Is compassion disappearing? Pope Leo worries it might be, and why

Compassion and empathy are not “marginal,” Leo XIV pointed out, but rather “essential attitudes of both of our religious traditions and important aspects of what it means to live a truly human life.”

In his address, Leo XIV expressed his “appreciation for the generous efforts of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in welcoming refugees and assisting those in need in difficult circumstances.” According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Jordan hosted more than 564,000 refugees in 2025, primarily from Syria and Iraq.

Jordan is also organically linked to Palestine — since a large portion of its population is of Palestinian descent — as well as to the Holy Land, given that the King of Jordan is the official custodian of Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.

Commenting on the meeting's theme, the Pope pointed out that both Muslim and Christian traditions value compassion.

“For our traditions, human compassion and empathy are not something additional or optional, but are a call from God to reflect his goodness in our daily lives,” he noted.

Christians, the Pope explained, worship “a God who does not remain indifferent to suffering.” So close is God to us that “this divine compassion becomes visible and tangible” in Jesus Christ. This has concrete consequences for Christians, who are called to follow the example of Jesus, “sharing in or ‘suffering with’ others, particularly the most disadvantaged.” 

Leo XIV cautioned against the rise of indifference resulting from the downsides of modern technology. He warned that “compassion and empathy are sadly in danger of disappearing today,” noting that “the constant flow of images and videos of the hardships of others can dull our hearts rather than stir them.”

“This type of apathy,” the Pope explained, “is becoming one of the most serious spiritual challenges of our time.”

His predecessor, Pope Francis, had repeatedly denounced the “globalization of indifference.”

Leo XIV encouraged Christians and Muslims to take up a “common mission.” Asking them to draw from the richness of their respective traditions, he urged them “to revive humanity where it has grown cold, to give voice to those who suffer and to transform indifference into solidarity.” Compassion and empathy are key, as “they have the power to restore the dignity of the other.”