"The celebration of Mass saves us today! It saves the world today!" Pope Leo assured, recalling how, "the Church, from generation to generation, carefully preserves the memory of the Lord's death and resurrection [...] by celebrating the Eucharist. [...] The Eucharist is the treasure of the Church, the treasure of treasures. From the first day of its existence, and then throughout the centuries, the Church has celebrated Mass, Sunday after Sunday, to remember what her Lord has done for her."
The Holy Father offered this heartfelt reflection on the Mass to a group of altar servers from across France on Monday, August 25, 2025, marking their pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year.
"Christians do not go to Mass out of duty, but because they absolutely need it; they need the life of God who gives himself without asking anything in return!" he said.
The Pope greeted the young pilgrims warmly, noting the significance of their presence in Rome during this Holy Year celebrated only once every 25 years.
Crossing the Holy Door, he explained, is a moment of conversion and renewal: “The Lord Jesus offers us the chance to grow in faith and love, so that our lives may be beautiful and good under his gaze.”
The Pontiff urged the altar servers to spend time in personal prayer and to see Christ not as a distant figure, but as a friend who patiently waits at the door of every heart.
Take time "to speak to Jesus in the secret of your heart and to love Him more and more. His only desire is to be part of your life, to enlighten it from within, to become your best friend, your most faithful friend. Life becomes beautiful and happy with Jesus. But He awaits your response," the Pope said.
To be “close” to Jesus, the Son of God, to enter into friendship with him! What an unexpected destiny! What happiness! What consolation! What hope for the future!
Who can help?
Acknowledging the struggles of today’s world -- "You certainly feel that the world is going badly, that it faces increasingly serious and disturbing challenges" -- Leo XIV declared:
Who will come to our rescue? Who will have mercy on us? Who will come to save us? ... Not only from our sufferings, our limitations, and our mistakes, but also from death itself?
The answer is perfectly clear and has resounded throughout history for 2000 years: only Jesus comes to save us, no one else: because only He has the power to do so — He is Almighty God Himself — and because He loves us.
The Pope then highlighted the Eucharist as the heart of the Church’s life and the treasure entrusted to altar servers: “The celebration of Mass saves the world today. It is the most important event in the life of the Christian, because it is where God gives himself to us out of love, again and again.”
He reminded them that serving at the altar is both a joy and a responsibility, calling for reverence and attentiveness.
Turning to vocations, the Pope addressed the decline in priestly numbers in France and in other places, calling it “a great misfortune for the Church.” He invited the youth to listen courageously if Christ might be calling them to the priesthood: “What a marvelous life it is — to meet Jesus each day in an exceptional way, and to give him to the world.”
Before imparting his Apostolic Blessing, Leo XIV thanked the servers for their dedication and urged them to continue their ministry with courage, joy, and pride. “Your number and your faith are a consolation and a sign of hope,” he said, assuring them that their service contributes to the beauty and solemnity of the liturgy.
The gathering, rich in music and youthful enthusiasm, concluded with applause for the Pope, who encouraged the French pilgrims to return home strengthened in faith and armed with hope for the challenges ahead.
