and better how to listen:
First of all, with the Lord: always listen to the Word of God. Then also listen to others, know how to build bridges, know how to listen so as not to judge, not to close doors thinking that we have all the truth and no one else can tell us anything. It is very important to listen to the voice of the Lord, to listen to each other in this dialogue, and to see where the Lord is calling us.
Let us walk together in the Church, asking the Lord to give us the grace to listen to his Word in order to serve all his people.
